Take a Mountain Hike

 

There are approximately 900 miles of developed trails in the Smokies so if you want more than a walk to town or a walk around the shopping opportunity locations, you are in luck!

 

If you should choose to go into the mountains, regardless of the location, do keep in mind that the weather changes rapidly and you need to be prepared for it. For me it has always proven best to carry water, some food, and some emergency supplies including warm clothing. You just can’t over prepare regardless of your planned distance or duration. Good intentions can get you into trouble.

 

The Appalachian Trail goes from one end of the park to the other, starting at Fontana Dam in the south and leaving out at Davenport Gap on I-40 in the north. The distance is approximately 70 miles. Many of the other trails can be accessed from the AT or from any of the trailheads that are usually clearly marked on maps of the area. It crosses highway 441 at Newfound Gap between here and Cherokee, NC. That area gets pretty crowded during the height of the tourist season.

 

Baskins Creek Falls and Baskins Cemetery

 

Although not shown on some park maps there is a very beautiful ,as pretty and quiet as you will find anywhere in the Smokies, trail just up the street. You can walk up to Baskins Creek Falls in about an hour or you can keep going and eventually connect up with the AT via a series of trails and go all the way to Maine or Georgia.

 

Go down to the bottom of the hill and turn right on Baskins Creek Road. In just a few minuets you will see a sign that says “dead end” but just keep going up that street and you will see a parking area but there are no direction signs. You will see where the trail starts and goes between two large rocks because it stays  fairly worn down. The walk itself is rather rough in places but not a bad hike. There are some steep places off to the side and some moderate hill climbs. You will have to go under and/or over a few downed trees and you will encounter a few muddy places. Count on the normal mountain opportunities pertaining to slick rocks and hidden roots.

 

You don’t have to hike very far, and certainly not all the way to the falls, to enjoy the absolute beauty of old home sites, rock walls along ancient road beds that were definitely hand stacked many years ago, and even their water supply which was a spring. You are always hiking along the creek and some of the scenes are better than picture perfect and seem to be calling out for one to stop and have a picnic or to take a much needed break. (Don’t forget the camera)

 

You will likely see several places along the way that look like someone has been trying to work up a garden spot but what you are seeing is where either wild turkeys or wild boars have been rooting around. You will ocasionally see where a bear has dug deep looking for grubs, especially under old rotten logs and stumps that they have moved over. Yes there are plenty of bears and boars in the area and in late 2003 I came upon the largest wild boar that I have ever encountered, here or elsewhere. Fortunately he wasn’t any happier to see me than I was to see him so he ran off immediately. After my heart slowed down so did I. You need to read up on what to do if you encounter either of these animals because they are dangerous and should be avoided. Making a little noise every now and then will usually get them gone before you arive and this is ideal.

 

The trail seems to end at the falls but it doesn’t. It cuts in front to your left and goes up and over. It is about a 20 minute walk up to Baskins Cemetery where you will find graves from the late early 1900’s and probably some from the late 1800’s. The stones are some that have been dug up or brought up from the creek and the names are scratched on them but barely visible. The oldest I could see was 1905.

 

After you go up and over the falls and walk for some distance you will intersect with Baskins Creek Trail that goes both left and right. Turn right and go until you see a sign that says “Baskins Cemetery” and follow that trail off to the right. You will have a pretty steep climb just before you get to the plot that is literally on a hillside. Well worth the walk whether you like local history or not.

 

If you don’t want to go to the cemetery you can stay on Baskins Creek Trail and intersect with the Trillium Gap Trail that can take you to Grotto Falls or you can continue .7 mile to the intersection of Rainbow Falls Trail or Bullhead Trail, both of which will lead you up to Mt. Leconte. Either way you can have a wonderful hiking experience. It is also easy to sit on the front porch of Baskins Creek Sounds and read about all this stuff.