Gregory Bald, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Gregory Bald Summit I did was an improvised loop hike near Fontana Dam, NC. I did this hike with a friend of mine, Jamie. This was a three day hike we began on 5/8/09. We began the hike at the Twenty Mile Ranger Station in the GSMNP. The first day we hiked approximately 5 miles along the Twenty Mile Trail connecting with the Long Hungry Ridge Trail and camped at camp site #92 the first night (you do not need a reservation to stay at this camp site). The weather was perfect when we began considering that it rained torentially on the way there. That evening, deer walked within feet of us through our campsite, which was a real treat.



The next morning we continued along the Long Hungry Ridge Trail to the Gregory Bald Trail. It was about a 7 mile trip to our next camp site #13, Sheep Pen Gap, one of the best camp sites in the park (you have to make reservations to stay at this camp site). The Long Hungry Ridge Trail gains elevation steeply once you leave camp site #92. On top of the elevation increase, the rain began to pour on us. Once we summited Gregory Bald (4,949 feet), the rain was blowing in sideways and the views were obstructed by a dense fog. We continued on to camp site #13 and set up camp. After the rain stopped that afternoon, we hiked back up to the bald, but the fog had barely lifted, thus no real views; only teases of what lied beneath us. Again, that night the weather brought us torrential downpours and serious wind gusts. We survived the night and slept peacefully.

The last day on the trail we woke up early to a beautiful crisp spring morning. We hiked back to the top of the bald to watch the sun rise and watch the sun spread its light into Cades Cove below us. This was a magnificent sight to behold. Looking north into Cades Cove and south towards Wolf Ridge. After pictures we headed back to camp and packed up and headed back towards Twenty Mile Creek Ranger Station.



On the way back crossed Parson Bald (4,724 feet). This bald is in the process of being reclaimed by mother nature. The GSMNP only maintains two true high elevation balds in the park - Gregory Bald and Andrews Bald. We continued back to the Twenty Mile Ranger Station via the Wolf Ridge Trail, about 7 miles. The remainder of the hike was down hill all the way back to the parking lot after crossing some of the make shift bridges over gushing creeks from the recent rain.

This is one of the best hikes I've ever done. It's got everything you want in a hike. Awesome views, tumbling creeks and a pretty good challenge. I would like to do this hike again in early June when the Flame Azeleas are in full bloom. Check out the picture from Gregory Bald. Happy Hiking!

Until Next Time.

~ Ryan