Cabins USA Gatlinburg Logo
Loading Page
RESERVATIONS
(800) 584-9872
Cabins USA Gatlinburg Availability Search Icon Availability Search Small Icon


Chimney Tops Hiking Trail GMSNP

Chimney Tops Hiking Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains

Area Info : Explore : Hiking Trails : Chimney Tops Hiking Trail GMSNP

Highlights: 360 Views, Exposed Rocky Summit

Round Trip: 3.8 Miles

Elevation Gain: 1487 FT

Directions: From Gatlinburg, drive 7 miles on the Newfound Gap Road (US-441) past Sugarlands Visitor Center. The trailhead is after a tunnel and features lots of roadside parking. If you reach the "loop" tunnel, then you've driven too far.

Please Note: Following the Nov. 2016 wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Chimney Tops Trail was closed to hikers. In Oct. 2017, the hiking trail has been reopened thanks to work by the Trails Forever Program. Due to extensive damage near the summit, the last section of the Chimney Tops hike near the pinnacle is still closed to hikers. In the meantime, hikers can enjoy beautiful views from a new overlook on the trail.

View From Chimney Tops Overlook in Fall

The Chimney Tops Trail is easily one of the most visited sights in the park for two reasons.

First, the trail is short – only 1.9 miles one way.

Next, the payoff is huge – panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains, fun rocks to climb on, and dramatic landscapes. The Chimney Tops are one of the must-see destinations in the Smokies.

The hike is gorgeous through and through with cascading streams, rhododendron and towering hemlock trees. The Chimney Tops hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park generally takes 2 or 3 hours to complete.

View of Chimney Tops From Newfound Gap Road

Chimney Tops Trail Description

Fist mile of this trail follows Road Prong Creek. There are several foot bridges and the trail is relatively tame. This serves as a good warm-up for what the rest of this challenging hike.

After you reach the halfway point of the Chimney Tops Hike, you'll come to a split in the trail at Beech Flats. The Road Prong Trail goes off to the left to Indian Gap on the Appalachian Trail, but to reach Chimney Tops, hikers should continue on the trail to the right.

At this point, the trail becomes quite steep – you'll have to climb 960 vertical ft. in one mile. Many hikers turn around at this section, but with pacing and rest stops, you can make it to the summit.

While you rest, you can admire and appreciate the recent trail restoration work. In 2014, volunteers from the Trails Forever project added stone steps and sitting areas to improve trail safety and reduce damaging runoff.

After an intense period of climbing, the trail flattens and narrows before you reach your destination. After crawling over some boulders and root systems, you'll finally reach the famous rock outcropping of Chimney Tops!

The Chimneys in the Smoky Mountains

Peak Chimney Tops Hike in the Great Smoky Mountains

You'll see a slanted wall of stone that you can scramble up to the top. There are plenty of foot and hand holds, but proceeding up this rock-face is completely up to you.

If you dislike heights, continuing further is not recommended and nice views are available without much climbing. If you do proceed up the rock-face, you'll be rewarded with incredible 360 views.

At the top, you'll notice that a thin rocky ridge descends down the mountain from the peak. Small towers of rock jut out from this ridge and look a lot like chimneys. Going further is not recommended because of the risk of falling and the risk of damaging fragile ridge-top ecosystems.

Insider Tip: Proceed with extreme caution if the rocks are wet and slippery. This trail is not recommended during for Smoky Mountain winter hiking when large quantities of ice and snow are on the trail as these conditions can be dangerous.

Please note that the Chimney Tops Trail is extremely popular and can become quite crowded. Arriving at the trailhead before noon is the best way to ensure finding a safe parking spot and enjoying a relaxed hike.

If Chimney Tops Trail is too crowded, another nearby alternative is the hike to Charlie's Bunion or the Jump Off from Newfound Gap Parking area.

Chimney Tops in the Fog Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Fun Facts

  • You can see the Chimney Tops ridge from a pull-off on the Newfound Gap Road. On a clear day, you may even spy hikers standing on rocks at the top of the outcropping.

  • The nearby Chimney Tops Picnic Area is not the trailhead for the Chimney Tops Hike. The picnic area merely provides a place to view the Chimney Tops. This picnic spot is about a mile before the trailhead.

  • The peak of Chimney Tops is an elevation of 4753 ft.

  • For summer fun, there is a great swimming hole near the start of the trailhead. The bridge that crosses the West Prong of the Little River is a great place for rock-hopping, fishing, or taking a dip in the cool mountain water.

  • A log cabin rental in Gatlinburg, TN is ideal for families planning to explore hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

Bridge Accross the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River

Contact:


Chimney Tops Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Written by Hayden Brown   2015-04-22">

Google map from Cabins USA Gatlinburg to Chimney Tops Hiking Trail GMSNP.
A - Cabins USA Gatlinburg
B - Chimney Tops Hiking Trail GMSNP
gatlinburggatlinburg, tnhiking trailstn

Please Note: Cabins USA Gatlinburg's area information, area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Cabins USA Gatlinburg does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. Any mention of vendors, products, businesses, or services on the Cabins USA Gatlinburg web site is for informational purposes only. Users of this web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA Gatlinburg. Furthermore, specific questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins USA Gatlinburg.

Cabins USA Gatlinburg Official Logo
star star star star star
849 Glades Rd., Unit 1A1
Gatlinburg, TN  37738
(865) 436-5031

VLS #157
Smoky Mountain Cabin Rentals
Guest Reservations
(800) 584-9872
2 Night Minimum
Amenities
Property Types



Cities






Resorts / Areas
















































Cabins USA Gatlinburg Help Icon
Copyright 2013-2024, Cabins USA Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, TN

Want to receive up to date information on cabin specials and events in the Smokies? Sign up for our newsletter! Simply provide a contact name and email so that we can reach you. Cabins USA Gatlinburg respects our guest's privacy and never shares this information with third-party sites. We treat any information that you share as confidential.

For each of the fields, please provide the following information:

There are several boxes that can be checked to broaden or narrow your search. Once you select your desired amenities or locations, simply click "search" to filter out available properties for your desired date. Once search results are provided, you can sort your results by bedrooms, name, rate, and rating.

After your first search, it isn't necessary to click the "search" button again as this feature will automatically filter your results for any new search features you provide, unless you change the date, the number of nights, or go to a new webpage.

It isn't necessary that you wait for a search to be completed before you select or deselect different search features.

When browsing results, you can add them to your "favorites" by clicking the red plus mark on the bottom left of your desired property. You can view your selected properties by click the "favorites" tab at the top of the search bar.

Add/Remove Favorites
When using our "search" feature, you can make a list of favorites. After doing an availability search for your desired vacation date, our site will produce a list of available cabins. Simply click the "+" sign on the lower left side of the property you are interested in.

Doing this will add the rental to your favorites list. You will notice that the "+" has now changed to a "-". You can click this minus sign to "unselect" this property from your favorites list.

You can also remove a property from your favorites list by clicking the minus sign to the right of the property name under the favorites tab. Additionally, you clear your favorites list by clicking "remove all" on the favorites bar. After doing this, you will have to perform a new availability search.
The number next to the favorites tab is the number of properties you have selected.

View List
To see all of your favorite rentals on one page, simply click "view list"

Compare Favorites
Under the favorites tab on the search bar, you can view your selected favorites. By checking the box next to your selected rentals, you can compare up to three properties.
Simply select the 2 – 3 properties you wish to compare, then click "compare" to see these rentals side-by-side.
Once you find your perfect rental for the right date, simply click "book now" to begin the booking process.