16.9 mile loop walk starting on the 'road to nowhere'.
Elevation profile for my 16.9 mile loop walk, including almost 6000' in overall climbing.
The infamous road to nowhere, with its more politically correct name.
Foggy morning views
Fog over Fontana Lake on what would be a very hot day
Foggy ridges above Fontana Lake
Noland Creek Trail - Not technically the trailhead, because the trail goes south for one mile to the banks of Fontana Lake...but this is where I start my loop beside Lake View Drive
Noland Creek Trail - Access trail to the main trail
Noland Creek Trail - Lake View Drive crosses Noland Creek Trail
Noland Creek Trail - Crossing under the bridge on the wide road/trail
Noland Creek Trail - The first of many gorgeous mountain laurel sightings
Noland Creek Trail - Noland Creek
Noland Creek Trail - A wide jeep path and easy walking
Noland Creek Trail - Mountain Laurel
Noland Creek Trail - Cascades on Noland Creek
Noland Creek Trail - Mountain Laurel show
Noland Creek Trail - Laurel over the creek
Noland Creek Trail - Still a pleasant stroll
Noland Creek Trail - A bend in the creek
Noland Creek Trail - Rock walls on the left edge of the trail
Noland Creek Trail - Another bend in the creek
Noland Creek Trail - More cascades
Noland Creek Trail - This is why I travel upstream on Smokies trails..the streams are fantastic
Noland Creek Trail - A wide area of former homesites
Noland Creek Trail - Strolling along
Noland Creek Trail - Indian Creek comes in
Noland Creek Trail - Enjoying life
Noland Creek Trail - Approaching another bridge
Noland Creek Trail - looking downstream at the bridge
Noland Creek Trail - Love this creek
Noland Creek Trail - Beautiful Noland Creek
Noland Creek Trail - Laurel hangs over the trail
Noland Creek Trail - View from this bridge
Noland Creek Trail - Side trail to a cemetary
Noland Creek Trail - First look at the sun coming over the mountains on the day that was predicted to some to be 'Rapture Day'.
Noland Creek Trail - Bobcat!
Noland Creek Trail - The big cat surveying the trail edge for a late-morning snack.
Noland Creek Trail - Grabbing a field mouse or something
Noland Creek Trail - Dead hemlocks beside the trail
Noland Creek Trail - Not sure what this is yet...don't think it's foamflower
Noland Creek Trail -
Noland Creek Trail - Still a wide road
Noland Creek Trail - Solola valley
Noland Creek Trail - Another bridge
Noland Creek Trail - Noland Creek splits around an island
Noland Creek Trail - Approaching the intersection with Springhouse Branch Trail and campsite #64
Noland Creek Trail - Last views of Noland Creek for today
Noland Creek Trail - At campsite #64
Springhouse Branch Trail/Noland Creek Trail intersection
Springhouse Branch Trail/Noland Creek Trail intersection - This is campsite #64, complete with picnic tables
Campsite #64 - The horse ties ups are at the back of the camp.
Springhouse Branch Trail - The trail starts at the left side of the camp
Springhouse Branch Trail - Crossing Mill Creek
Springhouse Branch Trail - Mill Creek on a rock walkway
Springhouse Branch Trail - Nice rock pathway around Mill Creek
Springhouse Branch Trail - Now climbing away from the camp
Springhouse Branch Trail - A partridgeberry
Springhouse Branch Trail - Mountain Laurel
Springhouse Branch Trail - Climbing beside Jerry Bald Ridge
Springhouse Branch Trail - Rock piles from former homesites
Springhouse Branch Trail - Lots of rock walls in this area
Springhouse Branch Trail - Rock walls
Springhouse Branch Trail - Climbing along the worn path
Springhouse Branch Trail - Common ground cover that I never remember the name of
Springhouse Branch Trail - Lots of toads on the trail
Springhouse Branch Trail - Tons of squawroot today
Springhouse Branch Trail - Speckled Wood Lily
Springhouse Branch Trail - Love the flowers of this plant
Springhouse Branch Trail - More squawroot
Springhouse Branch Trail - Big trees
Springhouse Branch Trail - Another monster tree beside the trail
Springhouse Branch Trail - Crossing a small stream
Springhouse Branch Trail - Tiny mushrooms grow on a nurse log
Springhouse Branch Trail - This part of the climb was really gorgeous
Springhouse Branch Trail - Wild Geranium
Springhouse Branch Trail - Not sure, maybe meadow parsnip?
Springhouse Branch Trail - A big tree beside the trail
Springhouse Branch Trail - Umbrella leaf
Springhouse Branch Trail - Looking down the seep area
Springhouse Branch Trail - A tree in the shape of a V
Springhouse Branch Trail - The trail changing character as I climb with ridge views beginning to show up
Springhouse Branch Trail - Views through the trees
Springhouse Branch Trail - More ridge views
Springhouse Branch Trail - Squawroot flowers
Springhouse Branch Trail - Continuing to climb
Springhouse Branch Trail - Ridge walking through rhodo tunnels now
Springhouse Branch Trail - Mountain Laurel early blooms
Springhouse Branch Trail
Springhouse Branch Trail - More speckled wood lily
Springhouse Branch Trail - False Solomons Seal
Springhouse Branch Trail - BEAR!
Forney Ridge Trail/Springhouse Branch Trail intersection - Board Camp Gap. Just a few miles up this trail is Andrews Bald and Clingmans Dome.
Springhouse Branch Trail - Squawroot
Springhouse Branch Trail - A weird looking tree
Springhouse Branch Trail - Still climbing past Board Camp Gap
Springhouse Branch Trail - Crested Dwarf Iris
Springhouse Branch Trail - Flame Azalea
Springhouse Branch Trail - Flame Azalea flowers
Springhouse Branch Trail - Another phase in the life of mountain laurel flowers
Springhouse Branch Trail - A big switchback to start the descent to the north
Springhouse Branch Trail - A tree swallows the trail sign
Springhouse Branch Trail - More flame azalea
Springhouse Branch Trail - Popular flame azalea
Springhouse Branch Trail - I think this is Bowman's Root
Springhouse Branch Trail - Bowman's Root
Springhouse Branch Trail - Dead hemlock
Springhouse Branch Trail - A massive dead hemlock
Springhouse Branch Trail - A wide seep area
Springhouse Branch Trail - A poplar flower
Springhouse Branch Trail - More huge trees
Springhouse Branch Trail - A switchback and another giant hemlock
Springhouse Branch Trail - Dwarf Cinquefoil
Springhouse Branch Trail - More lilies
Springhouse Branch Trail - Ridge views during the descent
Springhouse Branch Trail - A big rock beside the trail
Springhouse Branch Trail - More laurel
Springhouse Branch Trail - Views though the trees
Springhouse Branch Trail - Mountain Laurel and ridges
Springhouse Branch Trail - Galax
Springhouse Branch Trail - Galax wand
Springhouse Branch Trail - Blackberry
Springhouse Branch Trail - More galax
Springhouse Branch Trail - Bee Gum Branch
Springhouse Branch Trail - A mountaintop through the trees
Springhouse Branch Trail - Was Jesus looking for me? :o)
Springhouse Branch Trail - Love the laurel show. Rhododendron will next to put on a big show.
Springhouse Branch Trail - Approaching the Forney Creek Trail intersection
Springhouse Branch Trail - Huge campsite #71
Springhouse Branch Trail - The chimney from the former CCC camp
Forney Creek Trail/Springhouse Branch Trail intersection - right next to campsite #71
Campsite #71 - The chimney at the camp and Dr. Tom Warren
Campsite #71 - Dr. Warren's catch
Springhouse Branch Trail - Tom Warren and his catch from Forney Creek
Campsite #71 - A lush campsite
Forney Creek Trail - heading south back to the car now
Forney Creek Trail - Forney Creek
Forney Creek Trail - Big boulders on Forney Creek
Forney Creek Trail
Forney Creek Trail - The must have re-routed the trail here
Whiteoak Branch Trail/Forney Creek Trail intersection
Whiteoak Branch Trail/Forney Creek Trail intersection - From here there are two options to connect with Lakeshore Trail
Whiteoak Branch Trail/Forney Creek Trail intersection - I'll head down Whiteoak Branch Trail
Whiteoak Branch Trail/Forney Creek Trail intersection - This is Whiteoak Branch
Whiteoak Branch Trail - Whiteoak Branch
Whiteoak Branch Trail - Another flat area of former homesites
Whiteoak Branch Trail - Another V-tree as I climb
Whiteoak Branch Trail - Laurel tunnels
Whiteoak Branch Trail - A small crossing of Grey Wolf Creek
Whiteoak Branch Trail - More flat areas
Lakeshore Trail/Whiteoak Branch Trail intersection - It is blazing hot now..only 2.7 miles to go!
Lakeshore Trail - Two more climbs
Lakeshore Trail - More laurel
Gold Mine Loop Trail/Lakeshore Trail intersection
Tunnel Bypass Trail/Lakeshore Trail intersection
Lakeshore Trail - Finally a nice breeze in the blazing temps
Lakeshore Trail - Now on the pavement approaching the tunnel
Lakeshore Trail - The infamous tunnel
Lakeshore Trail - The tunnel
Lakeshore Trail - At the end of my trail mileage..now just a short road walk back to the car.
Lakeshore Trail - The sign at the Lakeshore trailhead
The road to nowhere..a.k.a. Lake View Drive
Pretty daisies beside the trail
Noland Creek Trailhead - Whew! Done with 16.9 miles of walking and it's only around 4:30.
Lake View Drive - Views of Fontana Lake
Lake View Drive - Views of Fontana Lake to end a glorious day in the Smoky Mountains
