Smoky Mountain Loop

Still some snow

The Smokey’s offer a plethora of hiking and backpacking opportunities, ranging from two hour picnics to multi-day excursions. The relatively modest gains in elevation provide the perfect opportunity for beginners and intermediates alike to train for more strenuous trips.

We started off late on a Saturday afternoon in early March. The distance to the first campground is roughly 5 miles from the big creek trailhead. With only a few hours of light left, we set off down the wide gravel trail. Night fell as we reached our large and conveniently flat campsite. Campsite 37 lies just beyond Big Creek itself which allows for easy refilling of water bladders and bottles. The next morning we packed up and left the campsite at roughly 11am.

Convenient Creek

The distance given for this leg of the trip is 4.8 miles, however my GPS recorded 5.4 as their are several switchbacks as you climb the mountain. We chose this hike as our first of the season. In order to get a feel for the level of fitness we were in. Day 2 really highlighted the work we would need to do to prepare for some of our more challenging hikes. The second day takes you from just east of camp on the Swallow Fork trail heading towards the 5,600 ft. Mt Sterling. This trail is much more narrow and difficult then the previous day’s. Allot plenty of time to tackle this segment as it can be quite demanding. When you reach the summit and arrive at campsite 38, you will notice the old fire tower. This 60 foot tower is still accessible and provides absolutely gorgeous views of the surrounding terrain.

60 ft. Fire Tower

Depending on the time of year, be prepared for colder temps as it got down into the teens that last night. Day three consists of a long downhill jaunt back to the trail head along Baxter Creek Trail. Make sure you stop and change socks along this portion of the trail as the steep terrain and root covered trail provide plenty of opportunities for a blister or two to sneak in.

All in all, the Big Creek Loop provides brilliant views, numerous water crossings, and a fantastic chance to see just how much you need to improve before setting off on a bigger adventure.

Time needed: Two nights
Difficulty: Moderate

Link to Trail Map