The Noland Divide Trail follows the Noland Divide from Deep Creek northward up to the Smokies crest at Clingmans Dome Road. Today I would just do the northernmost 3.7 miles in an out-and-back to Upper Sassafras Gap. (7.4 miles total)
The elevation profile for my 7.4 mile out and back. Most of today's 1882' of climbing would on the return leg in the afternoon.
Noland Divide trailhead - This easy-to-miss sign is directly beside Clingmans Dome Road just a short distance east of the Dome parking area.
Noland Divide Trail - The first few tenths descend on an old roadbed
Noland Divide Trail - The views to the east are obscurd by a thick spruce-fir forest
Noland Divide Trail - Three big spruce fall victim to the high winds from the strong storms common at this elevation. I would be caught in one of those storms on my return trip.
Noland Divide Trail - The toppled trees rip open the forest like a can opener, exposing virgin soil
Noland Divide Trail - The acid rain monitoring tower, also victim of a strong storm
Noland Divide Trail - Big trees have fallen at the base of the tower, destroying the chain link fence.
Noland Divide Trail - Big fallen spruce knock of the protection fence
Noland Divide Trail - This picture doesn't give a good sense, but these are very big toppled trees that now rest against the tower.
Noland Divide Trail - A side trail that branches off to the right, which I didn't explore today
Noland Divide Trail - After that spur the trail narrows to a real trail
Noland Divide Trail - A huge double-trunked tree curves upward beside the trail
Noland Divide Trail - I believe this is the Smoky's and the North Carolina state record yellow birch tree.
Noland Divide Trail - Ridge views peaking through
Noland Divide Trail - There were many trillium on the upper section of the trail, all already in the seed stage
Noland Divide Trail - I love the high elevation forest
Noland Divide Trail - Huge spruce trees
Noland Divide Trail - Hobblebush was also very common, not yet seeded out
Noland Divide Trail - Lillies were also abundant, not which did not have their seed stalks. I believe this is bluebead lily not quite blue yet.
Noland Divide Trail - Some of the trees were massive
Noland Divide Trail - A dead fraser fir stands beside the trail
Noland Divide Trail - In a few sections the wildflowers, mostly blackberry, enchroached and covered the trail.
Noland Divide Trail - This old gnarly tree was about 20 feet off the trail
Noland Divide Trail - This small wildflower with flowers like a toothwort was also common
Noland Divide Trail - As I descend, the flame azalea show begins
Noland Divide Trail - Some flame azalea flowers were more yellow, others striking orange
Noland Divide Trail - More flame azalea
Noland Divide Trail - More of the yellow variety
Noland Divide Trail - Squawroot dominated the trailside in the lower third of the walk
Noland Divide Trail - A toad hides among the flowers
Noland Divide Trail - Down lower, big dead hemlocks appear
Noland Divide Trail - Mushrooms
Noland Divide Trail - More squawroot
Noland Divide Trail - This was interesting. This tree wore this rock like an ankle bracelet
Noland Divide Trail - Views of Forney Ridge to the west
Noland Divide Trail - Tunnels of big rhododendron, not quite in flower yet
Noland Divide Trail - The galax put on quite a show
Noland Divide Trail - Galax burst in bloom under the rhododendron tunnels
Noland Divide Trail - Approaching Upper Sassafras Gap
Upper Sassafras Gap - This quiet spot is the intersection of three trails, Noland Divide Trail, Noland Creek Trail, and Pole Road Creek Trail.
Upper Sassafras Gap - Here is the northern terminus of Noland Creek Trail, the trail where I spotted the bobcat on my last Smoky Mountain walk. Lord willing I will come back another day to finish the unwalked section between campsite #64 and here.
Upper Sassafras Gap - Views to the southeast from the gap
Noland Divide Trail - Return trip pics now...this is the more bright orange version of flame azalea
Noland Divide Trail - Views of Sassafras Knob on the ascent
Noland Divide Trail - American Chestnut tree sprouts growing beside the trail
Noland Divide Trail - Parts of the ascent are nice, flat, wide, and open with big trees
Noland Divide Trail - Through the trees are views of Forney Ridge and later the main Smoky's crest
Noland Divide Trail - Fire Pink were abundant in the middle portions of the trail
Noland Divide Trail - It is hard to describe the beauty of the Smoky Mountains spruce-fir forest
Noland Divide Trail - Hobblebush and Christmas Fern line the trail boundaries
Noland Divide Trail - A massive spruce that escaped the logger ax
Noland Divide Trail - These shelf polypores are neat
Noland Divide Trail - Views toward Mount Buckley
Noland Divide Trail - A blurry shot of one of the few mushrooms on the trail today
Noland Divide Trail - Cool shelf fungi
The next several pictures are from the morning at Clingmans Dome parking area and a short stint on Forney Ridge Trail
Forney Ridge Trail
What a gorgeous morning at the Smoky's highest point
