Do you want to see some of the most incredible views while you’re in the national park? Then you need to break out your hiking boots and head out onto the trails! You will find some of the best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains with a view. The mountains will surround you on these hikes, and you’ll really get to immerse yourself in nature. Here are 5 of the best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains with a view:
1. Gregory Bald
Gregory Bald is an out-and-back trail that is 11.6 miles roundtrip. It is considered difficult, but the views at the end are worth it. This trail is near Townsend, Tennessee, and if you want to see wildflowers in the spring and early summer, this is a great trail to hike. You’ll make your way through old forest growth, and then you will finally come out at the bald, which is a meadow on top of a mountain. Flame azalea is known for growing in this area, but you can’t beat the mountain views!
2. Andrews Bald
One of the best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains with a view is Andrews Bald. This out-and-back trail is considered moderate at 3.5 miles roundtrip. The trail begins near Clingmans Dome. You’ll hike through the forest, and then come up on the bald. You might see wild blackberries in the summer or small wildflowers in the spring. People love hiking this trail and having a picnic at the bald while they enjoy mountain views.
3. Charlies Bunion
The trail to Charlies Bunion is considered difficult and is 8 miles roundtrip. You will travel along the Appalachian Trail to get to this rock cropping. During the first portion of the trail, you will see an incredible view of the Smokies. In the spring and early summer, you will see wildflowers at this point too. All throughout the rest of the hike, there are portions of the trail that have amazing views of the mountains. About 4 miles from the trailhead, there is a path that veers left, and follow this to get to Charlies Bunion, a unique rock cropping with views of the mountains behind it.
4. Chimney Tops
Chimney Tops is a popular hiking trail, especially before the wildfires in 2016. After the fires, the trail to the original viewpoint was destroyed, but the new viewpoint was created later by the National Park Service. You will have amazing views of Mount LeConte and the Chimney Tops pinnacles at the viewpoint. This out-and-back trail is fairly tame in the beginning, but the last mile is what makes this trail moderate. You gain about 960 feet of elevation in a short period of time, but the view is definitely worth it!
5. Mount LeConte
An ever-popular destination with amazing views is Mount LeConte. This is the third tallest peak in the Smoky Mountains range. To get to the summit, you have 5 trails you can choose from: Trillium Gap Trail, Alum Cave Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Bullhead Trail, or Boulevard Trail. Each trail has unique features along the way, but in the end, all of them put you at the top of this amazing mountain.
These are just some of the best hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains with a view. If you love hiking, you won’t want to miss any of them! Want to know what else you can enjoy when you stay with us? Look through our Luxury Pass to see what kinds of free tickets you’ll get when you book one of our cabins!
