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West and Mountains

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Gems in West and Mountains - 23

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Gems

gem Favorite Plenty of mountains to view from Clingman's Dome.

Clingmans Dome

(143) Gatlinburg, TN
gem Favorite Enjoy expansive views across the valley to Looking Glass Rock.

John Rock

(23) Brevard, NC
gem Favorite Andrews Bald.

Andrews Bald

(32) Bryson…, NC
gem Favorite Mingus Mill

Mingus Mill

(29) Cherokee, NC
gem Favorite The breathtaking sight of Linville Gorge from Shortoff Mountain.

Shortoff Mountain View

(12) Glen Al…, NC
gem Favorite Linville Gorge Wilderness Area as seen from the peak of Table Rock Mountain.

Table Rock Summit

(15) Spruce…, NC
gem Favorite Elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cataloochee Valley

Cataloochee Valley Wildlife Viewpoint

(16) Cove Creek, NC
gem Favorite Rays and ridges from Waterrock Knob. Photo by Robert Stephens.

Waterrock Knob

(10) Maggie…, NC
gem Favorite Watching a mixture of fog and clouds dissipate as the sun rises above Linville Gorge. Those rolling clouds get misty - bring a rain jacket!

Big Flat Rock Overlook / Campsite

(9) Spruce…, NC
gem Favorite Tubers coming down the longer natural waterslide near Upper Creek Falls.

Upper Creek Falls/Jonas Hole/Natural Waterslide

(11) Linville, NC
gem Favorite Nothing beats a Bearwallow sunset!

Bearwallow Mountain

(3) Edneyville, NC
gem Favorite Heading to Juney Whank Falls on a perfect fall day.

Juney Whank Falls

(24) Bryson…, NC
gem Favorite Profile of Linville Falls from Plunge Basin

Linville Falls

(1) Newland, NC
gem Favorite Overlooking the valley below at Rocky Knob!

Rocky Knob Overlook

(4) Black M…, NC
gem Favorite The path narrows as it works its way through the fields of Spence Field. Imagine fields like this being used for cattle grazing when settlers lived in the park.

Spence Field

(4) Robbins…, NC
gem Favorite Rhododendron Gardens atop Roan Ridge!

Rhododendron Gardens

(5) Bakersv…, NC
gem Favorite Sun rising over the cloud encased South Toe River Valley as the wind begins to whip up the just moments before still clouds as seen from Sunrise Point along the Woody Ridge Trail

Sunrise Point Overlook

(6) Burnsville, NC
gem Favorite Hickory Nut Falls

Hickory Nut Falls

(2) Lake Lure, NC
gem Favorite Middle Falls on Snowbird Creek

Middle Falls on Snowbird Creek

(3) Andrews, NC
gem Favorite Smaller waterfall leading up to larger falls with swimming hole

Wildcat Falls

(3) Robbins…, NC
gem Favorite Carl Sandburg National Historic Site - photo courtesy of NPS

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

(3) Flat Rock, NC
gem Favorite This is the meadow at the top. And this is Bodhi. He is not our dog; he was a dog from the neighborhood who led us up the trail. At one point he surprised us at the other end of a crawl through space.

Horse Rock Bald

(6) Burnsville, NC
gem Favorite Views of the Hickory Nut Gorge from Rattlesnake Knob.

Rattlesnake Knob

(2) Fairview, NC

Recommended Routes in West and Mountains - 152

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Tablerock Mountain (to the right) from Shortoff Mountain.
Difficult Difficult

Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop

21.9 mi 35.2 km • 4,723' Up 1439.6 m Up • 4,722' Down 1439.31 m Down

Glen Al…, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Stream in the Smoky Mtns.
Difficult Difficult

Alum Cave - Cliff Top Out and Back

10.7 mi 17.3 km • 2,773' Up 845.09 m Up • 2,773' Down 845.09 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Mount LeConte after a winter storm on the AT. Clouds hug the ridges and hoarfrost covers the trees.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Charlies Bunion Out and Back

8.0 mi 12.8 km • 1,632' Up 497.37 m Up • 1,632' Down 497.29 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Afternoon sun streaming through the trees on the Crest Trail.
Difficult Difficult

Mount Mitchell - Black Mountain Crest Trail #179

12.1 mi 19.5 km • 5,010' Up 1526.98 m Up • 1,498' Down 456.71 m Down

Burnsville, NC
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the trail
Difficult Difficult

Chimney Tops Trail

4.2 mi 6.7 km • 1,420' Up 432.7 m Up • 1,420' Down 432.77 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Abrams Falls.
Intermediate Intermediate

Abrams Falls Out and Back

5.1 mi 8.2 km • 550' Up 167.56 m Up • 550' Down 167.56 m Down

Maryville, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Rainbow Falls
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Rainbow Falls

5.4 mi 8.7 km • 1,607' Up 489.94 m Up • 1,607' Down 489.89 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Leave Only Your Footprints. The scene from Grotto Falls after a February morning snow fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From Dec. to mid-March, the trail begins at the Rainbow Falls Trailhead (6 miles r/t). Rest of the year, you can begin at Trillium Gap Trailhead for a 2.6-mile hike.
Intermediate Intermediate

Grotto Falls

2.6 mi 4.2 km • 515' Up 157.07 m Up • 516' Down 157.18 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Seen on the way to Ramsey Cascades in late October © Ryan Jones
Difficult Difficult

Ramsey Cascades Trail

8.0 mi 12.8 km • 2,209' Up 673.28 m Up • 2,208' Down 673.1 m Down

Gatlinburg, TN
Explore in 3D

West and Mountains Hiking

  • 3,488 Miles 5,614 Kilometers of Trail
  • 152 Recommended Routes
  • 23 Gems Gems
  • 257 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 771 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 399 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!
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Areas Within West and Mountains

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Trails in West and Mountains - 1,275

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

5.4 mi 8.7 km #1Boone Fork Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Blowing Rock, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Blowing Rock, NC 72 
0.8 mi 1.3 km #2Clingmans Dome Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Bryson City, NC
Intermediate Intermediate
Bryson City, NC 87 
2.7 mi 4.3 km #3Looking Glass Rock Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Brevard, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Brevard, NC 52 
2.4 mi 3.9 km #4Woody Ridge Trail (177)
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC
Very Difficult Very Difficult
Burnsville, NC 30 
3.5 mi 5.7 km #5Profile Trail
Difficult Difficult
Banner Elk, NC
Difficult Difficult
Banner Elk, NC 35 
4.1 mi 6.6 km #6Laurel Falls Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Gatlinburg, TN
Intermediate Intermediate
Gatlinburg, TN 45 
2.0 mi 3.3 km #7Grandfather Trail
Difficult Difficult
Linville, NC
Difficult Difficult
Linville, NC 29 
7.7 mi 12.4 km #8Shortoff Mountain Trail
Difficult Difficult
Glen Alpine, NC
Difficult Difficult
Glen Alpine, NC 22 
1.0 mi 1.6 km #9Hawksbill Mountain Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Spruce Pine, NC 25 
2.4 mi 3.9 km #10Flat Top Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Blowing Rock, NC
Intermediate Intermediate
Blowing Rock, NC 29 

Photos of West and Mountains - 1,328

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

Forest on Baxter Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Jul 28, 2015 near Cove Creek, NC
Midnight Hole © Ryan Jones
Jan 16, 2016 near Cove Creek, NC
Mouse Creek Falls © Ryan Jones
Jan 16, 2016 near Cove Creek, NC
Morning glory on the Black Mountain Crest Trail.
Jan 17, 2016 near Burnsville, NC
Rays and ridges from Waterrock Knob. Photo by Robert Stephens.
Mar 24, 2016 near Maggie…, NC
Plenty of mountains to view from Clingman's Dome.
Mar 31, 2016 near Gatlinburg, TN
The Peoples Trail - A photo shot of a couple along the Appalachian Trail from atop Max Patch Mountain in Pisgah National Forest. There are many stunning views along the 2,200-mile east coast trail, but nothing quite like the panoramic scene of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Apr 7, 2016 near Marshall, NC
Afternoon sun streaming through the trees on the Crest Trail.
Apr 26, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
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