Alex Hauck: Chestnut Top Trail

Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Sunday, December 01, 2024

I always like getting out on the trails during the Thanksgiving break, and this year, of course, was no different. On Friday, I took Maggie out for a little five-mile hike / walk over at Seven Island State Birding Park. She of course loved it, but I needed a little more “forest time” so right at the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park there was a 4.3-mile trail I have not done yet. I figured this would be a good fast day hike at 8.6 miles roundtrip.

I have almost done this trail a couple of times when trying to go on a hike, but the park roads were closed. Since I did not want to spend all day being on trial it was the perfect time to mark this one of my Smoky Mountains list.

Starting at the Townsend Wye the first part of this trail was actually a little intimidating. The incline starts out steep, the trail is narrow, and looking over the side as you go will give you a sense of the height. Once you get past this quarter mile or so the trail widens and opens to make for a pleasant forest walk. You will be going up for most of the trip to School House Gap, but this is not a “mean” elevation gain that makes for a nice walk.

It was surprising as some of the trees still had some fall colors hanging on them, and while moving it did not seem too cold. The trail moves along the ridgeline and there are plenty of places to stop and take in the view. It is important for me to note here that you will only get these views when the leaves are off the trees. Hiking this one in summer you will not get that and will be enclosed. There is also not any water along this trail, so make sure to bring what you will need.

The last quarter mile is downhill, and you come out on School House Gap. You could extend this hike a few different ways, but there is not a good way to make this one a loop. If you do not go back over Chestnut Top you will want to park a car where you end up or schedule a pickup. I chose just to hike it there and back.

On the way back I hike up to Chestnut Top Lead that is one of the mountain tops along the trail for coffee and a leftover turkey wrap. It is nice to stop and just enjoy nature and what it has to offer. Being a little off the trail, you can seclude yourself and take it all in. I got to enjoy my lunch with a view of Townsend in the distance.

This turned out to be a nice hike in a forest setting that you always do not get in the Smoky Mountains. I would probably not hike this one in the summer months and save it for when the leaves have fallen off the trees. This would also be a nice hike in the snow, and I might try and do it this year if I cannot get to any of the other trails when the roads are closed.