About
Length0.8 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain250 ft up
Typical time30 min
TrailheadChimneys Picnic Area, Newfound Gap Road
SurfaceDirt loop with steps
Best seasonApril to June for wildflowers, mid-October for fall colour. High elevations are cold and icy from November to March.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityTrail includes some steep sections, stairs, and occasional roots/rocks.
What you'll see 🌼 Wildflowers🌲 Old growth

Overview Explore a forest of giants and wind through a lush mountainside on this iconic 0.75-mile loop hike. Cove hardwood forests are amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, home to a multitude of trees, plants, and animals. This forest also tells a story of human settlement, logging, and regrowth, representing the resilience of the forests that make up the present-day park. Expect to climb several sets of stairs and step over roots and rocks at the beginning of this loop trail, but once you reach the trail junction the terrain climbs more gently and ends with a gradual descent. Find solitude among the songbirds and streams. The vibrant flowers of spring, the lush green of summer, the parade of color in fall, and the peaceful hush of winter create a sense of an enchanted forest here in every season. The trail begins in the Chimneys Picnic Area with stairs that wind up past the group picnic site and then transition to soil, roots, and rocks. The first section of the trail has two sets of steps (40 in total), but the trail becomes less steep for the rest of the hike. After the steps, approximately 700 feet from the trailhead, there is a junction with an arrow pointing to take the loop to the right. Follow the loop around until it begins to descend back to the junction. Turn right to return to the trailhead and parking area. Length 0.75 miles (1.2 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead Seven parking spots next to the trailhead and additional parking available throughout the Chimneys Picnic Area . Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Restrooms available seasonally at Chimneys Picnic Area . Alternate Hikes Smokemont Nature Trail Cooper Road Trail

Tips
The best short wildflower walk in the park in mid-April, and a genuine old-growth stand within yards of the road.
Location

Chimneys Picnic Area, Newfound Gap Road

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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