Lakeshore Loop from the Tunnel, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
3/19/2022	8.8 miles	?	1,284'	2.2 mph	172.4

Parking: 

• Lakeshore Trail Trailhead, Road to Nowhere

Maps:

• National Geographic Great Smoky Mountains National Park West
• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge (for directions)

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails Map

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• 100 Favorite Trails #19
• Smoky Mountain 900 Miler Challenge - Lakeshore Trail (partial)
• Smoky Mountain 900 Miler Challenge - Whiteoak Bridge Trail
• Smoky Mountain 900 Miler Challenge - Forney Creek Trail (partial)

We had planned to do this hike with the CMC, but it was cancelled due to bad weather. Lucky us, we were invited out to do the hike by Danny and were also joined by her friend Diane. I found out that Diane is a watercolor artist who paints landscapes! I've been working on learning to sketch and learning watercolor for a while, so it was good to talk to her about her journey.

This hike starts out by going through a tunnel...the end of the road. The "Road to Nowhere" has an interesting story behind it: The Road to Nowhere - Bryson City NC - Great Smokies National Park

On our return trip, we stopped by the Woody Cemetery. I find visiting old cemeteries fascinating. Here is an article about the cemetery: Remembrance - Woody Cemetery along the north shore of Lake Fontana - GoSmokies (knoxnews.com)

I checked, and it looks like this is my 39th 100 Favorite Trails hike.

Visiting the Woody Cemetery

There were many identical graves marked "Infant Freeman"

Walking back through the tunnel, making ghost noises