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Backpacker Magazine Appalachian Trail: Fontana Dam to Newfound Gap 

Multiple peaks, steep climbs, and open meadows highlight this 40.6-mile trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


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Author: Backpacker Magazine
Date: 16 Jan 2008 4:14:44 PM
Activity: Backpacking
State: North Carolina (NC)
Distance: 40.64 mi  (Change units)
Survey Elevation: Total Gain: 13227 ft
Total Loss: 9961 ft
Net Change: 3266 ft
Difficulty: 8 / 10
Tags: North Carolina, Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Appalachian Trail, AT hikes in North Carolina, AT in Great Smoky Mtns. NP, Fontana Dam
Rating:   3 rating(s) Rate it

Shelters: Mollies Ridge Shelter: sleeps 12; no privy. Russell Field Shelter: sleeps 14; no privy. Spence Field Shelter: sleeps 12; privy. Derrick Knob Shelter: sleeps 12; no privy. Silers Bald Shelter: sleeps 12; no privy. Double Springs Gap Shelter: sleeps 12; privy. Mt. Collins Shelter; sleeps 12; privy.

TO TRAILHEAD: Start: From Fontana Village, NC, head west on Fontana Rd and in 2.7 miles park by Post Office.

End: From Gatlingburg, TN, take US 441 S for 13.5 mi., park at Newfound Gap.

Position Format: Datum:
Tracks

070823T

Distance: 40.64 mi Points: 4045
Total Time: none Speed: 0.0 mph Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none Speed: 0.0 mph Pace: 0:00 / mi
Fontana Dam/NC 28 to Newfound Gap/US 441

Points of Interest

WPT019

Location: 35.564152, -83.713966
Open

WPT020

Location: 35.564152, -83.713966
Rocky summit; 360-degree views

WPT002

Location: 35.449184, -83.796684
Paved road to Fontana Dam Shelter

WPT020

Location: 35.460632, -83.811234
AT turns W @ jct. where Lake Shore Trail continues straight; kiosk; road to woods

WPT003

Location: 35.579449, -83.603783
Miry Ridge Trail to the W

WPT023

Location: 35.562218, -83.505936
Mt. Buckley

WPT005

Location: 35.441635, -83.795082
Fontana AT crossing; restrooms; permit kiosk; phone

WPT029

Location: 35.565350, -83.542297
Double Spring Gap Shelter

WPT024

Location: 35.564133, -83.730431
Bote Mountain Trail to the W

WPT033

Location: 35.565132, -83.560616
The Narrows

WPT014

Location: 35.568516, -83.701233
Beech Tree Forest

WPT027

Location: 35.562500, -83.516815
Views to the SW

WPT007

Location: 35.611767, -83.442085
Stile over fence; N end of beech forest

WPT006

Location: 35.567848, -83.636551
Greenbrier Ridge Trail to the W; Sams Gap

WPT019

Location: 35.562901, -83.498436
Clingmans Dome Tower

WPT022

Location: 35.562099, -83.504318
AT turns W @ fork with Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail to the E

WPT005

Location: 35.572884, -83.621536
Hemlock Knob

WPT012

Location: 35.570301, -83.695435
AT traverses unnamed summit (5,040 ft.)

WPT024

Location: 35.452648, -83.804436
Fontana Dam

WPT025

Location: 35.562565, -83.509613
Open berry bushes

WPT005

Location: 35.561615, -83.766418
Russell Field Shelter; Russell Field Trail to the E

WPT007

Location: 35.555233, -83.775902
Little Abrams Gap

WPT028

Location: 35.564716, -83.533401
Goshen Prong Trail to the W

WPT013

Location: 35.569267, -83.697563
Side trail leads W to water

WPT021

Location: 35.454666, -83.810448
Road walk

WPT013

Location: 35.527283, -83.819199
Doe Knob

WPT011

Location: 35.609383, -83.446663
Prong Trail to the W

WPT014

Location: 35.524682, -83.819504
AT turns E. Water @ T. Gregory Bald Trail

WPT034

Location: 35.565617, -83.563080
Welch Ridge Trail to the E

WPT017

Location: 35.563450, -83.498466
Clingmans Dome Tower Trail to the E

WPT010

Location: 35.569683, -83.678200
Brier Knob N; tough, rocky terrain

WPT003

Location: 35.447948, -83.795715
AT turns E for shelter and merges onto road

ZZZ012

Location: 35.441151, -83.795448
NC 28; heading W on NC 28 leads to Fontana Village with PO and general store

WPT012

Location: 35.596298, -83.461220
Spring road; uphill

WPT004

Location: 35.580032, -83.608070
Cold Spring Knob

WPT017

Location: 35.485035, -83.816368
AT veers W @ jct. with trail to the E, leading to Shuckstack Mtn.

WPT018

Location: 35.566635, -83.711334
Open

WPT035

Location: 35.566032, -83.565201
N boundary of bald area

WPT018

Location: 35.483452, -83.814720
Valley views to the SW. AT traverses hillside; rock slab terrain

WPT024

Location: 35.562050, -83.508118
Views to the W

WPT019

Location: 35.479683, -83.806973
Tiny stream crossing

WPT022

Location: 35.562698, -83.725937
Jenkins Ridge Trail

WPT014

Location: 35.590580, -83.470383
Sugarland Mountain Trail to the W; .5 mi. to Mt. Collins Shelter

WPT016

Location: 35.489601, -83.815651
Jct. with Twentymile Trail, Lost Cove Trail, and Benton MacKaye Trail

WPT016

Location: 35.568481, -83.707115
Views Rockytop and valley; exposed

WPT018

Location: 35.563049, -83.498619
Tower base

WPT006

Location: 35.557899, -83.772331
Big Abrams Gap

WPT025

Location: 35.452148, -83.801582
S end of dam

WPT013

Location: 35.590900, -83.469254
Fork Ridge Trail to the E; Mountain to Sea Trail

WPT004

Location: 35.441784, -83.795334
AT turns W @ road to trail

WPT003

Location: 35.564056, -83.732819
Field

WPT008

Location: 35.550499, -83.783882
Little Bald

WPT037

Location: 35.564999, -83.566017
Views to the WSW; open

WPT017

Location: 35.566582, -83.709969
Rocky Top

WPT023

Location: 35.562599, -83.726868
Open field; views to the ENE of rocky top

WPT012

Location: 35.530102, -83.814484
Mud Gap

WPT007

Location: 35.566532, -83.641701
Derrick Knob Shelter

WPT010

Location: 35.536568, -83.799850
Short Ridge

WPT026

Location: 35.562038, -83.732735
Spence Field Shelter

WPT031

Location: 35.564816, -83.553818
Small clearing

WPT002

Location: 35.578251, -83.601135
Buckeye Gap

WPT032

Location: 35.565067, -83.557098
Views to the SSW of river; The Narrows

WPT027

Location: 35.448818, -83.795364
Restrooms

WPT021

Location: 35.562183, -83.503914
Views to the NNW

WPT009

Location: 35.569584, -83.669983
Starkey Gap

WPT008

Location: 35.569633, -83.657066
Sugartree Gap

WPT011

Location: 35.538982, -83.805099
Ekaneetlee Gap; side trail leads W to water

WPT023

Location: 35.452568, -83.807983
AT turns E @ N end of bridge

WPT004

Location: 35.563034, -83.752197
Maple Sugar Gap

WPT015

Location: 35.568600, -83.706215
Thunderhead Mtn. (5,527 ft.)

WPT011

Location: 35.569084, -83.692284
Beechnut Gap

WPT022

Location: 35.453751, -83.809181
Parking; picnic table. Views of the dam to the SE

WPT030

Location: 35.565006, -83.544800
Traverse Jenkins Knob

WPT015

Location: 35.501900, -83.813248
Birch Spring Gap. Birch Spring Shelter has been replaced by NPS campsite #113; water (.1 mi.)

WPT028

Location: 35.448566, -83.794037
Fontana Hilton

WPT016

Location: 35.578602, -83.480003
Collins Gap

WPT036

Location: 35.566032, -83.565399
AT turns E @ Silers Bald; views of Clingmans Dome

WPT020

Location: 35.562698, -83.500000
Clingmans Dome Tower Trail to the E

WPT026

Location: 35.449051, -83.796387
Parking and trail to Fontana Dam Shelter

WPT008

Location: 35.612068, -83.442535
Indian Gap and road. Cross Clingmans Dome Rd. AT curves

WPT009

Location: 35.546032, -83.793915
Mollies Ridge Shelter

WPT010

Location: 35.611084, -83.444000
Stile over fence; S end of beech forest

WPT025

Location: 35.563835, -83.731430
Eagle Creek Trail to the E. Trail to Spence Field Shelter

WPT001

Location: 35.564178, -83.568352
Silers Bald Shelter

ZZZ013

Location: 35.611183, -83.425285
US 441; Newfound Gap; parking; bathrooms; water; view

IMG_4691

Location: 35.566532, -83.641602

IMG_4588

Location: 35.597450, -83.460114

IMG_4668

Location: 35.565182, -83.542648

IMG_4733

Location: 35.546185, -83.793747

IMG_4750

Location: 35.493168, -83.814552

IMG_4777

Location: 35.452484, -83.807419

IMG_4730

Location: 35.561749, -83.766617

IMG_4619

Location: 35.562717, -83.498634

IMG_4726

Location: 35.561966, -83.732651

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