MDawg
Trail Ready!
Posts: 8 
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Post by MDawg on Apr 9, 2018 13:09:48 GMT -8
Hey all, Planning a trip to GSMNP in late June/early July. I called up the ranger station and Ranger Mitch told me about this 3 day/2 night loop. Start at Big Creek Ranger Station - on the Big Creek trail to camp site 37 at Walnut bottom. Day 2 - Swallow Fork Trail to Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail to camp site 38 at the top of Mt Sterling. Day 3 - hike out on the Benton MacKaye Trail.
Has any one done this loop? Thought? Suggestions?
Thanks M.D.awg
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Post by ashepabst on Apr 10, 2018 4:34:05 GMT -8
Yeah that’s a great loop. It’s pretty short — your first day would only be a couple hours hike. The big Creek campsite is right on the river —very scenic. This Mount sterling campsite is really cool, right below the fire tower in a Spruce forest. Mice are a problem at both sites, like a lot of popularsites in the Smokies.And both are very popular campsites, so be sure to get your reservations as soon as you can.
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null
Trail Wise!
Posts: 578
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Post by null on Apr 10, 2018 6:41:02 GMT -8
Site 37 (and 36) have just been closed for aggressive bear activity. I expect by June this will no longer be the case, but you should probably check.
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Post by kevinumberger on Apr 10, 2018 10:48:04 GMT -8
its not a bad loop at all...
37 is also notorious for having mouse problems.....
and 37, if its not closed, depending upon day of week---will be crowded...
thats one of the most visited sites in the Park...
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Post by markweth on Apr 10, 2018 13:35:56 GMT -8
I've done portions of that loop and here are my suggestions:
- Go mid-week if at all possible to avoid crowds.
- Definitely stop and swim at Midnight Hole on the way in, it is a really beautiful and refreshing swimming hole!
- If you can stretch the trip to 3 nights/4 days, then an outstanding loop is to hike Big Creek and stay at Campsite 37 the first day, then take Gunter Fork Trail up to Laurel Gap Shelter. Gunter Fork is a really charming path and a bit more rugged, but with some neat waterfalls on it. Laurel Gap Shelter is a cool stone shelter and sees less traffic than those on the Appalachian Trail (it is one of the few shelters in the park not on the AT).
- Mt. Sterling is a decent campsite and the view from the firetower is incredible on a clear day. The spring to get water from is about 1/4 or so downhill towards Baxter Creek.
It is a beautiful area and the 3 night/4 day loop option is a really, really nice hike.
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MDawg
Trail Ready!
Posts: 8
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Post by MDawg on Apr 10, 2018 20:08:15 GMT -8
Thanks for the comments. markweth, Unfortunately our holiday is only seven days and we have family to visit in Savanna. 3 days is all we get. This is great info and if you have any input on the below, please share. null, I saw that yesterday. We are comfortable with bears and hope to spot them on the trail. However, if you have an alternative trip you would suggest, I would welcome it. Just in case. Questions- What can we do about the mouse issue?
- How crowded could the campsite be if there are only 12 sites and reservations are a must?
- Any other 2 night/3 day hike you recommend in GSMNP?
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null
Trail Wise!
Posts: 578
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Post by null on Apr 11, 2018 0:56:24 GMT -8
if you have an alternative trip you would suggest If you have the extra mileage and uphill in you, you could go to Laurel Gap Shelter if there's still space on the night you want. Also, there is a lot of space at campsite 37. There's a small site on the West side just after you cross the footbridge, then 2 huge sites on the East side between the trail and the creek. 12 should fit comfortably. By the way, closing the site isn't just a test of how comfortable or afraid you (or others) are. It's also a way for the park to discourage bears from becoming acclimated to humans. If they're active in the area and start getting used to having people camp there (and leave food / scraps) chances are they will become bold and problematic. |
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Post by markweth on Apr 11, 2018 6:48:54 GMT -8
MDawg I've found most campsites at the Smokies don't usually feel crowded even if there are several other groups camped there. And in several trips in the Smokies, I don't think that I ever stayed at a site that was actually filled to its capacity. The max might be 12 and reservations required, but it is entirely possible that you might get there and there are only 2 other groups with 2 campers each at the site. A friend and I got extremely lucky one year, mid-May on a Friday, and had Laurel Gap Shelter to ourselves (even though the reservation system showed that others had reserved it and would be camping there. null is entirely right that if you are prepared to make the effort that getting to Laurel Gap Shelter is doable in a day. The five-miles to Campsite 37 is a total cruiser trail and if you got an early start you could knock that out really quickly. Then have a relaxing lunch at Campsite 37, splash off in the creek, maybe a quick nap, then start the uphill on Gunter Fork to Laurel Gap Shelter. It would be a long-ish day if you paced it slowly, but entirely doable if you packed light and were in good condition. As far as an alternative trip, I would maybe recommend heading over to the west side of the park and parking at Abrams Creek campground and then hiking in to Campsite 17 and spending both nights there and just relaxing and swimming around . . . maybe pack some nicer food and drinks since the hike in is short. You can then hike the back way to Abrams Falls which is a fairly pleasant trail and doesn't see a ton of traffic, but again unless you are going on a weekday you will see crowds at Abrams Falls.
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Post by kevinumberger on Apr 11, 2018 7:22:55 GMT -8
- What can we do about the mouse issue?
- How crowded could the campsite be if there are only 12 sites and reservations are a must?
mouse issue-----proper food storage and handling.... no food in tents....hang the food at night or when gone........and watch for crumbs.... or just tolerate the fact that there will be mice there no matter what you do.. as for crowded campsites----some people could show up without reservations, etc, etc etc.... to put it in perspective----and granted this was before the new reservation system took place but at the time 37 was a reserved site-----when i stayed at 37-----there were 26 people one night.........and another night, another trip---there was 18 or so....... |
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