2018-05-01 GSMNP-001 Gregory Bald Loop

<<< Gregory Bald Loop from Gregory Ridge Trailhead  >>>

We will meet and start from Gregory Ridge trailhead. The Gregory Loop Trail starts from the Gregory Ridge trailhead to Gregory Bald, then going down from the Gregory Bald Trail, and then follows the Parson Branch Road, the one-way road back to our cars.

This trail is the second highest grassy bald in GSMNP. It is well known for its most brilliant azaleas shrub. Thousands of azaleas bloom there with white, pink, yellow, orange, and striking orange-red colors in the summer season of late June. We just have to use some imagination when we visit there in early May.

Almost all of the 3,000 feet elevation gain is during the first 5.7 miles going up to the summit. The rest of the loop is mostly flat or downhill.

We will enjoy our lunch and plenty of mountain views at the top of this famous grassy bald before going down to complete our loop hike.

The event duration does NOT include our travelling/ driving time. Our duration time is an estimate, and we need to have some flexibility.

This event is physically challenging and rewarding! You can fully enjoy it IF AND ONLY IF you have good fitness and endurance. Please only register if you are comfortable hiking in the real mountain environments, and have recent D5 experience.

If your experience is not from the club, please include it in a note when you register. TL(s) reserves the right to remove registrants without sufficient track record for the safety of everyone. We encourage our members to actively participate with joyful experience, and most importantly to stay healthy and safe at the end of each event!

Starting from Sugarlands Visitor Center of GSMNP to Gregory Ridge Trailhead is 32.7 miles. The normal driving time is about 80 minutes. Driving on this route is very scenic itself. Most people take their time when driving on this route to enjoy the views. It is one-lane in each direction. So we need to allocate at least 90 minutes for this drive to trailhead.

It is 30.3 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center going west following park sign to Cades Cove Visitor Center.

Cades Cove Visitor center is located on the Cades Code Loop Road, a one-way loop road. Right before the Visitor Center, turn slightly right onto Forge Creek Road for 2.4 miles to its end to reach Gregory Ridge Trailhead.