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Route: Great Smoky Mountains Perimeter Loop

Submitted by stephenglish12 on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 12:09pm
Location
Tennessee, US
North Carolina, US
Distance
249.51 mi
Vertical Gain
50,092 ft
Description

This 250 mile loop connects the outermost trails, creating a perimeter loop.  Some exceptions on this route were made to due: discrepancies between maps, trail closures and routing to campsites as there is no dispersed camping in the park.  The route is designed to explore the most remote areas of the park, finding solitude and what I could only imagine as some bushwacking.  

 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-september-10-2023-9e984c1?u=i&sh=af0yj0

GPS Track
Map - September 10, 2023_0.gpx1.28 MB

FKTs

Comments

Jeff Woody
Sun, 02/04/2024 - 06:18am

Hey Stephen! Well done! Very impressed, especially with the self-supported effort. Wow!  I had been working on a similar route for a couple of years that I've coined Smokies Ultra Circumnavigation Challenge or SUCC, LOL! Very happy to see someone from the running community put the perimeter idea on the FKT universe.  I will likely attempt an FKT on the perimeter loop in 2024, now that you've established the route.  My attempt though will not be in the self-supported category.  I do have a couple of questions though. I noticed on the posted FKT route, you bypassed Little Greenbrier Trail and instead went on to the road and to Elkmont, eventually getting back to Metcalf Bottoms on other trails.  Also, you took the road over to Cades Cove off of Schoolhouse Gap, rather than Turkeypen Ridge and Crib Gap. Were these decisions because of trail closures you encountered along the way?  I think you did mention this situation on the Twin Creeks trail. It appears that the linked All Trails map had the trail sections, so I'm wondering which route you consider the official FKT route.  Is it the All Trails map that is linked on the FKT website?

Jeff! Incredible news!  Scott Mountain Trail has been closed as long as I have been going to the park.  That bypass South to Turkeypen added some miles but in spirit of taking all the perimeter trails-I would have taken Schoolhouse if I could (Currently still closed).  I missed routing Turkeypen and Crib Gap on this map but did take those trails until Crib intersected the road. Good catch.  

I have not had luck updating this map but there was only one major change.  East of Smokemont- I took Beech Gap Trail -> Balsam Mt. Road -> Beech Gap Trail -> South on Balsam Mt. Trail -> Balsam Mt Rd -> Palmer Creek Trail.  Not the most intuitive route but it avoided a long, windy mountain road - a win in my book. 

Can't express how excited I am to hear about your interest in this loop.  It's an incredible adventure.  Just a fair warning about some of the roadwalks.  Be safe!

Please reach out with any questions or to get my most recent map stephenglish12@gmail.com