Yet with all these amenities, wilderness hangs on in the rhododendrons and mountain laurels, the signature flowers of the area, which can be found in bloom from late March until August, depending on the altitude. Wildflowers, from the first bloodroot in early spring to the last asters and goldenrods in the fall, line many trails. Even the most industrious hiker, focused on covering miles, should slow down to smell the flowers.This backpack loop in the Big Creek and Cataloochee area shows off the best of the eastern portion of the Smokies.
Day 1
Starting at Big Creek Campground, you'll climb to the top of Mt. Sterling at 5,800 ft. Then you can climb the tower for outstanding 360-degree views.
Baxter Creek Trail...............6.1 miles....4,100 ft. ascent
Stay at campsite #38 (advanced reservations required)
Total for the day.................6.1 miles 4,100 ft. ascent Total For Week 6.1 miles
Day 2
Today you'll enjoy downhill walking into Little Cataloochee. In springtime, Long Bunk Trail is full of flowers. In Little Cataloochee, you'll pass two log cabins, two cemeteries, and Little Cataloochee Baptist Church. Then you'll climb up to Noland Gap the way settlers did in the 19th Century.
Mt. Sterling Trail........................2.0 miles.....downhill
Long Bunk Trai..........................3.6 miles.....downhill
Little Cataloochee Trail............... 4.0 miles.....900 ft. ascent
Pretty Hollow Gap Trail...............1.0 mile......400 ft. ascent
Stay at Campsite #39 (no reservations required)
Total for the day........................10.6 miles...1,300 ft. ascent Total For Week 16.7
Day 3
Going away from Cataloochee brings you to a more remote area. Palmer Creek Trail offers great views of the stream and interesting rock formations. In late spring and early summer, rhododendrons and flame azaleas line the trail. On Balsam Mountain Trail, you'll follow a railroad grade, reminding hikers that most of the Smokies was logged before the area became a park.
Pretty Hollow Gap Trail..............0.2 miles....downhill
Palmer Creek Trail....................3.3 miles.... 1,500 ft. ascent
Balsam Mountain Road..............1.0 mile..... almost flat
Balsam Mountain Trail...............4.0 miles....1,200 ft. ascent
Total for the day.......................8.5 miles.....2,700 ft. ascent Total For Week 25.2
Day 4
Mount Sterling Ridge Trail offers comfortable ridge walking in a spruce forest. When you go down Swallow Fork Trail, the vistas continue. At the intersection with Big Creek Trail is all about the wide creek. The campsite is large and right on the creek.
Balsam Mountain Trail......................0.2 miles.... almost flat
Mount Sterling Ridge Trail.................4.0 miles.... flat and downhill
Swallow Fork Trail............................4.0 miles.... downhill
Big Creek Trail.................................0.8 mile..... downhill
Stay at campsite #37 (advance reservation needed)
Total for the day...............................9.0 miles....downhill Total For Week 34.2
Day 5
It will only take you a couple of hours to walk down Big Creek Trail back to your car. However, if you have the time, spend an extra day here to do a day hike that will take you on the Appalachian Trail.
Big Creek Trail................................1.3 miles.........200 ft. ascent
Camel Gap Trail...............................4.7 miles........1,500 ft. ascent
A.T................................................2.4 miles........400 ft. ascent
Low Gap........................................2.5 miles........200 ft. ascent
Big Creek Trail................................0.7 mile..........downhill
Stay at campsite #37 again (advance reservation required)
Total for the day ...............................11.6 miles 2,300 ft. ascent Total For Week 45.8
Day 6
Walk down 4.5 miles on Big Creek Trail, enjoying cascades and a wide trail back to your car.
Total for the day ...............................4.5 miles Total For Week 50.3
Rules and Resources
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: www.nps.gov/grsm
Entry into the park is free and so are the backcountry campsites. You need to stay in either a designated shelter or backcountry campsites. All shelters and some campsites require reservations. Both are equipped with fire rings and the all-important pack suspension devices, meant to keep your food away from bears. Group size is limited to eight people.
Call 865-436-1231 up to a month before your trip to reserve a backcountry campsite. For backcountry campsites not requiring reservation, self-register for a permit available at major trailheads or at a ranger station. Right now, there's lots of water in the streams but all water has to be treated. Pets are not allowed on the backcountry trails.
