| Date |
Distance |
Time |
Elevation Gain |
Average Moving Time |
Year to Date Miles |
|---|
| 10/12/2022 |
10.8 miles |
5 hours 37 minutes |
1,766' |
2.3 |
802.2 |
Parking:
- Pretty Hollow Gap Trailhead
Maps:- National Geographic Great Smoky Mountains National Park East
Directions:
- Follow Pretty Hollow Gap trail for 1.6 miles.
- Turn left onto Palmer Creek Trail and hike to the end at a gravel one way road.
- Return the same way.
Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:
- Smoky Mountain 900 Miler Challenge
We joined leader George on a Carolina Mountain Club hike in the Smokies. What a treat - fall foliage was at its peak TODAY! Just the drive into the Cataloochee area was stunning. We saw a large elk with a nice set of antlers on the drive in.
This hike is mostly on a wide, rocky trail. The hike has a fair amount of elevation gain, but it's very gradual, so was a relaxing hike. We hiked along the Palmer Creek in the beginning - very pretty. We even saw elk on the other side of the creek. I learned a new tree - Frasier Magnolia. They have seed pods like southern magnolias, but the leaves are very different. I was always confused about the seed pods, because I've seen them on so many hikes, but there are no southern magnolias in the forest. I was kind of guessing they came from rhododendrons, because they are everywhere ;) Totally wrong on that one.
No real views on this hike. There was a ridgeline next to us with really good color, but the view was mostly blocked. On the drive out, we stopped at an overlook - lots of leaf peepers doing the same.
 |
| End of the Palmer Creek Trail, a one way road |
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| A little peak at the ridgeline next to us |
 |
| Don't ask.... |
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| Cucumber Root |
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| Cucumber Root |
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| Look at that color! |
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| Overlook on the drive out of Cataloochee |
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