DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE - Knoxville Chamber of Commerce

O U T D O O R
A D V E N T U R E
Take a Hike!
J o i n a C l u b a n d E x p l o r e O u r S p e c t a c u l a r A r e a o n F o o t
Wildlife along Little River Trail, a moderate path just about an hour outside of Knoxville.
Photo courtesy of SMHC member Lucinda Turbeville
There are miles upon miles of hiking trails
within a two- to three-hour driving radius
of Knoxville and approximately 800 miles
of trails within the Smoky Mountains.
It is the availability of these trails and the
gorgeous scenery that characterizes the region that
makes hiking a popular sport in Knoxville. The trails
typically include breathtaking views, wildflowers,
waterfalls, unpolluted streams, wildlife, huge trees and
skies devoid of light pollution.
“I think [the sport is popular] because there are
so many trails close to Knoxville — and many within
the metro area. These provide users with a means of
getting a workout while seeing something beautiful or
unusual,” says Mark Shipley, president of the Smoky
Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC). “Organized hikes and
trail work outings are also a great way to meet people
and develop lifelong friendships. Hiking is something
that a fairly wide range of people can do.”
SMHC offers a program of scheduled hikes and
work trips for trail maintenance. At least one hike is
planned for each weekend, as well as one on Wednesday.
“We have what would be referred to as ‘easy’ hikes and
we have some really tough hikes that will challenge
the most capable individuals. Our day-hike distances
can range from two to close to 20 miles,” says Shipley.
Members of the hiking club represent a wide range of
ages, many of whom are older than 50 and have been
with the club for many years. The minimum age is 16.
Work trips to the Appalachian Trail (AT), which
runs through the Smoky Mountains in nearby
Gatlinburg, are usually conducted on the first Saturday
of each month during the more temperate seasons of
the year. “Without trail maintenance there would clearly
be far less hiking and, I dare say, no SMHC. This is how
critical trail maintenance is to hiking and to our club,”
says Shipley. “The folks that do trail work are essential
and their efforts are much appreciated and cannot be
understated. Our trail work generally involves items
such as water bar cleaning, weed removal, removal
of blow downs, re-blazing along the AT, shelter and
privy maintenance.” ■
Knoxville Chamber