Explore the park with Friends of the Smokies
Trails Forever Hikes are offered March through November 2026 on the second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of each month (with a couple exceptions in August and November). We will also hold one Saturday in 2026 in April that will be a family friendly option.
Tuesday hikes are longer milage and more challenging than our moderate beginner-friendly hikes on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Our hikes are led by a group of trained volunteers. Learn more about our hike advisory team members in our blog! The hikes feature interpretation of the trail, history, ecology, and updates on park projects supported by Friends of the Smokies. Your participation supports Trails Forever, a program dedicated to the restoration and rehabilitation of some of the Smokies most impacted trails. Thank you to all our hikers and sponsors for being Friends of the Smokies!
2026 Trails Forever Hikes Schedule
March 10, Tuesday – Smokemont Loop
8 miles | ~1,700 ft elevation gain
wildflowers, waterfall, creek views, one-way loop
Nearest Town: Cherokee, NC
Hike Leader: Danny Bernstein
March 25, Wednesday – Old Sugarlands Trail– SOLD OUT
5.8 miles | ~700 ft elevation gain
wildflowers, historic structures, out & back
Nearest Town: Gatlinburg, TN
Hike Leader: Missy Kane & Ed Fleming
April 4, Saturday – Big Creek Trail
5 miles | ~700 ft elevation gain
wildflowers, out & back, family friendly
Nearest Town: Waterville, NC
Hike Leader: Mike Knies
April 14, Tuesday – Little Cataloochee Trail
8 miles | ~2,600 ft elevation gain
wildflowers, out & back, historic structures
Nearest Town: Waynesville, NC
Hike Leader: Mike Knies
April 22, Wednesday – Ace Gap Trail
4.6 miles | ~800 ft elevation gain
wildflowers, out & back
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Sam Curtis
May 12, Tuesday – Sugarland Mountain Trail
11 miles | ~900 ft elevation gain
shuttle, one-way, high elevation views
Nearest Town: Gatlinburg, TN
Hike Leader: Steve Pierce
May 27, Wednesday – Husky Gap to Element
6.5 miles | ~1,500 ft elevation gain
shuttle, one-way, historic structures
Nearest Town: Gatlinburg, TN
Hike Leader: Ed Fleming
June 9, Tuesday – Abrams Falls from Abrams Creek Campground
10 miles | ~1,500 ft elevation gain
out & back, waterfall, creek views
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Missy Kane
June 24, Wednesday – Andrews Bald & Kuwohi
4.6 miles | ~1,100 ft elevation gain
Trails Forever project, out & back, high elevation views, Appalachian bald
Nearest Town: Gatlinburg, TN & Cherokee, NC
Hike Leader: George and Nancy Dailey
July 14, Tuesday – Cataloochee Divide Trail
9.2 miles | ~1,600 ft elevation gain
high elevation views, Appalachian Highlands Learning Center, out & back
Nearest Town: Waynesville, NC
Hike Leader: Kevin Fitzgerald
July 22, Wednesday – Chimney Tops from Appalachian Trail
6.4 miles | ~2,900 ft elevation gain
creek crossing, Trails Forever project, high elevation views
Nearest Town: Gatlinburg, TN & Cherokee, NC
Hike Leader: Beth Ransom
August 11, Tuesday – Lakeshore Loop
8.1 miles | ~1,600 ft elevation gain
one-way loop, overnight opportunity in Bryson City
Nearest Town: Bryson City, NC
Hike Leader: Lynda Doucette
August 12, Wednesday – Goldmine Loop
4 miles | ~775 ft elevation gain
one-way loop, lake views
Nearest Town: Bryson City, NC
Hike Leader: Kevin Fitzgerald
September 8, Tuesday – Twentymile Loop
7.8 miles | ~1,400 ft elevation gain
one-way loop, creek views
Nearest Town: Fontana Village, NC
Hike Leader: Steve Winchester
September 23, Wednesday – Walker Sister Cabin
3.6 miles | 300 ft elevation gain
self organized shuttle, historic structures
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Sam Curtis
October 13, Tuesday – Anthony Creek Trail
12 miles | ~3,000 ft elevation gain
out & back, high elevation views, Cades Cove
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Dolly McLean
October 28, Wednesday – School House Gap and Chestnut Top Trails
4.2 miles | ~1000 ft elevation gain
out & back
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Sam Curtis
November 10, Tuesday – Rich Mountain Loop
8 miles | ~1,800 ft elevation gain
one-way loop, Cades Cove
Nearest Town: Townsend, TN
Hike Leader: Steve Pierce
November 18, Wednesday – Mingus Creek
5 miles | ~800 ft elevation gain
out-and back, cemeteries, last hike potluck celebration
Nearest Town: Cherokee, NC
Hike Leader: Danny Bernstein
Details and Pricing:
Tuesday hikes: At least 7 miles; intended for experienced hikers
Wednesday hikes: Less than 7 miles; beginner-friendly paced
Please sign up for hikes appropriate for your experience and capability. If you are unsure, contact us so we can give you more details about the strenuosity of the specific hike. Registration for all hikes is limited to 25 participants.
Sign up for six or more hikes and receive our Trails Forever Hikes 2026 t-shirt!
$25 per hike or small discount to sign up for the full series.
You must read through the waiver prior to registering.
After completing registration, you will receive an email by the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes will begin at 9:00 AM. All hikes are intended to be full-day experiences. Hikes are rain or shine but in the event of inclement weather, we will notify hikers of a postponement or cancellation by 5:00 PM the evening before the hike.
GSMNP Parking Tags: Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Park it Forward program requires visitors to buy and display a valid parking tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes. Participants of the Trails Forever Hikes are responsible for obtaining a parking tag prior to attending a hike. Annual passes are available through Smokies Life at smokiesinformation.org, daily and weekly passes are available at recreation.gov. Read more about the Park it Forward program at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out by emailing olivia@friendsofthesmokies.org.
Special Thanks to our 2026 Trails Forever Sponsors!
