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Knoxville, Tennessee

Top Spots in and near Knoxville

  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Tom Branch and Indian Creek Falls

    4.5
    1.76 mi
    From the Deep Creek Trailhead, you can hike to both waterfalls heading up the Deep Creek Trail. You will come across Tom Branch Falls quickly, after 0.2 miles. Once you've had your fill of Tom Branch, head further along the Deep Creek Trail for another 0.5 miles. Turn right on the Indian Creek Tr...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Hike Three Waterfalls Loop

    5.0
    2.4 mi / 450 ft gain
    Start the loop by hiking the Juney Whank Falls Trail to Juney Whank Falls. The footbridge across the creek makes an excellent place to rest and take in the falls. Follow the trail across the bridge and up the bank. After about 300 feet take a right and follow Deep Creek Horse Trail towards Deep C...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Deep Creek to Clingmans Dome Loop

    32.82 mi / 7400 ft gain
    This is a ~36 mile loop that goes up Clingman's Dome (the tallest point in Tennessee). Pretty challenging, not for the novice backpacker. Park at Deep Creek campground in Bryson City, NC. We did it as a 3-day, 2-night camping at sites 53 and 61. As it is a loop it could easily be done in reverse....
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Hike to Lonesome Pine Overlook

    5.0
    7 mi / 2300 ft gain
    To start the hike to Lonesome Pine Overlook begin from the Noland Divide Trailhead in Deep Creek. The trail is a steady climb with an average gain of 700 ft. every mile. Approaching the top you'll walk along a rocky ridge line where you are able to see the overlook. As you continue, be sure to lo...
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  • Bryson City, North Carolina

    Explore Old 288 and the Lands Creek Bridge

    2.5
    1 mi
    NC 288 was constructed in the 1920's, but did not last long with the construction of the Fontana Dam as the resulting lake covered the highway. The U.S. government entered an agreement in which they would provide a replacement road, but to this day it has not been completed and is know by locals ...
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  • Hartford, Tennessee

    Whitewater Rafting the Pigeon River

    5.0
    The Pigeon River is a dam controlled river that winds its way through North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river provides beautiful views as one paddles along via raft or kayak.  Cutting through portions of the Pisgah and Cherokee National For...
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  • Tellico Plains, North Carolina

    Hike to Whiggs Meadow

    3 mi / 700 ft gain
    You will start your hike off of the Cherohala Skyway. The trail-head is a small asphalt pull-off on the right if you are coming from Tellico Plains. From the trail-head the trail starts up and almost all of the trial is an uphill incline on the way there with about 700 feet of elevation change ov...
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  • Lancing, Tennessee

    Climb The Lilly Bluff Wall

    The Obed Wild and Scenic River is typically not found in the same conversations as Zion or Yosemite, but be assured this hidden gem of Tennessee is one of the East Coast's must climb destinations.There are a number of climbing areas within the Obed worth exploring, ranging from bouldering to mul...
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  • Lancing, Tennessee

    Bouldering at Lilly Boulders

    Start the quick approach to Lilly Boulders from the Lilly Overlook parking area. For directions, plug the coordinates 36.10277, -84.72147 into your GPS or try here.  At the leftmost part of the parking lot, you will see a sign for the trailhead leading to the boulder field. Follow this 0.2-mile t...
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  • Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina

    Huckleberry Knob

    4.8
    1.77 mi / 295 ft gain
    Huckleberry Knob is the highest point in the Cheoah Ranger District at 5,560 feet, and it offers expansive views of the surrounding Cherokee and Natahala National Forest. The hike is 2.4 miles roundtrip and begins at the parking lot between mile 8 and 9 up an old dirt road. You will go up the di...
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  • Lancing, Tennessee

    Camp at OBED Wild and Scenic River Area via the Point Trail

    4 mi
    You will want to park at the Lilly Bluff parking lot. Your GPS won't know where this is, so here are the GPS coordinates N36° 06.162', W84° 43.280'.The trailhead is located on the North side of the parking lot. All you need to do is follow the sign for Point Trail. The trail culminates at an e...
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  • Lancing, Tennessee

    Take in the View at Lilly Bluff Overlook

    5.0
    0.6 mi / 0 ft gain
    Honestly this is hard to even call a trail, but that doesn't mean it lacks beauty. Once you take the right or left of off ridge Ridge Road make sure to go past the first parking lot and into the second larger parking lot. The trail starts near the front of the parking lot on the right side of the...
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  • Robbinsville, North Carolina

    Hike Hooper Bald

    1 mi / 250 ft gain
    Hooper bald is one of the highest points in Graham County so the views from the top can be spectacular year round.  The trail-head starts at mile marker 8 on the Cherohala Skyway. From the trail-head you start your accent on a semi-paved trail and walk about a half-mile before reaching the edge o...
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  • Tellico Plains, Tennessee

    Explore North River Road

    4.7
    If you're looking to get off the beaten path and take the road less traveled, North River Road is your ticket to solitude.A popular loop for the locals is starting on Tellico River Road, then getting on North River Road to make your way up the mountain all the way to the Cherohala Skyway. Take th...
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  • Tellico Plains, Tennessee

    Camp at North River Campground and Dispersed Campsites

    North River Road is located in the Nantahala National Forest near Tellico Plains. To get to North River Campground you can either drive up the Cherohala Skyway about 6 miles then turn when you see the sign for the campground and bald river falls. Another way to get to the campsites along North Ri...
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  • Tellico Plains, Tennessee

    Drive the Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway

    5.0
    The Cherohala Skway is one of the National Scenic byways in America it spans over 43 curvy miles from Tellico Planes, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina. On the Skyway there are many overlooks ranging elevations from 2000-5200 feet all have beautiful views and different view points. The pa...
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