Took the Smokies shuttle from Newfound Gap vs. approached from Fontana Dam - night and day for crowds

Last June I hiked the AT section from Clingmans Dome to Davenport Gap and tried going through Newfound Gap Road first. Huge mistake, honestly. The parking lot was overflowing by 8 AM and I ran into maybe 30 day hikers in the first mile. A few weeks later I started from Fontana Dam instead and saw maybe 6 people the entire morning. The trail was quieter, the campsites were emptier, and I actually saw a bear cross the creek right in front of me. Has anyone else noticed a big difference in traffic depending on which direction you approach a popular section from?

3 comments

3 Comments

miller.susan5d ago

Hang on, I have to jump in here because I think you're mixing up two different sections of the AT... The section from Fontana Dam to Newfound Gap is actually northbound, and from Clingmans Dome to Davenport Gap is a different stretch entirely. You said you went through Newfound Gap Road first and then later started from Fontana Dam, but if you're hiking the AT proper you wouldn't go through the road at all unless you're using it as an access point. The real difference in crowd levels comes from the fact that Newfound Gap is a major highway crossing with tons of tourist traffic, while Fontana Dam is a much harder place to reach. I will say your point about seeing a bear at Fontana is spot on though, I've seen way more wildlife on that side of the Smokies because people aren't constantly stomping through with their kids and dogs.

luna_wells5714d ago

Starting from Fontana Dam is a great way to see less people but you miss out on the whole point of that section. The crowds at Newfound Gap are there for a reason - it's the easiest access to the best views on the whole AT. You trade solitude for actually being able to see the famous overlooks without bushwhacking through rhododendrons. Plus those day hikers you hate are the same ones who donate to trail maintenance and keep the shuttle running. Without them the whole section falls apart.

emma_young14d ago

Yeah you're right about "the parking lot was overflowing by 8 AM" - I've seen that exact chaos. My trick is to start from Fontana Dam but hitch a ride up to Newfound Gap around 6 AM for the sunrise views when it's empty, then hike south back to Fontana. You get the famous lookout mostly to yourself plus the quiet stretch down to the dam. Bring a headlamp though, that early morning walk from the parking lot to the overlook is dark under the trees. And grab the bear canister requirement from the Fontana visitor center before you start, they don't always mention it at the Gap.