Spring view along Chimney Tops Trail.
4 Chimney Tops
This hike offers cascading streams, wildflowers, scenic forest views, rugged rock outcrops, and unparalleled vistas. Access to the trailhead is easy, and the hike is relatively short. What it doesn’t offer, though, is solitude. You’re going to have company, so prepare your mind for it.
Start: Chimney Tops trailhead on Newfound Gap Road
Distance: 4.0 miles out and back
Hiking time: About 3.5 hours—day hike
Difficulty: Strenuous, due to steep trail and rock scrambling
Trail surface: Packed dirt and rocks
Other trail users: Hikers only
Maps: Mount LeConte USGS quad; Trails Illustrated #229 Great Smoky Mountains; Trails Illustrated #317 Clingmans Dome Cataloochee
Special considerations: Hike to Chimney Tops on a weekend or during the summer or fall season and you can expect to rub shoulders with other hikers the entire way. The steep trail seems to deter no one, even those who shouldn’t attempt such a difficult and potentially dangerous trek. Scrambling up the peaks requires using both hands and feet, so make sure you can strap everything to your back or waist if you bring it. Once on the summit, pay particular attention to where you step. The slightest distraction can cause disastrous results. Do not let kids run free on this hike. Be extremely careful if hiking in winter, as snow and ice make the Chimney Tops’ summit too dangerous to climb.
Other: The parking lots can handle several vehicles, but they fill up quickly anytime other than winter weekdays. Restrooms are available 2.4 miles north of the trailhead at Chimneys Picnic Area.
Finding the trailhead: Chimney Tops parking area is located on Newfound Gap Road, 5.9 miles north of Newfound Gap and 6.8 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center (GPS: N35 38.088' / W83 28.219'). Don’t confuse Chimney Tops with Chimneys Picnic Area, which is located 2.4 miles north of the trailhead.
The Hike
Begin from the main parking area at the sign and descend to the bridge over Walker Camp Prong. Cascades, pools, and huge boulders (many good for sunning) make this spot extremely popular. Look downstream to see the confluence with Road Prong. You’ll cross that stream very shortly. Where the two creeks join, the waterway becomes West Prong Little Pigeon River. After the first crossing of Road Prong, the trail swings around to the left.
The trail now climbs noticeably, crosses Road Prong for a second time, and continues ascending to the third and final crossing. Just beyond that crossing, in an area known as Beech Flats, the trail swings around to the right, while Road Prong Trail continues following the creek upstream (see Hike 5). Go right here, remaining on the wide and well-graded Chimney Tops Trail. A moderate ascent leads to a metal culvert across the trail. Stop here and rest; you’ll need it. The next several hundred yards climb extremely steeply up the drainage, with no switchbacks to lessen the grade. You do make one switchback later on, but by that time you’ll have put most of the steep part behind you. After that switchback the grade moderates and even descends a short distance before leveling out somewhat on a narrow ridge. A short walk (scramble is a better term, what with all the roots and rocks) along this ridge leads to the base of the Chimneys.
Spring view along Chimney Tops Trail.
Now comes the difficult part of the hike—yep, worse than that steep climb you just made up the ravine. A sign here warns you to go no farther. You should take heed. You can scramble up the rocky ridge directly in front of you, but do not continue around toward the right. This route is closed due to heavy erosion helped by hikers, and it can be very dangerous. If you do make the climb straight ahead, you’ll need to use both hands and feet to make it to the top.
Your reward at the summit is one of the finest panoramic views in the park. To the northeast, in bold relief, stands the imposing massif of Mount LeConte. To the right of LeConte extends the narrow ridgeline called The Boulevard. To the southeast towers Mount Mingus, which you may have noticed from a clearing back down the trail, and to the right of Mingus is the Road Prong drainage. If you follow the ridge leading down the left side of Mount Mingus, you’ll see “the Loop” on Newfound Gap Road, although vegetation hides most of it in summer. Toward the west are the steep slopes of Sugarland Mountain, of which the ridgeline forming the Chimney Tops is a spur. To the northwest lies the West Prong Little Pigeon River drainage leading into Sugarlands, with Cove Mountain in the distance.
At your feet is the jagged, slatelike Anakeesta Formation. The rock is difficult and dangerous to walk on, so be careful. The juncos and red squirrels don’t have a problem with it, though, and you’re sure to get a scolding from a squirrel if you spend much time reflecting up here. Their constant chatter seems to say, “Why don’t you feed me? Don’t you see how cute I am?” You can tell them that the park strictly forbids you to feed any wildlife.
From the summit of Chimney tops, retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Miles and Directions
0.0Start from the parking area at the signpost.
0.1Cross Walker Camp Prong on a long footbridge.
0.2First bridge over Road Prong. After crossing turn to the left and remain on the main trail.
0.4Second bridge over Road Prong.
0.8Third bridge over Road Prong.
0.9Junction with Road Prong Trail, which goes straight ahead and continues following the creek upstream. You want to go to the right and remain on the wide Chimney Tops Trail.
2.0Arrive at Chimney Tops. Return the way you came.
4.0Arrive back at trailhead.
Option: Hike 5 follows Road Prong Trail to Beech Flats and then continues on Chimney Tops Trail to the parking area. A side trip to Chimney Tops from that hike lets you do both hikes in the same trip. This works well as a shuttle hike, with a vehicle left at the lower parking area.