Charlies Bunion Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC, TN
miles
LENGTH 7.7 MILES
DIFFICULTY 11.6 Medium
DURATION 3-5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
1840
feet
TRAIL TYPE
There And
Back Again
Charlies Bunion

Hiking along the Appalachian Trail as well as the Tennessee and North Carolina State line, Charlies Bunion provides one of the best views in the Smokies while offering a moderate challenge for hikers. Even for those just driving through; stop off at the trailhead at Newfound Gap Overlook for incredible views without the sweat.

This hike begins at the Newfound Gap Overlook. This large parking lot can accommodate well over a hundred cars; however, on weekends can still fill up fast. The expansive view from the overlook will tell you why this area is popular. On the north side of the parking lot are restrooms and the Appalachian Trail crossing. Although there may be a lot of people at the overlook, as you travel down the AT, the crowds will quickly vanish. This is still one of the most popular hikes, so don’t expect to be alone. As with all trails in the Smokies, dogs are not allowed.

Begin northbound on the AT heading east. The trail gets right to the point, gaining 800 feet over the first 1.5 miles. Along the way there are several stone and wooden flights of steps and large rocks to climb over and around. Every once and a while there will be a break in the trees, giving you excellent views to the southeast of the North Carolina mountains and US-441/Newfound Gap Road weaving its way through the terrain. Arrive at the junction with the Sweat Heifer Creek Trail at mile 1.6. A sign is clearly marks the way. Continue straight along the Appalachian Trail.

At mile 2.6, the AT comes to the junction with the Boulevard Trail. Taking this trail will lead you up to Mt. LeConte. If you take the Boulevard Trail a couple hundred feet, a short side trail will lead to excellent views at The Jump Off. This optional secondary view will add .9 miles roundtrip to this hike. Just after this, another sign indicates the side trails for the Icewater Spring Shelter. Stop for a minute and enjoy the view from here.

Continuing on, the trail descends steeply, at a rate of 700 feet/mile for the next half mile. This section is littered with lose rocks. The last half mile before reaching Charlies Bunion is more scenic than the previous trail. Staying mostly on the ridgeline, the trail opens up on both sides to provide at taste of what is about to come. A sign indicates the short side trail to Charlies Bunion from the AT. Walk along the cliff edge to the large rock outcropping that provides 270° views. Mt. LeConte is clearly visible as the high point to the left and parts of Gatlinburg can be seen in good weather straight ahead. Don’t expect to have the Bunion to yourself unless you go during the week, a small crowd be a constant during the weekends.

Read More

Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Terrain Map Click to control map
Details
length7.7 miles
difficulty11.6 Medium
duration3 - 5 hours
features Views 
trail typeThere And Back Again
blazeWhite
elevation gain1840 ft.
park/forestGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
ranger districtGreat Smoky Mountain National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-1200 (dial 0 for the Visitor's Center)
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 35.611037, -83.42494 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°36.66, W 83°25.5 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 35°36'40'', N 35°36'40'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
35.611037, -83.42494 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°36.66, W 83°25.5 most GPS units use this one
N 35°36'40'', N 35°36'40'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
Notes
For up to date park and road closures, visit GSMNP Alerts or follow @SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.
The section around and including Charlies Bunion has very steep drop offs. Pay attention to children.
Nearby Hikes
Similar Hikes
Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
5 (1)
hikethesouth-6 years ago
Massive Views
This is a must in the Smokies. A quintessential hike. Just do it.
Medium | Hiked Spring 2013
New Comment
Username   
Email
Email will only be used to send a verification link for first time use with this username and to authenticate the username for further reviews/comments.
Comments   2000
New Review
Username
Email
Email will only be used to send a verification link for first time use with this username and to authenticate the username for further reviews/comments.
Rating
Difficulty
Last Hiked
Review Title
Review   2000