Hiking Trails in the Maggie Valley Area

Being the eastern gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park mean access to hundreds of miles of hiking, some of the best in the country. The nearby National Forests and Blue Ridge Parkway also offer hikes, from short strolls to day hikes and longer. Here are some of our favorites.

Waterrock Knob Trail. From the Waterrock Knob Parking lot the trails stars up the stairs at the north end of the parking lot. About a mile and a half round trip, the climb in elevation is easy and the views are great. Well maintained trail with lots of oppertunites to rest and enjoy the high elevation forest and views.

Andrews Bald Trail. From the Clingmans Dome Parking Lot, the trail drops off from the end of the parking lot before the paved access to the dome obsevatory begins. I like to think of this trail as the one less traveled. Thousands of people each day pass right by the trail head and don’t have a clue how great a walk it is. Its a medium length trail, roughly 3.5 miles round trip. Has some elevation change but not very steep. The trail passes trough a couple of differnt mountain ecosystems and emerges on the bald. The bald is mostly grass and bushes so the views are unobstructed.

Graveyard Fields. The trail has a parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway and is about a 45 minute drive from Maggie Valley. Graveyard Fields is a popular hiking location, with numerous trail options. You can simply hike down to the creek, or continue to see the waterfalls and other great views. The trail is well marked and a good trail map is mounted ate the trail head.

Trail Map [PDF]
Great Smoky Mountain NP Map
Blue Ridge Parkway Map [PDF]