Road Prong Trail to Chimney Tops

Hike #37 : May 23, 2015

6 miles

2.4 new miles
467.4 total overall miles

331.9 total miles of 800.8


I try to hike some of my favorite hikes every year. Along with hikes like LeConte, Cammerer and Rocky Top, the Chimney Tops are well worthy of repeating. This year, however, we added a little twist. We're taking the underused Road Prong Trail.

Since we're hiking down Road Prong to the Chimney Tops Trail and out, we're doing a car drop. Eddie and I are also joined by another hiker, Mr. Randy Hullinger. Randy is kinda new to hiking but after hiking the Grayson Highlands in Virginia with him a week ago, there's no doubt he'll be fine today.

After dropping a car at the Chimney Tops parking lot, we drive further up Newfound Gap Road to Clingmans Dome Road where the trailhead is on the right about 1.3 miles up.

The Road Prong Trailhead 

The trail starts off rocky. Very rocky. It's also a rather steep, at times, downhill walk, which I like. It appears to be a moist area with an abundance of fern lining the trail. We soon come to several water crossing and eventually the trail itself becomes a long rock hop. The water level was low so we had no problems hopping our way along but I would think that after even small amounts of rain that it could prove rather difficult without getting wet.

Randy (front) and Eddie navigating the rocks. That is the trail they're on!

We soon come to the first of many waterfalls and cascades along this beautiful trail.

The trail mostly follows along the creek and offers many amazing views of the water.

At 2.4 miles, the trail ends at the junction with the Chimney Tops Trail. From here a right turn leads to the Chimney Tops. I've previously blogged about this hike here. I will say that this is the first time I've hiked it since the Trails Forever rehabilitation project finished repairing the trail. I'd heard they added many steps and yes, yes they did! They also did an unbelievably wonderful job! Still, its one hell of a 1.1 mile hike up to the summit.

As for the Chimney Tops, the fifty foot rock climb to the summit is scary as always for us acrophobians. And the climb down is even worse. I have to call out my hiking partners here because they sat back and let me climb it all by myself. Their loss! Between the feeling of accomplishment and the shear beauty from the top, its worth every step and all the inner fears. Its amazing up there. Big time.

The hike back down to the junction with Road Prong is much much easier than the trip up and a left turn leads .9 of a mile mostly downhill to the Chimney Tops parking lot where we wrap up the hike. Just another great day in the GSMNP!

The Road Prong Trail is one of the most overlooked in the park. Millions pass it by on their way to the Chimney Tops or up to Clingmans Dome but it is truly a gem. Its a easy hike aside from the rocks and water crossings. That being said, it would be a strenuous climb in the opposite direction. So a car drop is a necessity for this one.

Happy hiking!




TRAIL REVIEW

Road Prong Trail - 2.4 miles


Numerous waterfalls and water features

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Wanna hike the 900 without getting lost? Start by checking out the book Day Hiker's Guide To All The Trails In The Smoky Mountains by Elizabeth L. Etnier.

Hiking Trails of the Smokies or "The Little Brown Book" from the GSMA

Hiking Trails of The Great Smoky Mountains by Ken Wise

There is loads of information in the pages of GoSmokies.com.