Featured Hike
FEATURED HIKE ARCHIVE

Overnight Backpacking Loop: Approx 21.3 miles Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Written by Gary Eblen, DBO Staff

Description:

First things first. Get a permit. The closest ranger station to where you enter is Deep Creek. Campsite # 69 is non-rationed so you don't need to reserve it ahead of time. You simply pick up your permit, fill it out and leave a copy in the designated box. Keep your copy with you. For the first time in over 30 years my permit was checked! As the very nice Ranger explained to me in the parking lot by Noland Creek Bridge: "the permit helps us know where to go look for the dead body."

You enter the Park from Bryson City on "the road to nowhere." Park at the lot before the Noland Creek Bridge. Walk the road and through the tunnel and you're on White Oak Branch Trail which runs into Forney Creek Trail after about 4 miles. Continue up Forney Creek, past Springhouse Branch Trail(you'll take this trail the next day) and past Jonas Creek Trail, to campsite # 69 (Huggins Creek). Distance is about 7.8 miles on the first day with three wet crossings in the last mile or so. Campsite # 69 id fairly open and little used. The main sound is nearby Huggins Creek.

On day two, backtrack down Forney to Springhouse Branch Trail (site of old CCC Camp). Check out the spring and the beautiful stonework lining the spring box as the trail leaves the clearing and starts east. Follow Springhouse Branch across Forney Ridge and down to Noland Creek at Solola Valley. The Noland Creek Trail is an easy cruisin' roadbed that allows you to coast all the way back to your car. Distance on day two is about 13.5 miles.

If you like solitude with a dash of park history this loop is a good 'un.