Smoky Mountains Hiking Club upcoming events

Saturday Wildflower Hike: Little River and Cucumber Gap Loop (04/11/2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

A favorite hiking guidebook calls this hike “one of the finest short loops in the park”. April should be a good time for spring wildflowers, so we will proceed at a slightly slower pace to allow for viewing scenery and photography.

We will start on the Little River Trail past the Elkmont Campground, enjoying views of the river cascades as we go. Shortly after passing Huskey Branch Cascades on a wide bridge, we will take a sharp right turn to join the Cucumber Gap Trail. After a short while, we will again cross Huskey Branch, this time with no bridge. Normally the stream can be easily crossed on numerous flat steppingstones. But, if there have been recent heavy rains, we might get our feet wet. We will keep our eyes open for trout-lily, springbeauty, bloodroot, and trillium as the trail rises slightly and then descends to join the Jakes Creek Trail. Here we will turn right to proceed to the Jakes Creek Trailhead and a short walk to our cars.

The hike is 5.5 miles. Rated easy for our wildflower pace. For carpooling meet at Kroger, 244 S. Hall Road, Alcoa, TN Park at the side of the building near the SE corner in time to leave at 8am. Alternatively, you can meet at the trailhead at 9:00am. Drive 66 miles round trip @7 cent per mile= $4.62 (OK to round to $5).

Wednesday Hike: Jakes Creek to Miry Ridge to Campsite 26 (04/15/2026)

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:15:00 GMT

Starting at the Jakes Creek trailhead at Elkmont, we’ll follow the route of the railroad built by the Little River Lumber Company during the heydays of logging in that valley. After climbing that trail’s entire length (3.6 miles and 1900 ft climb), we’ll continue our climb up the Miry Ridge trail (1.9 miles and another 700 ft) to reach Campsite 26, where we’ll have a welcome rest for lunch. We’ll return the same way (thankfully all downhill).

Total hike distance is 11 miles, rated Difficult because of the relentless 2600 ft. climb. You can choose to turn around at any point.

Meet at Kroger in Alcoa, 244 S. Hall Rd (park around the side beside KARM) at 7:15am {Drive 68 miles RT @ 7¢/mile = $4.78, round to $5} or the Jakes Creek trailhead at Elkmont at 8:15 am.

After you register, please send the hike leader an email indicating whether you will meet at the Carpool or the trailhead. The leader will meet at the trailhead. Hike Leader: Pat Watts, patty.watts@aol.com, 901-487-7941.

Saturday Hike: Old Prison Mines and Frozen Head Lookout Tower (04/18/2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Prison mines in the spring, they're so delightful...We will avoid the construction in Frozen Head by hiking in on the east side of Frozen Head Mountain beginning at Armes Gap on the East Lookout Tower Trail. After about 3/4 of a mile, we'll take the Old Prison Mine Trail to visit the mines, then back to the Tower Trail up to the Lookout Tower. We'll descend the way we came up. I can't promise great spring flowers but we will hunt for them.

Total distance is 6.1 miles with roughly 1000' of elevation gain. Rated moderate.

Meet at Oak Ridge Books-a-Million, 310 S Illinois Ave (same parking lot as Golds Gym) ready to leave at 8:30. There is room for only a couple of cars to safely park at Armes Gap so I am asking that EVERYONE! carpool. (38 miles RT @ $.07 a mile or $2.70). Leader: Claudia Dean, claudiadean0@gmail.com, 865 206 0145.

Saturday Wildflower Hike: Norris Dam River Bluff Trail (Easy Hike) (04/25/2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

The River Bluff Trail is a scenic way to see the Clinch River and enjoy a beautiful, forested area. This is a great trail for observing a large variety of wildflowers in a small area, including several rare species. Rich pockets of wildflowers are scattered over the hillside, especially yellow trout lilies, celandine poppies, bloodroot, spring beauties and toothwort.

It is a 3.2-mile loop with an elevation gain of 538 feet, rated easy. The trail is located on the Norris Dam TVA Reservation on the west side of the dam. Norris Dam is about 30 miles north of Knoxville, TN., off I-75, exit 122. We will meet at 9 am at Norris Dam Visitor Center, 1810 Norris Freeway, since there are bathrooms and ample parking. From there, we will carpool across the dam to the trailhead, as trailhead parking is limited.

Leader: Susan Watson 540-735-4822 (text is best), email: swatson5407@gmail.com

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (05/02/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Daven-port Gap and Mt Cammerer. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

DATE TBD, MAY 2026: Konnarock Trail Crew (05/02/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will support the annual A.T. Konnarock Trail Crew in the National Forest. Each year, volunteers from across the country sign up for this ATC-sponsored summer trail crew, over a week-long period. This year, the crew will be continuing a trail relocation near Brown Fork Shelter in the National Forest. The worksite is approximately 1 mile from the trailhead. Car camping is available behind a gated Forest Service road. Volunteers who participate for 3 or more days on the project will receive a commemorative ATC Trails Crew T-shirt. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Benton MacKay Trail Association Workday with SMHC (05/09/2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Members of SMHC will join the Benton-MacKaye Trail Association Maintainers on a workday. We will help repair the treadway, clear overgrowth and water bars. The tentative plan is to meet at the historic Tapoco Lodge (14981 Tapoco Road, Robbinsville, NC,) where, afterward, we have the option to share a meal. We will learn more about the BMT Association, (bmta.org) and its purposes which include “charitable and educational purposes: to construct, maintain and protect the proposed Benton MacKaye Trail.”

"With its glorious ridgeline views and the innumerable crossings of mountain streams, the almost 300-mile-long Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) comes by its reputation for beauty honestly. Nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the BMT has some of the most varied and abundant wildflowers of any temperate climate forest in the world – and — the variety of tree species is second to none."

Patrick Ward is the BMTA TN/NC Maintenance Director. Details will be shared after registration. The website registration includes a pull-down menu to plan carpooling. Rated Moderate.

Leaders: Patrick Ward and Larry Johnson

When: 05/9/2026 (Saturday) 9:00 AM

Location: Historic Tapoco Lodge (14981 Tapoco Road, Robbinsville, NC,)

GPS: 35.44391586964789, -83.93711087833626

Spaces: 25

Saturday Hike: Savage Gulf State Park (05/23/2026)

Sat, 23 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Savage Gulf, 15,590 acres in Grundy and Sequatchie counties, is considered one of the state’s most scenic natural areas. It is an amazing place with an old-growth forest, stunning views, and geological formations. Start at Savage South and hike down past Suter Falls to Horsepound Falls. Then visit the amazing swale. Follow Collin’s Gulf to the historical Stagecoach Road up to Collin’s Rim, seeing several views. Return to cars. No shuttle needed.

The website registration includes a pull-down menu to plan carpooling. Total 12.1 total. Rated Difficult.

Leader: Tim Bigelow and Co-Leader Larry Johnson

Spaces: 25

Annual National Trails Day Event (06/06/2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Join us to celebrate our club’s 29th annual NTD event! Each year, nearly 100 volunteers help rehab the 12-mile-long, high-use trail sections between Double Springs and Icewater Springs shelters. Volunteers are divided into teams of 6-8 individuals and assigned to work a section roughly 1-1.5 miles long. A picnic-style meal and door prizes are provided at the end of the workday.

Registration for this event is required at least 2 weeks in advance. A link to the registration form will be added to our website and published in our April and May newsletters.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 22, 2026

WORK DATE MEET-UP TIME: 7 a.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. From there, you will receive crew assignments and drive to your trailheads. The picnic will be at Metcalf Bottoms at 5 p.m.

WORK AREAS: A.T. between Icewater Spring Shelter and Double Springs Shelter.

WHAT TO WEAR: Layered clothing, boots or sturdy shoes (no open-toe footwear).

WHAT TO BRING: Plenty of water, RAIN GEAR, lunch, snacks, work gloves, sunscreen and bug repellant.

REGISTRATION FEE: Registration is free, but if you want a commemorative T-Shirt the cost is $20. The shirt has a new design each year, and we encourage everyone to get the T-Shirt and wear it to help us advertise the event.

PLEASE NOTE: Your registration serves as your commitment to attend, since T-Shirts and the afternoon picnic are being ordered, and crews will be built based on our registrations.

DONATIONS: Monetary donations may be made at smhclub.org/donate. Please list NTD in the comments section.

AGE: All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older.

QUESTIONS? Email Taylor Weatherbee tweatherbe@aol.com

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (07/11/2026)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the Nantahala National Forest between The Nantahala Outdoor Rafting Center and Fontana Dam. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (08/01/2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Each season, several hundred pounds of hardwood mulch are used at each of our backcountry privies to aid in proper composting. This work trip will focus on packing mulch to one or more of our backcountry privy locations less than 3 miles from the trailhead. Mulch is carried in 20-lb bags, and the club has extra backpacks if needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (09/12/2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Mt Cammerer Fire Tower and Camel Gap. Access to the work area will be via the 2.5 mile Low Gap Trail, starting at the Cosby Campground. Specific loca-tions of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (10/03/2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer. This is our most heavily used section of trail and it sees a lot of wear each season. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip: End-of-Year Tool Maintenance (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

November is the time to start winding down the trail maintenance season. This work trip will be focused on cleaning, sharpening, repairing, inventorying, and storing the club’s tools for the winter. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.