Forney Ridge Trail - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
N 35° 33.420 W 083° 29.776
17S E 273742 N 3937682
Forney Ridge Trailhead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Waymark Code: WMEQK2
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 06/27/2012
Views: 10
Forney Ridge Trail begins at the west end of the Clingman's Dome parking lot. The trail is a 3.5 miles round trip to Andrews Bald, an open grassy area that can be a very good overlook on clear days. In June Andrews Bald is home to several colors of wild azaleas. The upper portions of the Forney Ridge Trail used to be an extremely rugged pathway of creek run-off, rocks and small boulders. Fortunately for hikers of all levels, the Friends of the Smokies, through the Trails Forever program, made some much needed improvements to this section of trail in the fall of 2008. Hiking to Andrews Bald is now much easier than it used to be.
Down past Andrews Bald, the Forney Ridge Trail continues its descent down Forney Ridge, eventually coming down to Board Camp Gap and its junction with the Springhouse Branch Trail at 5.6 miles. This trail can be taken in conjunction with the Noland and then later Forney Creek Trails back up to the Forney Ridge Parking Area for a long 18-mile backpacking loop, or, by turning left at the Forney Creek Trail, down to Fontana Lake in North Carolina.
Parking: N 35° 33.387 W 083° 29.754
Trailhead/trail website: [Web Link]
Trail allowances or restrictions:
This is a hiking. Dogs are not allowed on trails in GSMNP.
Trail type: Dirt and rock
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