Hike Chimney Tops Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Directions

Route Map

Download GPX

Chimney Tops GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Add to Cart

View Cart

This route may have access issues.

After the 2017 fire, the last bit to the summit pinnacles is closed. I don't know when/if it will be reopened.

May 2, 2016 — This classic Great Smoky Mountains National Park hike reaches the summit of Chimney Tops, a twin set of cool-looking points. We started south from the trailhead along the Chimney Tops Trail, which begins by paralleling a pretty creek. The trail is complete with bridges and stone staircases. It slowly gains elevation before climbing more steeply to the west, making its way to the south ridge of Chimney Tops. The first view toward the summit is really cool, since the ridgeline is topped with slabs of rock and it juts out over the horizon. Some light scrambling leads across the slabs and up to the high point.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Chimney Tops

4800 ft

120 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Along the Chimney Tops Trail.

A nice footbridge to cross a creek.

Slow ascent on a well-maintained trail.

Stone steps paralleling flowing water.

More steep climbing on the way up to the southern ridge of Chimney Tops.

A view point along the way.

Chimney Tops visible ahead.

Approaching the ridgeline scramble.

Along the Chimney Tops rock slabs.

Great views from Chimney Tops.

A view north from Chimney Tops.

View south along the Chimney Tops ridgeline.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!