Twenty Mile to Gregory Bald

Hike Name: Twenty Mile to Gregory Bald Location: southwest NC Length: 15.7 Submitted by: Adam Garrett Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more North Carolina trail reviews North Carolina national parks North Carolina state parks
For more trail descriptions and topo maps, try a Free Trial Offer from Trails.com

Description
Beauty, scenic, and solitude– all are found on the Gregory Bald Loop trail. The trail head is at Twenty Mile Ranger Station in the extreme southern part of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Begin the hike on a wide Jeep road, when the road forks take the right fork and travel a back country campsite (any one of the two) and set up camp for the night. Rise early the next morning and prepare to CLIMB!!! A long steep trail ascends to the top of Gregory Bald, but the reward is fantastic. Beautiful views of the southern Appalachians and Smokies. Take some time to enjoy the view from here before descending back into Twenty Mile Ranger Station. After leaving the Bald, work your way through some small timber before coming to another Bald. Then arriving at another back country campsite. Note: this campsite was closed during the winter of 2002. Check with rangers before making plans to stay. The trail will slowly descend back to the Jeep road that you left the day before and then back to the Ranger Station at Twenty Mile Creek.

Highlights: Beautiful Southern Bald Views, secluded trail, roaring creeks.
Low lights: STEEP Trail!!! Inability to split trail into even mile days. You have to hike the longest part of the trail on the second day because the campsite past Parson’s Bald is closed.

Directions to Hike
From Asheville: I-40 to exit 27. Follow US 19 to Bryson City. Take US 129 to Fontana Villiage and across the lake. After crossing the lake drive for apx. 4-6 miles until you see the sign for Twenty Mile Ranger Station. From Knoxville: go to Maryville and take US129 until you see Fontana Lake and begin looking for Twenty Mile Ranger Station on your Left.

Contact Information
smoky mountain nat'l park/backcountry reservations
423-436-1231

Little Brown Book

submit a new trail review

---

About Our Reviews

Many people ask us to recommend a place to go hiking. Instead of us deciding what places are best, we let the backpacking community help out. The reviews on budget-travels-tips.com have been submitted by our viewers. Some reviews are positive and some are negative. If you don't agree with a review, feel free to submit your own trail review.