Cherokee National Forest
The 650,00 acre Cherokee National Forest in Eastern Tennessee stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border and lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountain range.
Here is the Forest website. Link to Maps & Publications List of Day Hikes
Phones: Unaka Ranger District 423-638-4109, Ocoee Ranger District, 423-388-3300, Ocoee Whitewater Center 423-496-0100, Tellico Ranger District 423-253-8400, Watauga Ranger District 423-735-1500
Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1 at Osborne Farm 0.5 miles “where Cross Mountain bridges Holston Mountain and Iron Mountain. This easy …slice of A.T. provides everyone an opportunity to enjoy the pastoral mountain views of Shady Valley”. Ocoee Ranger District
Rhododendron Trail #332 1.6-miles, The “one-way hiking and biking trail travels along the world famous Ocoee River. ” Ocoee Ranger District.
Indian Boundary Lake Trail #129 3.1 mile loop for hiking and biking. It goes “around the scenic lake with views of the mountains.” Tellico Ranger District
Category: Tennessee Federal
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
“Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 865-436-1200 Maps
Trails accessibility information
Hiking In The Smokies.com – difficulty has a trail list with difficulty ratings. You can see that the rugged Great Smokies offer little in accessibility. You might try Randy Johnson’s Best Easy Day Hikes guide.
NORTH CAROLINA
Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch Falls “The trail begins as a wide path as it traces Deep Creek upstream. The 80-foot Toms Branch Falls is located only three-tenths of a mile from the trailhead. The park service has provided several benches for visitors to admire these beautiful falls, which spill down into the creek from the opposite bank.”
TENNESEE
Sugarlands Valley Nature trail is 0.5 mile round trip. Reviewed on AllTrails.com It is located on Newfound Gap Road, just south of Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Spruce Fir Trail is 0.35 miles with an elevation gain of just 25′ according to the author of Hiking In The Smokies.com.
Laurel Falls 2.6 miles Map EveryTrail.com says the trail is paved and is suitable for strollers, but considered ‘moderate” in difficulty. “wideopencountry.com” warns that the first half is uphill.
Metcalf Bottoms Trail 1.4 miles. A short nature hike through the woods to Greenbrier School. Map from EveryTrail
Middle Prong Trail Trip Advisor hikingproject.com maliasmiles 4 miles. The trial is a 12′ wide graveled railroad grade for the first two miles. Descriptions vary for the difficulty after that. Video by The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog