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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
ALUM CAVE
LOCATION:  Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS:  US 441 (at Husky Gap Trailhead)
HIKE ENDS:  US 441 (at Alum Cave Trailhead)
TOTAL DISTANCE:  28.6 Miles
HIKE TYPE:  One Way, Shuttle Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY:  Difficult
TRAILS USED:  Husky Gap, Sugarland Mountain, Appalachian, Boulevard, Alum Cave Trails
TRAIL TRAFFIC:  Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE:  Multi-Day Hike
MANAGEMENT:  Great Smoky Mountain NP

HIGHLIGHTS:  The Great Smoky Mountains get more annual visitors than any other National Park in the U.S., but surprisingly most people never see the backcountry which has some of the most pristine wilderness in the Southeast. On this hike, we started at US 441 and climbed to the Mount Collins Shelter via the Husky Gap and Sugarland Mountain Trails.  Once on the ridge, we followed the Appalachian Trail across Newfound Gap and up to the Boulevard Trail which crosses the summit of Mount LeConte at 6593 feet.  There is both a shelter and clustering of commercial buildings available for rent on the mountain, and both Myrtle Point and High Top have spectacular views near the summit.  The shortest decent from Mount LeConte is via the Alum Caves Trail, and this hike follows the steep but scenic 4.9 mile trail back to US 441 about twelve miles north of the Sugarlands Visitor Center.      

100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains  100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains Trails Illustrated Map Great Smoky MountainsTrails Illustrated Map Great Smoky Mountains
 

MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this hike:  February 3, 2005
bullet click to view a detailed trip report:  February 3, 2005 (password required)
bullet click to view maps:  area map, detailed map - day one, day two, day three, park map, profile map, trail map
bulletclick for more information on the Appalachian Trail
bulletclick for the Long Trail discussion forum
bulletclick for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
bulletclick for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick to access the guidebook Trail By Trail:  Backpacking In The Smoky Mountains which has details on this destination
bulletclick for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick for other hikes in Great Smoky Mountain National Park


 
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