Plan with
Confidence
Great Smoky Mountain National Park closes secondary roads on a seasonal schedule due to snow. Schedules can be found here.
All campsites must be registered with the park. Backcountry rules and regulations can be found here.
Path Type
Point to Point
This trail begins at the end of Forge Creek Road near Parsons Branch Road. The trailhead has a small parking area.
The trail follows Forge Creek up until it reaches Campsite #12. There's plenty of water at this site. From here, it's roughly a 2,400' climb towards Rich Gap - a bit more of a challenge than the first two miles. Hikers will gain elevation quickly, though, and eventually reach the Appalachian Trail and Gregory Bald Trail. The four-way intersection also cuts south as Long Hungry Ridge Trail, towards the Twentymile Ranger Station.
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