Comments on: Chestnut Branch and Big Creek Trails, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

By: Green Global Travel

Green Global Travel — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 02:08:00 +0000

Sounds like a great hike! Your pictures and the details are amazing, making me feel as if I was on the AT with you! – Dana

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:43:00 +0000

In reply to dollar. Hi dollar. It looks to be roughly 30 miles on the AT from Big Creek to Clingman's Dome. It is impossible to know the pace that any individual will hike, but averaging 10 miles per day would be a good, hard pace. There are several mountain crossings in the stretch. My best guess would be three days and two nights, but you need to talk with your sons about their stamina. Let me know how it turns out for them.

By: dollar

dollar — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:02:36 +0000

Jeff. We’re up from Miami for the fourth time to Big Creek camp first couple weeks of August. This time my sons Paul and Cris want to pack up the AT to Clingman’s Dome where I can pick them up. Can you give an idea of how many nights on the AT that would be? Any tips? thanks. Dollar

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:42:39 +0000

Hello Dave. When I did Chestnut Branch I went in a counterclockwise direction. I climbed Mt. Sterling Road 1.5 miles to where the AT crossed the road. If you’re looking to do a stretch of the AT, that may be the way to go.

So far as how close you were the way you went, you still had a way to go if you only went a couple hundred yards past the overhanging log. You were perhaps 2/3 of the way to the junction with the AT.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:19:50 +0000

Hey Jeff, nice site, thanks for the detail on your Chestnut Branch Loop. I’ve been coming to Big Creek for several years fishing & camping and recently my son was old enough to do some hiking with me. We went up the Chestnut Branch trail from the ranger station this morning but after about an hour 15 we hadn’t reached the AT. Running short on time we turned back. Just curious how far we might have been from the AT junction and if there’s another side trail to the AT in the area. We’re looking for a 1-2 mile trail for a short hike on the AT. If you’re familiar with the Chestnut Branch trail then you might remember the only log that you pass under on the trail. We passed under it about an hour from the bottom and turned back a couple hundred yards afterwards. Any idea how close the AT junction was? Thanks, Dave

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:35:40 +0000

In reply to Melissa Brown. Hi Melissa, Thanks for your comment and question. When I was there a few weeks ago, I did not see any signs at all warning of bear activity in the area. Hopefully that will give you some comfort. It's always a good idea, though, to check with the ranger station or visitor center first.

By: Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:29:20 +0000

Thank you for this post. I use to hike Big Creek including Sterling and Cammerer on a weekly basis. That area is probably my favorite especially during the week when not many people are around.

I would like to go again,but since I hike mainly solo, I am curious to know if they are still having bear issues. The last time I was there I saw posting after posting about an increase in there population. As a matter of fact, as I was getting out of my car in the parking lot, I saw a huge buck standing at its edge. We both acknowledged one another.

Thanks again!