We will explore this classic Smokies off-trail hiking area, with an out and back hike (7 miles total), from the Middle Prong Trailhead. The trip begins by crossing Thunderhead Prong on the Iron Bridge, quickly using up our allotment of bridges. Three more creek crossings await, including a second, unbridged crossing of Thunderhead Prong. This valley was one of the last in the Smokies to face the sawblade of commercial logging, but the old railroad grade is now a wide path through open, mature forest. We’ll hike to the end of the grade at New World and have lunch before returning to the trailhead.

The hike is rated moderate off-trail with 1225’ of climbing.

For carpooling, meet at Kroger at 244 S. Hall Rd, Alcoa, TN ready to leave at 8AM (52 miles roundtrip @$0.07=$3.50 payable to the driver), or at the Middle Prong Trailhead at the end of the Tremont Road at 8:45AM.

Leaders: Mark Shipley, 865-388-5261, shipleymark57@gmail.com and Hiram Rogers, 865-789-5008, hiramrogers@yahoo.com.