Smoky Mountains Hiking Club upcoming events

Off Trail Hike: Ramsey Cascades (07/18/2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Join us for a day of fun and frolicking with a bouldery playground of obstacles. We will traverse slippery, large and small boulders and some deep pools along a stretch of the middle prong of the Little Pigeon River. This sections affords some bailouts at the various points, so this is a great hike to test your creek hopping feet or have a blast on this fun section of river. Weather and river flow dependent, this hike will be entirely in the creek on the way up. We'll take the Ramsey Cascades trail back down. We will start at the bridge at the beginning of Ramsey Cascades trail, and we will exit the creek and start back down the trail at the “jeep turn around”.

NOTE: This trail, currently as I’m writing this update, is closed due to aggressive bear activity. So if Ramsey cascades trail doesn’t open before our start date we will have an alternative route of the Road Prong creek.

For more info or to register for this hike, text, call or email: Kindel Page. (865)660-8649, kindeledhearts1985@gmail.com

Saturday Hike: Kuwohi to NFG, with a car shuttle (07/18/2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 12:45:00 GMT

Join us for a great hike from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) to Newfound Gap. On this mid-summer hike, we will start from the Kuwohi parking lot and join the Appalachian Trail, following the white blazes north as we walk through beautiful high elevation forests of fir trees, mosses, ferns, and more. We will pass near the Mt Collins shelter, as well as junctions with Sugarland Mtn and Fork Ridge trails. We will see many changes in geography and forestry as we pass from 6500 feet above sea level and descend to roughly 5100 feet.

This is a shuttle hike; we will need hikers to drive other hikers from the end of the hike back to the parking area at Kuwohi (7 miles). Please email the hike leader (email provided below) if you are willing to drive the short distance shuttle from Newfound Gap back to Kuwohi.

This hike rated as moderate at approx. 8 miles and 1,200 feet of elevation gain.

To carpool, meet at Cracker Barrel Strawberry Plains; 1510 Cracker Barrel Lane, southeast corner of parking lot, ready for departure at 7:00 am (110 miles x $0.07 per mile = $8.00 rounded) or at Kuwohi Parking Lot at 8:45am. Contact: Brian via email at BMason997@yahoo.com

Hike leaders Johnny Lee and Brian Mason.

Saturday Hike: Cow Camp Trail (#173) Bald River Trail (#88) (07/25/2026)

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT

We will begin by staging vehicles at the Bald River Falls parking area on Tellico River Road (as space allows). From there, we will carpool a short distance up Tellico River Road to the Baby Falls parking area and/or the limited parking at the Cow Camp Trailhead.

The hike starts with a 0.6-mile road walk from Baby Falls to the Cow Camp Trailhead. From the trailhead, we’ll climb steadily along the ravine to the top of the ridge, then descend to the junction with the Bald River Trail (#88).

We will follow Bald River Trail upstream to its terminus at Bald River Road, then return the same way except descending the full length of Bald River Trail ending at the iconic 90-foot Bald River Falls, where we will shuttle drivers back to their vehicles.

Distance: 10.1 miles Rating: Moderate

Carpool Information: Meet at Alcoa Kroger (244 S Hall Rd.) ready to roll at 7:30am. Coming from Knoxville, Kroger will be on the right just past Burger King. When facing Kroger, park on the far left side beyond KARM. The hike leader will be at Kroger ready to depart at 7:30am. Driving distance 124 miles R/T. $9.00.

Or meet at Baby Falls Parking Area ready to hike at 9:30am.

Hike Leader: Dean Ellis, Phone: 865-659-1233 Email: adean.ellis@gmail.com

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (08/01/2026)

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

We must complete the work begun on National Trails Day to move locust logs from near Kuwohi summit tower southward to A.T. projects that have been flagged for us. The day’s work will consist of some log splitting and sawing, transporting the logs to the trail, and installing as many as possible.

Meet up time will be 8:00am at the Kuwohi Parking Area.

Leaders: Taylor Weatherbee tweatherbe@aol.com and Terry Martin terrymartinjr7@gmail.com

2026 Election Picnic (08/08/2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Join us for the Club’s Annual Election Picnic!
Saturday, August 8, at the Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville

Please make plans to attend! Bring your favorite dish to share!
Before the potluck picnic, enjoy the open park space and greenways!
Play equipment nearby – bring the family!
Meet the current and new Board members, and sign up to lead hikes in 2027!

SMHC Merchandise will be For Sale - Cash or Check ONLY, Please!

9:30am: Hike the Greenway Trails

11:15am: Potluck Lunch

Please bring a dish to share!

The social committee will provide drinks, paper plates, and utensils.

11:30pm: Business Program (during lunch)

Election of 2027 Officers

2027 Hike Leader Sign-Up

12:15pm: Special Guest Speakers

Stephanie Gose and Kelleye Bishop will talk about the wonderful world of Bees!

Victor Ashe Park
Large Pavilion at 4901 Bradshaw Road

Join us for an insightful talk exploring how the future of mankind depends heavily on the humble honey bee. Do not miss this opportunity to discover how these tiny creatures make a massive impact on our daily lives!

No registration is needed – We look forward to seeing everyone!!

The Social Committee

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (09/12/2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Mt Cammerer Fire Tower and Camel Gap. Access to the work area will be via the 2.5 mile Low Gap Trail, starting at the Cosby Campground. Specific loca-tions of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip (10/03/2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer. This is our most heavily used section of trail and it sees a lot of wear each season. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

Club 1st Saturday Work Trip: End-of-Year Tool Maintenance (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

November is the time to start winding down the trail maintenance season. This work trip will be focused on cleaning, sharpening, repairing, inventorying, and storing the club’s tools for the winter. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.