Average time to complete smoky Mountain national park?

[Goatgas]

A week? Ten days?

[liteweight]

I would plan five nights.

[colorado_rob]

I would plan five nights.

Seems about right. We did it in 4 nights, but we were cruising, anxious to get out of there, though beautiful, it was way crowded for our tastes. Having to stay at packed shelters, etc. This is one stretch I'd like to repeat in the fall sometime. Or even winter.

[Seatbelt]

Seems about right. We did it in 4 nights, but we were cruising, anxious to get out of there, though beautiful, it was way crowded for our tastes. Having to stay at packed shelters, etc. This is one stretch I'd like to repeat in the fall sometime. Or even winter.

Fall is terribly crowded with all the "leaf-peepers". I found winter to be ok and late spring is not bad--after the main bubble is gone.

[Captain Bluebird]

Fall is terribly crowded with all the "leaf-peepers". I found winter to be ok and late spring is not bad--after the main bubble is gone.

When is the "thru" bubble gone? That is when I would like to section the GSMNP.

[rafe]

When is the "thru" bubble gone? That is when I would like to section the GSMNP.

Probably starting to wane around the end of April, I'd guess.

[QiWiz]

I would plan five nights.

+1 yes, unless you are carrying a heavier pack than you should and/or are not in any kind of hiking shape and/or want to take your time.

[MuddyWaters]

A week for average people with heavy packs.

Many will do it in 5-6

[map man]

A week for average people with heavy packs.

Many will do it in 5-6

+1 to this..

[tflaris]

+1 to this..

+1

We did 6 days but could have easily done 5.


“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.” — Unknown

[NewHeart]

A week for average people with heavy packs.

Many will do it in 5-6

What's a heavy pack?

[MuddyWaters]

What's a heavy pack?

35-40 pounds +

[NewHeart]

35-40 pounds +

Well Muddy, i've tried really hard to pare down my weight after all the advice you folks have given me. My big 3: pack=#2-5oz, hammock=13oz, winter UQ= #1-8oz
winter TQ=#1-11oz for a total of #6-5oz. I still think I'll hit the 30+ range with medical necessities. for instance a wrist style BP cuff and the amount of meds I need to carry. then add in food,fuel, and water. I bet i'm close to what you call heavy.

[Gambit McCrae]

Also depends on the weather. Muddy is pretty spot on with 5-6 but with snow it'll prolly slow you down to add another day or so.

I did it in 4 nights

[MockingJay]

You also have to figure in that you are required to stay at the shelters or designated campsites and they aren't spaced evenly on the trail. Agree, 5-6 days to do the 70+ miles is accurate unless you can do big miles. Ran into a couple of section hikers recently who did it in 4 days but they had to do some night hiking to make that happen.

[liteweight]

The park thought the average nights were five. When talking to the previous sup he said that's why they capped the permit fee at $20.00.

[HooKooDooKu]

The GSMNP thru-hiker permit only allows for 8 days to traverse the park.

You can obtain the permit upto 30 days before you enter the park. But once you enter the park within those 30 days, your permit expires after 8 days. So the only way your permit remains valid for the "upto 38 days" listed on the web site is if you enter the park on the 30th day after obtaining the permit.

If you plan to take longer, you would be required to obtain a general hiker permit where you are required to obtain a reservation for each camp site you plan to stay at.

[Starchild]

The GSMNP thru-hiker permit only allows for 8 days to traverse the park.

You can obtain the permit upto 30 days before you enter the park. But once you enter the park within those 30 days, your permit expires after 8 days. So the only way your permit remains valid for the "upto 38 days" listed on the web site is if you enter the park on the 30th day after obtaining the permit.

If you plan to take longer, you would be required to obtain a general hiker permit where you are required to obtain a reservation for each camp site you plan to stay at.

Would you be able to use a thru permit for the first 8 days then just use the general permit for the remaining sites? Or does a plan to take more than 8 days disqualify someone from a thru permit?

[HooKooDooKu]

Would you be able to use a thru permit for the first 8 days then just use the general permit for the remaining sites? Or does a plan to take more than 8 days disqualify someone from a thru permit?

A thru permit requires you to start and end your hike ON THE PERMIT at least 50 miles beyond the park boundary. So if you expect to take more than 8 days, you simply need a pair of general purpose permits. The bad news is that that requires you obtain a reservation for each camp site you expect to stay at. But the good news is that it won't cost more. The maximum fee for a general purpose permit is the same $20 as the cost of a thru permit... however, the maximum length of a general purpose permit is the same 8 days (7 nights) as the thru. So to remain in GSMNP for more than 8 days requires two separate back-to-back permits.

[redseal]

4 days for me and my wife, but I think that may be a bit fast. Either way, here is a link to the final trip report to maybe help with planning. http://www.backpackingengineer.com/a...win-tn-day-11/