Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes concise descriptions and detailed maps for twenty-two easy-to-follow hikes in America’s most popular national park, home to one of the most pristine ecosystems on the East Coast. Featured walks lead to stunning scenery, from waterfalls and wildflowers to historic and interpretive sites, as well as spectacular views. Look inside for: • Thirty-minute strolls to full-day adventures • Hikes for everyone, including families • Mile-by-mile directions and clear trail maps • Trail Finder for best hikes for backpackers, waterfalls, history buffs, children, or great views • GPS coordinates
Johnny Molloy, who has spent more than 800 nights backpacking in the Smokies, has updated his classic guide Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This revised edition has been completely updated, including the new backcountry reservation system implemented in the park. He has also added some excellent hikes, some of them well off the beaten path. For example, the hike to Baskins Creek Falls takes you past a pioneer homesite and to a scenic cascade overshadowed by more popular waterfalls nearby, making it an ideal destination for those who want to escape the crowds. A longer trek traverses the regal pine-oak forests of the western part of the park, making a stop at Abrams Falls, mixing solitude with a must-visit waterfall on every Smokies bucket list. Johnny also explores early park history on a hike up Kephart Prong. Here, you can see the remains of a fish hatchery constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as a trail shelter erected by the CCC when the park was just coming to be. Backpackers will enjoy the new loop incorporating Walnut Bottoms along cascading Big Creek, coupled with a stop by historic Mount Cammerer tower, replete with stellar views, before overnighting at Davenport Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Additionally, Johnny--who considers the Smokies his home stomping ground--makes sure that all the necessary information to help you execute a hike from directions to maps are correct. New photos add flair to the book.
This is it! The ultimate pocket-sized day hike guide to the Great Smoky Mountains. Written by esteemed Smokies sage Carson Brewer it covers 34 of the best day hikes, from easy to strenuous, in the national park plus all the self-guiding nature trails. It includes individual, beautifully-detailed shaded relief maps for each hike, plus highly-accurate elevation profile charts, and 26 photographs. It features all the best: Chimney Tops, Rich Mtn. loop, Rainbow Falls, Andrews Bald, Old Settlers, Laurel Falls, Albright Grove, Mt. Cammerer, Boogerman Loop, Charlies Bunion, Mt. Le Conte, Grotto Falls, Smokemont loop, and more.
God only knows what possessed Bill Bryson, a reluctant adventurer if ever there was one, to undertake a gruelling hike along the world's longest continuous footpath—The Appalachian Trail. The 2,000-plus-mile trail winds through 14 states, stretching along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine. It snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in North America, as well as through some of its most poverty-stricken and primitive backwoods areas. With his offbeat sensibility, his eye for the absurd, and his laugh-out-loud sense of humour, Bryson recounts his confrontations with nature at its most uncompromising over his five-month journey. An instant classic, riotously funny, A Walk in the Woods will add a whole new audience to the legions of Bill Bryson fans.
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is an 1,175-mile destination trail that crosses North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. It traverses 37 counties, 7 national parks and forests, and nearly a dozen state parks and historic sites. This is the first-ever guide to day hikes along the crown jewel of North Carolina foot trails. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or new to the outdoors, this official guide from Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is your go-to companion for exploring all the trail has to offer, showcasing everything from scenic mountain vistas to surprising escapes in the state's Piedmont region and the wonders of coastal plain pocosins. Features include - 40 hikes carefully chosen to appeal to hikers of all experience levels - Helpful hike finder feature to identify the perfect hikes for birding, waterfalls, history, universal accessibility, and more - Turn-by-turn guidance and key points of interest for each hike - Full-color maps and photographs - Helpful information about the trail's history and ongoing development
Before she went missing, Susan Clements was hiking with her daughter on one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, less than a mile from Clingmans Dome. When Nancy East’s search and rescue team joined the effort to find her, she learned Susan was a mother to three children who adored her. What Nancy didn’t know then was how much the search for Susan would impact and influence her own life’s path afterward. Two years later, Nancy and her good friend, Chris Ford, set out to improve the speed record of hiking all 801 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while raising funds for hiker safety and preparedness. While chasing the record, the duo faced tropical storm rains, swollen, unbridged creek crossings, injuries, night hiking, and wildlife encounters. Their arduous journey also became intertwined in one of the most rare human-bear tragedies in the park’s history. Maintaining a positive mental attitude was their superpower through it all. The enormous feat of endurance was one of the most grueling endeavors that Nancy, a mother and everyday athlete, had ever faced. However, the hardest things she had endured were in her past. The strength she gained from those experiences was now moving her forward, one difficult step at a time. Chasing the Smokies Moon is a story of grief, hope, empowerment, and love, and the thread that binds them all. ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CHASING THE SMOKIES MOON "If you think that setting trail records is about speed and hubris, Nancy East will prove you wrong. It is not her success, but her vulnerability that will encourage you to keep moving forward when the next step feels impossible. It is not her impressive miles, but rather her insightful reflections that allow you to recognize feelings of gratitude and connectedness in the midst of pain and loss. And it is not her attributes as a hiker, but her roles as a mother, spouse, and friend that make this book a valuable resource for anyone who is trying to navigate through relationships - and adventure." --Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience “I have always thought of Nancy East as somewhat of a real life superhero -- this harrowing and transparent account of her FKT attempt and SAR fundraising effort has certainly solidified that sentiment!” --Steven Reinhold, Backpacker Magazine, Brand Ambassador “Chasing the Smokies Moon is a deep dive into the depths of a Fastest Known Time record attempt. East relays with humor, profundity, and humility the highs and lows of an intense journey through the Great Smoky Mountains and human connection." --Heather Anderson, author of Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail “This story is more than just a recounting of an incredible feat of endurance and perseverance, it is an insightful and revealing look into the mind and soul of multi faceted adventurous woman.” --Kevin Fitzgerald, former Deputy Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park saves readers the time and frustration of finding the perfect hikes to suit their desires. Not only are there hundreds of miles of trails running like veins down and along a narrow mountain spine, but with millions of guests annually, Shenandoah National Park is a heavily visited destination. This book was conceived to make the backcountry majesty of Shenandoah more accessible to visitors. This easy-access, reference type guide presents a variety of hikes from which to choose. The majority of the hikes steer you toward the most scenic areas, giving you the opportunity to enjoy your time on the trail instead of behind someone’s car. Most hikes seek solitude to maximize your Shenandoah experience. However, as the subtitle of this book suggests, there are some “must do” hikes that are popular. Consequently, a few hikes traverse popular and potentially crowded areas. Each hike has a “best times” that will help you manage the trails to your advantage. Day hiking is the best and most popular way to “break into” the Shenandoah wilderness. But for those with the inclination to see the mountain cycle from day to night and back again, many hikes in this book can be used by backpackers as well. Backpackers must follow park backcountry camping regulations and practice “leave no trace” wilderness-use etiquette. Backpackers can capture the changing moods of the mountains as day turns to night, as weather cycles with the sun, as the permanent park residents go about their business of surviving and reproducing. With the Top Trails winning formula of easy-to-follow maps for every hike, trail-feature charts, feature icons, "don't get lost" trail milestones, and GPS waypoints, readers can easily identify the right trail for their interests, abilities, and available time.
Moon Travel Guides: Find Your Adventure From majestic mountaintops to lush forests and untouched wilderness, take in the best of the Smokies with Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park features: Itineraries for every timeline and budget, ranging from one day in the park to a week-long trip, including: Best of the Smokies, Family Fun, Escape the Crowds, and Best Hikes Strategies for getting around the Great Smoky Mountains, avoiding crowds, and exploring the less-visited areas of the park In-depth coverage of gateway cities and towns in both Tennessee and North Carolina, including Gatlinburg, Asheville, Pigeon Forge, and Knoxville, as well as worthwhile stops like Cherokee, Bryson City, and Maggie Valley Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Expert tips for travelers looking to go hiking, biking, zip-lining, rafting, and more, plus essential packing and health and safety information The top activities and unique ideas for exploring the park: Cruise along Newfound Gap Road for epic views and scenic overlooks, try your hand at fly-fishing, and enjoy the refreshing solitude of a night camping under the stars. Hike to beautiful waterfalls, catch a glimpse of the buzzing fireflies, and sample a little local moonshine. Visit remnants of the region's historic settlements, spot local wildlife, or explore the bustling nearby cities Valuable insight from nature lover and Smoky Mountains aficionado Jason Frye Honest advice on where to stay inside and outside the park, including the best spots to pitch a tent, park your RV, or relax at an upscale resort Up-to-date information on park fees, passes, and reservations Recommendations for families, LGBTQ+ travelers, seniors, international visitors, travelers with disabilities, and traveling with pets Thorough background on the wildlife, terrain, culture, and history Staying in Tennessee? Try Moon Tennessee, Moon Nashville, or Moon Memphis. Making a road trip out of it? Try Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip. For full coverage of America's national parks, check out Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 National Parks.
