Question about parking in the GSMNP. I'm looking at the official trail map on their website, but it doesn't show where there is parking besides the main visitor centers. For example, I'm looking at campsite 53 which is 3.9 miles from Newfound Gap Road according to the map. Is there going to be parking right there at the trailhead? What about parking on some of the trailheads on smaller roads?

Get the National Geographic map and use the "official" map for burning. Every ranger stations has parking lots. All the picnic areas have parking lot. Many trailheads has small lots as well. I have to look at my map for the specific campsite you're asking about, but there is a parking lot at Newfound Gap. I'm at work on lunch at the moment. When I get home I check it out for you.

Glad there's a better map out there. I am going to pick up the natgeo map after work! Oh and I also called the park and guy said there's parking where a trail touches a road. I may be heading into the park for my first GSMNP backpacking trip this weekend. Never used a bear bag before.

There are tons of parking area's at trail heads and no issues leaving a car there 99% of the time. As for the bear bag, that's another non-issue. If it's an actual camp site like you listed there will be a cable/pully/carabiner system already set up for it. You picked a great week to go and I'll be camping nearby but will be using kayaks to get there.

Yup, I just looked there a parking lot. It'll be small compared to ranger stations and others, but it there! You don't need a bear bag like someone mentioned above. What I do is take all my smelly things throw it in my backpack put my rain fly over my pack, and hang it on the bear cable. You have to use the cable anyway, so packing a bear bag or canister is pointless for me. Enjoy the Smokies! It definitely a diverse place to be as far as seeing different ecosystems from low elevation to high elevation. Be sure to take pictures!

I have a feeling of not knowing what I'm doing, but I'm going to just go for it. I've got 5 or 6 solo backpacking trips under my belt now. I am challenged with diabetes, but I am prepared for anything.

All you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Just stay relax and enjoy the scenery. And post pictures for rest of us that are stuck in an office crunching numbers!

Well, I ended up not going. Didn't feel like driving 250 miles potentially battling tourist traffic for one little night in my tent. Maybe some other time.

I live in the area. Give me a PM about fall trips. I don't have any smokies trip planned but Roan Highlands, and Western Caroline high on my list. I may do Gregory Bald this fall. You don't have drive through pigeon forge to reach that trailhead. We do 10-15 miles a day, so we cover some awesome ground!!

I've not done more than 5 per day. I am going to make it a goal to work up to 10-15 and then join y'all.

I recommend mountain biking. A lot of it! My friend and I ride bikes all summer then hike all fall and winter.

ETSU, 10-15 might be a bit more than I usually do depending on terrain (seem to keep doing things like Shuckstack and it's near 100% vertical climbs) but I might be game. Then again, I'm still in camping mode coming back from a 4-day/3-night kayak-camping run on Lake Santeetlah in western NC.

I haven't done Shuckstack, yet. I may do it this fall, I was going to do it last fall and loop it while crossing over Gregory bald then descend back to Fontana Dam (the name of trail escapes my memory at moment), but the park shut down during government shutdown. lol. I love Rocky Top. I explored the northern half of the Smoky, so any of my future trips are kind of geared towards southern sections.

Just let me know when you want to go.