Smoky Mountains: Newfound Gap Treasures

Newfound Gap is about a mile high and straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. At this elevation, it can be 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands, so be sure to layer accordingly. Newfound Gap Road is the primary mountain pass between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC. The 33 mile drive is amazing, as you get to see the diversity of nature as you climb up and down the mountainside. As noted in our Smoky Quest: Waterfall Hunt post, there are a number of beautiful distractions to be found along this scenic drive (i.e., overlooks, quiet walkways, etc.). In our search for waterfall glory we had an opportunity to experience many of these items, but we only scratched the surface of the many treasures to be found in Newfound Gap. Below are some more!

Sugarlands Visitor Center

At the entrance to Newfound Gap Road and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park you will find the Sugarlands Visitor Center. A number of souvenirs, helpful maps, brochures, and other educational materials can be found inside the the center. It is one of four visitor centers in the park, and a place you can get your National Parks Passport stamped (something we learned about and purchased on our trip)!

Behind the visitor center is the trailhead for the Fighting Creek Nature Trail, a 1.1 mile dirt trail winding through the woods. There is a brochure you can purchase for $0.50 (honor system) at the start of the trail that provides details about some of the treats you will see along the way. The branch off to Cataract falls is a nice short hike if you don’t feel like completing the full loop. Please don’t confuse the Fighting Creek Nature Trail for the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail (as we did). Thinking the path behind the center would be concrete or paved, Traci wore cute sandals that did not treat her feet well on the dirt path (but slightly increased her style points). The pedestrian friendly and wheelchair accessible half-mile loop nature trail is a short drive (0.4 miles) down the road from the visitor center.

John Ownby Cabin on the Fighting Creek Nature Trail

One of many pretty Tulip Trees along the path (oh, and Cataract Falls in the background is nice too)

Trails Along Newfound Gap road

There are a variety of trails all along the gap road, but we’ve only included pictures and a few quick details for some of our favorites.

Gatlinburg Trail - Stretching 1.9 miles from the city of Gatlinburg to the Sugarland Visitor Center, the trail is easy to walk and offers pretty views of the babbling creek and remnants of old homesites (chimneys, foundations, etc.).
Mile 4.2 Quiet Walkway - There is a small trail leading down to the river where there are plenty of small flat stones for skipping rocks and larger boulders for climbing or resting. It is a pretty and peaceful place for meditation, a quick lunch, or exploring the river bank.
Kephart Prong Trail - This trail starts with a wooden bridge across the Oconaluftee River and makes a gradual climb of 2.0 miles to a shelter for backpackers. Along the trail are many structural remains of former CCC camps. For us, the highlight of the trail was the “foot logs” (bridges crossing the streams with a rail on only one side). A little scary, but mostly FUN, to cross!

Our friends, Bob and Anna, soaking in the moment.

andrews bald

We’ve come to realize over the years that “medium” trail difficulty is not equal in all parts of the country (or even “easy” for that matter). Scott has taken us on some “easy” trails in which we thought we may perish (primarily from dehydration, which is just poor planning…we’re smarter now). While this trail was not technically difficult, it was much steeper than we anticipated.

The Forney Ridge Trail (which will take you to the bald) is accessed just off of the parking lot at Clingmans Dome. A by-pass trail leading to the observation tower can be accessed about one-tenth of a mile from the trail head. The trail to the bald goes down, down, down, down, down, down, UP, and then down again. Therefore, reaching the bald is pretty easy. Coming back out takes some patience if you are out of shape (like we are…but we’re working on it), as it is an elevation change of 1,200 feet. Fortunately, the Friends of the Smokies organization coordinated with the Trails Forever program to complete a multi-year project (starting in 2008) to improve the quality of the trail. They put in flat stones, drainage structures, wood for stairs, and other measures to make the trail easier on the ankles and knees. Prior to this, the trail was quite rugged and rocky. I, for one, am extremely thankful for their efforts.

Make sure to take plenty of water, your camera, and give yourself a good amount of time to enjoy the journey. There is much to explore on the bald (such as unique vegetation and small ridge trails) and it is a great place to get some amazing pictures! We recommend starting early in the day, as our late afternoon arrival left us with a bit of (mostly unfounded) anxiety on the climb out regarding a potential critter attack. It wouldn’t be an adventure without some strife...and we survived (unharmed and with no critter sightings)!

The hike is well worth the effort, as the view is spectacular! Not only do you get a 180 degree view of the mountains, but you’re also immersed in it! The views from Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome are breathtaking, as you are perched high above the valleys, but seeing those vistas from the bald (within the mountains) creates a deeper connection to the nature around you. This is one of the many reasons Andrews Bald is one of the most highly recommended trails in the Smoky Mountains.

A glimpse of the rocky trail (and insect photo shoot - millipede sighting)

Clingmans Dome

The observation tower at Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. The walk to the tower is paved and truly nothing but up, resulting in a few stops at the benches along the way to catch your breath, but the 360 degree views are incredible (which meant we had to visit twice)! Don’t forget about the temperature changes previously mentioned...it can get quite chilly at the top (especially in the evening as the fog starts rolling in across the mountain top). The road to Clingmans Dome is closed December 1 to March 31 (and when weather conditions require it), so plan accordingly when you decide to visit.

Scott and Anna spying on the people of Gatlinburg

sunsets & Stargazing at Newfound Gap

One of our favorite activities in the Smokies was watching the sun set over the gap. Watching the colors dance across the clouds was beautiful, but it was also amazing to see the green hughes of the trees deepen and witness the mountains take on the infamous blue colors as the light diminished. It is definitely one of the most gorgeous sunsets we will keep locked away in our memories. Morton Overlook is a popular viewing spot for good reason…check out the photos below! We even got to witness and marriage proposal there. In our three visits, each sunset was unique and beautiful in its own way.

The sunset is just part of the show though. As the light fades, it gives way to a spectacular field of stars. We were lucky to have a clear evening for our stargazing; the vast number of stars was an incredible sight.

Randomly ran into our friend Jeff on our visit, so we adventured together!

Head to the Smokies and check out Newfound Gap when you get a chance!

Or…branch off at the visitor center and head to Cades Cove instead
(yeah…clicking on the Cades Cove link above will take you to a post about our safari adventure there - you’re welcome!).

Thankfully some other tourists taught us the proper way to take a picture at the border sign.

Our Smoky Dump: Rolling On! post (coming soon) will conclude our adventures in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and surrounding area. On to new adventures!

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Destination, Adventure, National ParkScotty C & TraciJune 4, 2019National Park, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, Andrews Bald, Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome1 Comment