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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
KEPHART PRONG
LOCATION:  Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS:  Newfound Gap
HIKE ENDS:  US 441
TOTAL DISTANCE:  7.4 Miles
HIKE TYPE:  One Way, Shuttle Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY:  Moderate to Difficult
TRAILS USED:  Appalachian, Sweat Heifer, Kephart Prong Trails
TRAIL TRAFFIC:  Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE:  Day or Overnight Hike
MANAGEMENT:  Great Smoky Mountain NP

HIGHLIGHTS:  Great Smoky Mountain National Park encompasses 800 square miles of land and 95 percent of it is forested.  The park is world renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources and for the beauty of its ancient mountains.  This hike follows the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap down the Sweat Heifer Trail to Kephart Shelter.  The Kephart Prong is a stream and the water source for the shelter, and the trail follows it to US 441 to complete this shuttle hike.

100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains  100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains Trails Illustrated Map Great Smoky MountainsMap of Great Smoky Mountains
 

MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this hike in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park: November 14, 1992
bullet click to view a detailed trip report of this backpacking trip to Kephart Shelter: November 14, 1992* (password required)
bullet click to view maps of the Smokies: area map, detailed map (password required), profile map, Topozone Map
bulletclick for more information on the Appalachian Trail
bulletclick for the hiking and backpacking trails discussion forum on other Long Distance Trails
bulletclick for the hiking and backpacking trails discussion forum for other Southeastern Destinations
bulletclick for more hiking and backpacking books on the Appalachian Trail
bulletclick for access to 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
bullet click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination 
bulletnote, the * indicates these items are not linked but coming soon