When I did my solo travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park back in 2015, I always knew I would eventually come back. In 2020, I was able to go back but this time with Michael. I wanted to share the amazing experience I had, but instead of staying a week we only stayed a few days in a tent.
There were a few locations I wanted to visit again such as Clingman’s Dome and others that I wanted to go that I had missed such as Alum Cave.
Day 1
So, like on my solo trip, I decided to do Clingman’s Dome first. It was foggy the entire drive there and it was still foggy when we got to the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachian trail. We enjoyed the foggy view, and I found the Appalachian trail sign that I had taken a picture of the first time I was here. We then got back into the car and headed to Newfoundland Gap overlook. We enjoyed a snack and the view.
Then it was time for our hike. I didn’t get to do Alum Cave the last time I was in the Smokies so this time we got to do it together. This trail is a moderately difficult 4.6 miles round trip. The trail begins by crossing Alum Cave Creek via log bridges and then it starts leading hikers through an old-growth hardwood forest. As you get to about mile 1.5 you get to a narrow tunnel which is called Arch Rock. This is a popular attraction along the way but also marks where the trail gets progressively harder with its set of stone stairs that navigates you up the natural arch. As you hike up and get to around 1.8 miles you come up on a heath bald full of mountain laurel and rhododendron before reaching a rocky outcrop called Inspiration Point, which offers beautiful panoramic views of mountains.
We took a quick stop here before continuing up to Alum Cave Bluff. Despite its name, it is not a cave but rather a large ledge hanging out over the trail. Michael and I sat on the dirt ground enjoying the view and people watching. It was quite amazing how dry and cool the area was because of the cliff. I showed Michael that we could continue on to Mount LeConte but he laughed at me and said no. I picked up a virtual geocache at Alum Cave Bluff and then we headed back down.
As we headed back down the trail, I was rushed by a bunch of hikers to hike quickly down and ended up twisting my ankle. It was quite painful hike down, but we were able to go slow after letting the rude hikers pass us.
Day 2
We were planning on doing Chimney Rock but with my injured leg I decided that a bunch of hiking was not a smart idea. So, we opted to visit Cades Cove.
Michael really liked all the old churches located in the cove, as well as all the views of the surrounding mountains. We kept on the look out for black bears since this is where I had spotted a few bears last time I had visited. We, sadly, did not see any bears.
Michael enjoyed the Smoky Mountains with the exception that I had picked one of the furthest tent spots from the bathroom, so it was quite a trek. As he would comment he was getting ready for his “15th hike of the day.” Though during dinner one of the nights we did get some visitors of wild turkeys.
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