Smoky Mountains Hiking Club upcoming events

Join the Backpacking and Base Camp Group (10/31/2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Join a NEW group of SMHC members interested in backpacking and base camping. This is an auxiliary activity like the existing Wednesday Hikers Group. The Group designates 1-2 people to manage a weekly email communications distribution. Group members take turns selecting and leading backpacks and base camps.

For more information, contact Larry Johnson (865-776-6434, larryj11320@gmail.com), or Brian Mason (865-300-2377, BMason997@yahoo.com).

Off Trail Hike: Cat Stairs (10/31/2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Let’s take a Halloween Hike to the Cat Stairs! Starting in Greenbrier we’ll follow an old, rugged manway route to visit the ruins of the Barnes’ place below the towering bluff line of the lower Pinnacle Lead. From there the real climb begins as the manway snakes its way through the thickest scrub, scree, and rhodo-tangles to an even steeper, rocky ascent of the northwest Cat Stairs bluffs where we’ll use every muscle-in-our-body to pull ourselves upward. At the summit lies a little slick of laurel-horror that eventually gives way to a tight overlook showcasing views of Woolly Tops, Le Conte, and the lower Greenbrier valley. Depending on daylight remaining and the ghoulish motivations of our troupe, several terrifying descent options are available, but don’t expect to be back before dark :-}

RATED: DIFFICULT OFF-TRAIL.

Leaders: Todd Long and Kindel Page.

For sign-up info please email: kindeledhearts1985@gmail.com.

Wednesday Hike: Porters Creek to Brushy Mountain (11/04/2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Porters Creek trail to Brushy Mtn. trail to Trillium Gap and on up to Brushy Mtn. With a side trip to see the recently restored Messer Barn. About 12 miles. Rated difficult for the climb up Brushy Mtn. trail and the spur trail to Brushy Mtn. is not easy either.

Meet at Porters Creek trailhead at 8:00. Leader will meet everyone at the trailhead. Michael Zielinski 865-363-6527 or kf4yws@charter.net

Off Trail Hike: Thunderhead Prong to the New World, Off-trail (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

We will explore this classic Smokies off-trail hiking area, with an out and back hike (7 miles total), from the Middle Prong Trailhead. The trip begins by crossing Thunderhead Prong on the Iron Bridge, quickly using up our allotment of bridges. Three more creek crossings await, including a second, unbridged crossing of Thunderhead Prong. This valley was one of the last in the Smokies to face the sawblade of commercial logging, but the old railroad grade is now a wide path through open, mature forest. We’ll hike to the end of the grade at New World and have lunch before returning to the trailhead.

The hike is rated moderate off-trail with 1225’ of climbing.

For carpooling, meet at Kroger at 244 S. Hall Rd, Alcoa, TN ready to leave at 8AM (52 miles roundtrip @$0.07=$3.50 payable to the driver), or at the Middle Prong Trailhead at the end of the Tremont Road at 8:45AM.

Leaders: Mark Shipley, 865-388-5261, shipleymark57@gmail.com and Hiram Rogers, 865-789-5008, hiramrogers@yahoo.com.

Saturday Hike: Jakes Creek/Blanket Mtn (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Blanket Mountain got its name from an 1802 survey by Return Jonathan Meigs, who placed a red blanket on a pole so he had a target for his compass.

Our hike will begin at the Jakes Creek Trailhead in Elkmont. The trail starts with a moderate grade and becomes steeper as we climb 3.7 miles to Jakes Gap. After Jakes Gap, we will continue for approximately 0.8 miles on an unmaintained trail to the summit of Blanket Mountain, where two fire towers used to be located. Along the way we will visit several historic sites, including the stone foundation of the Hommel Apple Barn and the old Elkmont Water Tower. We will also tour the recently restored Chapman-Byers Cabin and the Avent Cabin.

Hike is 9 miles with 2300’ of elevation gain. Rated Difficult due to elevation gain and off-trail section.

Meet at the Jakes Creek Trailhead parking lot in Elkmont at 8:30 am. Hike leader – Steve Dickinson, 865-253-0555 – Winston.fob@comcast.net Co-leader: Debby Dickinson

Southern Regional Partnership Committee (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Are you interested in learning more about the organizations that maintain the Appalachian Trail? This is an excellent way to spend your Saturday. In addition to informative presentations, participants will share successes and challenges. You will meet maintaining clubs from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, as well as ATC Staff and government agency land managers.

To attend, please first register here and answer the survey questions, including whether you want to carpool (the leader will help coordinate). Then, follow the ATC "Register Here" link in the description below to register on the ATC website.

- Leader: Larry Johnson, ATC Vice-Chair (865-776-6434)

- Co-leader: Phillip Royer, ATMC Chairman

From the ATC website:

Twice a year, representatives of each of the trail clubs responsible for maintenance of the A.T. in GA, NC, and TN meet with ATC staff and land managers to discuss trail management topics. The Fall 2026 meeting will be held in Arden, NC. There is also an option to attend virtually; please specify your preference when you sign up. Regardless of how you plan to attend, please register using the link below:

ATC Register Here

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

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

On this end of year work trip we will meet up at the tool shed located near the maintenance center also located near Sugarlands Visitor Center. No car pool is offered for this event, 9:30am meeting time.

Please bring work gloves and lunch and water. The objective for this event is tool cleaning and inspection as well as some improvements to our facilities including cleaning our beautiful shed. All help is appreciated, Leader John Lee johnjlee.67@gmail.com

Wednesday Hike: Jakes Creek, Little River to CS 23 on Goshen Prong (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Jakes Creek trail to Cucumber Gap trail to Little River trail and out to campsite 23 on Goshen Prong trail.

About 14 miles. Rated difficult for distance. It is a very pleasant hike with not a lot of elevation gain and nice cascades along Goshen Prong trail.

Meet at Jakes Creek trailhead at 8:00. Leader will meet at the trailhead. Michael Zielinski 865-363-6527 or kf4yws@charter.net

Off Trail Hike: Panther Stairs (11/14/2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This hike begins at the familiar Groundhog Ridge parking area with a climb up one of the branches of Groundhog Creek to the Lower Mount Cammerer Trail. This trail is used to zip around the mountain to Robinson Creek where the narrow valley leads up into the Highlands. The climb then turns toward the Panther Stairs as the trek passes by five nice waterfalls set in a broad almost gentle valley. These gentle slopes give way to the cliffs beneath the Panther Stairs. At this point, the hike becomes a scramble up the open sandstone faces and along the narrow spine of the Panther Stairs affording excellent views into the Smoky Mountain valleys below. The hike will proceed to the Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower and then return by the old Groundhog Ridge manway.

Total trip is 5.2 miles, 3.8 being off trail. Rated difficult.

Previous off-trail experience encouraged. Preregistration for this off-trail hike is required – please contact trip leaders to get details, including meeting time and place.

Leaders Greg Harrell (GSHarrell@milligan.edu) and Ken Wise (kwise@utk.edu).

Saturday Hike: Cumberland Trail: McGill Creek Falls (11/14/2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The McGill Creek Falls section is a relatively new Cumberland Trail segment. The section includes a few wonderful views, a nice waterfall at the end and some fabulous fall colors this time of year. This segment of the trail continues a little farther up the hill past the falls and is in the process of being connected to the Upper Legett Rd. portion of the Rock Creek gorge. The group can opt to hike up the hill a ways on the new portion.

Hike 5.5 miles RT plus any extra. Rated moderately difficult.

Drive 100 miles round trip from the carpool meeting place at Lowe’s at Harriman I-40 Exit 350. Recommended carpool driver reimbursement $7.

Meet at 8:00 am at Lowe’s or 9:00 at the trailhead. The hike begins at the Roaring Creek Trailhead off Pikeville Rd near Graysville and heads south to the falls.

Leader: Tim Bigelow, 865-607-6781, Bigelowt2@mindspring.com

AT Work Hike: Stecoah Gap to Brown Fork Gap Shelter (11/14/2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join us for a welcoming day of trail tending and a look at the AT’s future! No prior trail-maintenance experience is needed—come meet fellow volunteers, learn along the way, and lend a hand at a pace that works for you.

After 1½ miles of fairly easy hiking, we’ll climb Jacobs Ladder—not quite as fearsome as legend holds—toward Brown Fork Gap Shelter, clearing vegetation and cleaning water bars along the way.

Near the shelter, we’ll take a brief off-trail detour to see the AT relocation work completed over the past two years by SMHC and the Konnarock Volunteer Trail Crew. After lunch at the shelter, we’ll return to Stecoah Gap, with another short detour to explore the future AT route connecting to the land bridge. Hike distance is about 5 miles in typical NC terrain-some climbs but lots of recovery time as well.

Bring lunch, water, and your favorite hand clippers, and wear hiking shoes. Other tools will be provided. Whether you’re new to trail work or an experienced volunteer, you’re welcome to join us for a rewarding day on the trail!

For more information or questions, please contact Randy Bullock jrbperfusion@gmail.com, 850-554-8509.

Saturday Hike: North Cherokee National Forest: Flint Rock with Holston Hikers (11/14/2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

This hike is a roughly an 8-mile loop that heads out from the top of the mountain. (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/holston-mountain-and-flint-mill-gap). We will take a variation of the loop that includes about two miles of off-trail route passing by a couple of historical sites. After two miles, we will merge with the Holston Mountain Trail (#44) to Flint Mill Gap. Once there, we will enjoy the view at Flint Rock overlooking Holston Valley, including the beautiful Holston Lake, toward the Clinch Mountains. The return route is on a gated forest road.

Flint Rock is the location of the photo that covers the 3rd edition of the Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide. Dean Walker, Elizabethton, TN (Flint Mill and Stoney Creek and Iron Mountain Sections). Retired Engineer and Professor of Philosophy. Known as the “Jedi of Holston Mountain”. His interests include hiking, off-trail exploring, and mountain history.

Larry will coordinate registrants wanting to carpool. Leaders: Dean Walker and Larry Johnson (865-776-6434; larryj11320@gmail.com)

Location: Registrants will receive details. (approximately: 36.460139, -82.088861) Time: 9:30 AM Spaces:20

Sunday New Member Hike: Aspire Park (11/15/2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Aspire (777 Aspire Drive, Clinton, TN) is a privately owned, free to the public park located on the Clinch River in Clinton. It is a 36 minute drive from Knoxville. We will hike 5 miles- 3.6 miles on a mountain bike trail and 1.4 miles on a paved greenway. After the hike there are several options for those wishing to stay longer:

Lunch at The Pearl, the onsite restaurant with an excellent chef
Biking on the greenway, paved walkways or skill areas
Or using the boat ramp to the Clinch River for a canoe, kayak or paddle board. There are no rentals so bring your own bike or watercraft.

We will meet on the upper level directly behind the main building (housing The Pearl) at 9:00, ready to hike. Restrooms and a water fill are available at that location. This hike is rated easy with some moderate climbs and descents.

Hike leader David Shepler- davidshepler@att.net

Saturday Hike: Cumberland Gap Highlight Tour (11/21/2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Starting at the Abraham Lincoln Museum at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN, we will walk the famous Wilderness Road through the mountain cleft to the Cumberland Gap National Park Visitor Center in Middlesboro, KY. At the historic Saddle of the Gap, we will pause to recite Frederick Jackson Turner's lyrical ode to the frontier and then detour uphill to the majestic Pinnacle Overlook. Other highlights include the quaint town of Cumberland Gap, the Iron Furnace, the entrance to Gap Cave (closed for the winter), several Civil War ruins, Tri-State Peak (via another uphill detour), where three states meet and the Cumberland Trail begins, and a trail through an old railroad tunnel.

Distance about 9 miles. Rated Moderate to Difficult because of two strenuous climbs. We will begin with a very short car shuttle. You may want to spend extra time at either the VC or the Lincoln Museum after the hike.

Meet at 9:00 AM at Lincoln Memorial University's Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at 120 Mars-DeBusk Parkway in Harrogate, TN.

To carpool, meet ready to leave at 7:30 AM at the Outback Steakhouse at 314A Merchant Drive in Knoxville (just off the I-75 Merchant Drive exit). Drive 110 miles RT ($8.00 to driver).

Hike limited to 15 hikers. No signups after 7:00 PM November 20.

Leader: Dan Feller, 865-673-5822 (no texts!), dfeller@utk.edu.

Saturday Hike: I.C. King Park Easy Hike (11/28/2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

I.C. King Park is an overlooked gem in the Knox County Park system. It is one of the largest parks with over 240 acres, and one of the oldest, established in the late 1950s. It is heavily forested with large canopy trees, creating a pleasant venue for hiking.

We will explore some of the older trails on the south side of the park with interesting names such as Wimp’s Pass, Everest High, and Kimbles Ladder. We will then continue to the north side by way of the new greenway bridge parallel to Alcoa Hwy. We will go by Lower Beginner’s trail to the connector to finish the loop on the Maryville Pike side, following Easy Peasy trail.

We’ll learn about this park’s history and who I.C. King was. Hike is about 5 miles, rated easy but with a couple of short steep ascents and descents with ample switchbacks.

Meet at the park entrance at 2625 Maryville Pike, by the restrooms at 9:00am.

Hike leader - Maricarmen Rogers .Cell (865) 250-3103 maricarmenrogers54@gmail.com

2026 Holiday Banquet and Installation Dinner (12/12/2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

December 12 (Saturday) — Fox Den Country Club

Join us for an evening of good food and good friends as we enjoy our guest speaker presentation, install the SMHC officers for 2027, and present awards!

Guest Speaker: Actress Anne Van Curen transforms into Emma "Grandma" Gatewood to describe what it was like to be the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955. The dramatization is based off of the book "Grandma Gatewood's Walk", which was written from accounts of Gatewood's surviving family members, newspaper magazine articles, and her own diaries and trail journals.

5:00–6:00 p.m. — Reception: Entertainment, Cash Bar, and Cider/Fruit Punch

6:00–7:00 p.m. — Welcome, Invocation, Dinner, and Fellowship

7:00–7:15 p.m. — Business Meeting: Introduction and Installation of 2027 Officers; Changes to the Constitution & Bylaws (click HERE for details)

7:15–8:00 p.m. — Guest Speaker: Anne Van Curen and her portrayal as Emma “Grandma” Gatewood

8:00–8:30 p.m. — ATMC Awards, 2027Handbook Distribution, SMHC Merchandise Sales

Dinner Menu - $45.00 Per Person
All dinners served with salad, rolls, tea, coffee, and water.

Entree choices (choose one)

Chicken Marsala, Whipped Parmesan Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable Medley
Poached Atlantic Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Seasonal Vegetable Medley
Vegetarian Delight (Italian Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Drizzled with Balsamic Glaze), Rice Pilaf, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

Dessert Choices (choose one)

Cheesecake with Strawberries
Chocolate Fudge Cake

You must register in advance by Saturday, December 5th! To register, you can...

Register and pay online via this event registration page.
Print and fill in the registration form in the November Newsletter (Click HERE to access; 1 per banquet attendee), and mail it along with a check to:

SMHC

PO Box 51592

Knoxville, TN 37950-1592

Cancellations must be received by Saturday, December 5th. If cancellations are received later than that, meals cannot be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Contact Pat Watts at 865-365-2910 with questions.