Tennessee · Hiking

Chimney Tops Trail

Chimney Tops TrailPhoto: Bas van Oorschot, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.8 mi
one way
857 ft
climb
4,678 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Sep–Oct
best months

Is Chimney Tops Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It doesn't name Chimney Tops Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

  • Seasonal road closures

    Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.

    Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

  • Park Headquarters Road is closed

    Park closure covering Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Chimney Tops Trail is a 1.8-mile point-to-point hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, managed by the National Park Service. The route rises from about 3,900 feet to a high point of 4,678 feet, with a total elevation gain of 857 feet. It is a moderate hike, and the trail is not open to bikes or horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Newfound Gap weather station, which sits about 360 feet higher than the trail, show July highs around 74°F with lows near 57°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 39°F and lows near 22°F. The trail makes a good base for exploring the surrounding area. Cove Hardwood Nature Trail is about 1.5 miles away, and Road Prong Trail is about 1.7 miles away. Spruce Fir Nature Trail is about 2.1 miles away, and the Appalachian Trail passes within about 2.4 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Chimney Tops Trail

    Best months: September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      39° / 22°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 25°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 30°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 38°

      13 wet

    5. May

      66° / 47°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 54°

      16 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 57°

      16 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 56°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 51°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 32°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 27°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Newfound Gap, TN, 2.5 mi away at 5,040 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Appalachian TrailPhoto: Michael Pellegrino, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Appalachian Trail

~4 min drive

8.06-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee with 2,631 ft gain/loss.

Mountains-To-Sea Trail: Segment 1Photo: Michael Pellegrino, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mountains-To-Sea Trail: Segment 1

~4 min drive

4.97-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 872 ft gain and 3,600 ft loss.

Swinging Bridge Quiet WalkwayPhoto: lns1122, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Swinging Bridge Quiet Walkway

~6 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail in North Carolina with 256 ft of elevation gain.

Appalachian TrailPhoto: bogdanstepniak, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Appalachian Trail

~8 min drive

20.56-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina with 5,398 ft gain/loss

Sugarland Mountain TrailPhoto: Michael Pellegrino, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sugarland Mountain Trail

~4 min drive

11.73-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 1,860 ft gain.

Appalachian TrailPhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Appalachian Trail

~8 min drive

6.88-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina with 2,280 ft gain/loss

Jump Off TrailPhoto: bogdanstepniak, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jump Off Trail

~8 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back hike in North Carolina with 370 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Trillium Gap Trail

~7 min drive

17.82-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 3,914 ft elevation gain.

Rough Creek TrailPhoto: Charles Skip Martin, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rough Creek Trail

~6 min drive

5.44-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 3,003 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Road Prong Trail

~3 min drive

2.24-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 1,621 ft descent.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors