September 18, 2023: Chimney Tops Hike – We Were Disappointed
The title of this journal entry sounds a bit dramatic, but low key we were disappointed with this hike. And I’ll tell you why… later! So, keep reading to find out!
Chimney Tops is a very popular hike. It is a short hike, but the elevation gain makes it tough. Like maxing-out-your-heart-rate tough. Well, maybe not that bad for most people, but still tough enough that some people we met along the trail turned around! Long story short, the Chimney Tops hike is close to 2 miles one-way with 1,400 feet of elevation gain. But it is worth it… or at least it used to be worth it.
My husband and I reached the trailhead to Chimney Tops later in the morning. We hiked to the top of Clingmans Dome earlier that morning to watch sunrise. Unfortunately, the sun was hiding behind a massive amount of clouds. It happens.
It was fairly crowded at the parking area, but thankfully we were able to find a spot! Here’s a little tip, always reach the trailhead to popular hikes as early as possible. It’s no fun not being able to hike a trail because the parking area is full. One more tip, always have a plan B (another hike in mind) just in case you can’t hike the first trail you wanted to.
Ok, back to our story. We started the Chimney Tops hike with a short descent down a set of steps. The beginning of the hike was nice and relaxing. We crossed a few bridges and listened to the river rushing as we hiked alongside it.
Despite it being very cloudy in the early morning, the sun started to come out a little bit. It was turning into a warm, partly cloudy day. We passed a few beautiful cascades, and everything was so green!
Now for the fun part. As you reach closer to the summit of Chimney Tops, the elevation gain becomes more intense. The next part of this hike consisted of many, many steps and a continuous uphill climb until you reach the top.
It was definitely exhausting but do-able for our current fitness levels. We did meet two elderly couples who told us they had to turn around because it was too steep. At least they got out there and tried, and they were smart to know their limits and turn around when it got too tough. Being a physical therapist, I’m proud of them.
We continued hiking along the Chimney Tops Trail until we reached the overlook. The observation point was built in 2017 when the trail re-opened after a terrible wildfire burned over 11,000 acres within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016.
The views from the observation point were nice. Not as amazing as I hoped, but maybe that had something to do with it still being partly cloudy.
We knew the last 0.25 miles of the trail was closed due to the 2016 wildfire resulting in hazardous conditions. However, we still hiked further down the trail to see for ourselves. We were curious.
We were quickly stopped by a large gate that warned visitors from going beyond that point. Even though we knew the last 0.25 miles were closed off, we were still disappointed. I have done this trail before in 2014 and the last section to reach the summit of Chimney Tops was the best part! It consisted of rock scrambling to the top and seeing even better views than what you get from the observation point.
I was excited to take my husband on this hike for that reason, but we found out it was still closed when we reached the trailhead. There is a sign that tells you ahead of time it is still closed. It is unclear when (or if) the last section to Chimney Tops will open up again, but at least you can still hike most of the trail to an observation point. It was still worth it!
Our Rating of Chimney Tops
We give this trail a 6/10!
What we liked: well-maintained trail; hike over footbridges and alongside a small river; challenging hike with lots of steps; observation point with nice views (better views on a clear sunny day).
What we didn’t like: last 0.25 miles of the trail (the best part of the hike) was closed. It’s closed to keep visitors safe, so we are not mad that it’s closed for that reason. We support keeping people safe!
Hike one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Chimney Tops! The panoramic views at the end make the tough uphill trek worth it.
Be aware, the last 0.25 miles of the trail are closed due the 2016 wildfire!
Interested in hiking this trail?? Click the button below to learn more and plan your next adventure! ✨
