Hiking the Highlands
Journey to delightful trails, inspiring overlooks and refreshing swimming holes in the Appalachian range
Trailbuilding: Forging New Paths
Trail advocates in Pound, Va., Elizabethton, Tenn., and Wyoming County, W.Va., are working with community members and partners to develop new hiking paths.
Pink Beds Loop
Pisgah National Forest’s Pink Beds Loop offers hikers an opportunity to enjoy the diversity of Appalachia’s ecosystems.
Climbing the Highlands
Appalachia offers climbers challenging routes in beautiful settings, and the region’s geology invites adventurers of all styles and abilities. And in return, the sport of climbing provides an opportunity for economic development for areas around these rock formations.
The Hidden Gem of Rocky Fork
This moderately strenuous hike through the mountains of eastern Tennessee follows an old logging trail to the 100-foot Big Falls on Lower Higgens Creek. Several creek crossings and caves mark the remainder of the path to Birchfield Camp Lake.
Trek to the Top of Mt. Cammerer
Enjoy a strenuous 11-mile hike to the top of Mt. Cammerer, located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike culminates with a view of the Pigeon River Gorge 3,000 feet below and the opportunity to stroll around the catwalk of the historic fire tower at Mt. Cammerer’s peak.
