chimney tops

This was truly one of the best hikes we've ever been on. Since we visited in February, the trail was mostly covered in snow and ice in some places. In my opinion, it only added to the beauty! Also, there were few hikers due to the weather. We were appropriately dressed with multiple layers (they came on and off depending on the moment) and sturdy hiking shoes. Would not recommend this hike in the winter without being prepared - we had water and power bars and were very happy about having them!The hike is pretty steep in places and we didn't make it all the way to the top because we were approaching sundown and didn't want to get stuck on icy trails in the dark. Will definitely be going back to hike all the way to the summit. And don't forget your camera!

This is a wonderful hike that will give you a great workout and plenty of exercise! Make sure you take your camera because you will want to take pictures the whole way up and back. Good chance you will see a bear too!

So me and my friend are not in the best of shape. We like to eat and we smoke. But we made it!. The Chimney Tops trail starts off by a river with beautiful rocks and white water. and ascends into the mountain. It is only 2.2 miles to get up, but then you have 2.2 to get back down. It was a great adventure I'll never forget and my tailbone won't forget it either. If you go in winter time, watch out for ice! We had to stop a few times to catch our breath. The top is absolutely fantastic. And all the other hikers cheer you on along the way, and let you know when you're getting close. Make sure you have enough time to get up and down the trail before sundown it gets dark! and phone flashlights are great until your phone dies. But the steps become slick with ice, I fell on my tailbone, still kinda hurts a month later. But that was one the best adventures I have ever done and dont regret a thing!

Very cool. It gains 1,300 ft. in just two miles & Chimney Tops are the reward at the end of the trail, if your afraid of heights this part my not be for you.

The hike to the chimney tops was not an easy one, but the summit offers amazing panoramic views of the mountains. My husband got all the way to the top!

First time to the Smoky Mtn and we really didn't plan much so we started driving, and stumbled upon this lookout. We stayed for approx 15-20 mins in just this one spot taking pictures and looking at the natural beauty of the area. This is a must stop if you are in the park

This is not a typical day hike. It is quite a journey uphill and once you arrive at the top, there is another difficult climb up a steep rocky incline to the highest peak.One the main trail up, there are stone steps part of the way. We happened upon snow, which we weren't expecting. This made it a very slow hike, as two of us didn't have shoes for icy ground. Coming down was difficult due to the two wearing UGGS. We fell a few times. However, it was amazingly gorgeous! There are several bridges over beautiful rocky creeks. This is not something you want to do with small children. You definitely need shoes with good traction. If going in winter, layer your clothing, and wear things you won't mind carrying as your body temperature rises. Take Chapstick and water. Go to the bathroom at the Sugarlands Visitor Center before driving up to the entrance.

This is a strenous 4 mile hike. It is not for the average hiker or small chidren. The first mile is easy (similar to Clingmans Dome hike) The last mile to the top is straight up with lots and lots of steps. The first mile follows the beautiful stream. We started our hike with some colored leaves still on the trees and a dusting of snow. By the time we reached the summit there was snow and ice on the pine trees. It was absolutely breath taking. The view is well worth the up hill climb. The last part of the hike is very rocky and difficult. The rocks can be slippery. Take high energy snacks and plan on several rest stops along the way. The hike down the mountain is effortless. Would definatley do this hike again. There are no restroom facilities at the trail head.

This was our favorite trail and we did about 3 or 4 of them. It isn't so bad the first part of the trail but the second half does get increasingly hard. If you are even somewhat active though it's an easy walk up and down. At the end there is a cliff where you can climb at your own risk on the rocks. We went about halfway up very easily. After that it gets a lot harder and my wife and I decided not to make the trip. We did see someone make the trip to the top though. Either way, both views are very rewarding, we saw it in law October and the view was great!

My husband and I visited the Great Smoky Mountains with the sole purpose of hiking, so this trail was a must do for us and it did not disappoint. The trail is not that long (although I do recommend breaking off onto Prong Road trail to see the waterfalls that are just a little out of the way) but it is strenuous. The first mile was not terribly difficult, but it got tough by the middle of the second mile. When you start thinking it could not possibly be that much farther, you are probably around halfway up. The elevation change is aggressive in the second mile. We passed a guy who said he used to think he was in good shape and I felt the same way by the time we got to the rock face. The beginning of the trail shows a picture of the rock face you have to climb to reach the summit and it is no exaggeration. In fact, I thought the picture did not truly show the sheer nature of the rock face. My husband is afraid of heights, so he originally only climbed about halfway to the summit. I went to the top and while it was a difficult climb, it was totally worth it. I am not afraid of heights and there was a moment when I got a little nervous. My husband did end up making the climb to the top despite his fear of heights and was glad he did. The view is incredible and the climb to the summit is not so difficult that someone who is afraid of heights can't do it. Not to be missed!

Didn't make the hike up the trail but did stop at the overlook on the way to Clingman's Dome. It was really neat to see the Chimney Tops and to learn more about them. Great panoramic shots from the overlook as well.

I enjoyed hiking on this trail with friends in late October. We were lucky to have perfect weather. The trail is a little less than 2 miles long if I remember correctly, however, it is demanding in that the elevation goes up from 2400 to 3800 ft towards the end. The unique part is the end of the trail: the peak. I think it is easy to climb and should be safe as long as you are paying attention to where you're putting your foot. I honestly did not climb all the way to the top. The view was amazing!!

Make sure you wear Hiking boots, and the rocks are not scary as they look like It feels great when you are on the top, you can climb up the rock from the front and get off from the side of it. In the first half of the trail(one round 2 miles), it was ok, and it gets steep and slippy on the 2nd half, a good pair of boots definitely helps a lot. I saw kids and elder people on the way, this is a great trail for people like hiking, and not having strong hiking skills. No restroom on the way, no food / water facilities either.We went there in the afternoon, after the hiking, it was cold, so make sure you carry a windproof jacket with you.

I do a lot of hiking, and this was the most insane steep trail I've ever hiked! Make sure you check closures because the trail was closed Monday-Thursday for maintenance and the hike closes in the winter. The trailhead is right off of Newfound Gap Road and there is parking available. We got there early (730 am) to make sure we could get parking. The hike is 4 miles out back, and starts off pretty easy for the first mile. After that it is mostly steps and straight up. I'm a slow and steady hiker so I usually don't ever stop, but I had to take a 10 minute break along the way up because my heart was beating so fast! Not too much traffic along the hike, but a lot of people on the rock pinnacle. I'm not a fan of heights, and the rock scramble to see the view is a little scary. I got about halfway up when the foot/hand holds started to run out and all you see is a steep drop off. Apparently there is a back way trail that is a lot easier to take up that I found out a lot of people used later, but there was a big sign saying not to go that way due to maintenance so I heeded the sign. Still a nice view from where I sat, my boyfriend did go all the way up and got gorgeous pictures. Overall, the hike took about 3 hours, including hanging out on the rocks for 30 minutes. Going down actually hurt my knees and feet a lot more. I was sore for days after!

We decided to do this hike on our first day of vacation because it would be closed the remainder of the week. I'm proud to boast that our family completed the hike (2 adults, 2 kids - ages 10 & 7) but man were we sore afterwards! Beautiful scenery and making it to the top was worth it, but even coming back down the trail could be difficult because it is steep. It would have been better to work up to hiking this trail so maybe we wouldn't have to stop so often along the way for breaks. There are no bathrooms at this trail head so make sure to stop somewhere before heading out on this hike.