Honor one of the most vocal advocates for the park, Horace Kephart, along his namesake trail. After an early morning visit to Clingmans Dome, drive 30-minutes to Kephart Prong Trail and find the small parking area, which can fill up quickly in the spring and summer.

For more information about Horace Kephart, click here.

The trail crosses the Oconaluftee River six times ('prong' in the trail name means a bend in the river) with footbridges that are sturdy, but narrow. As demonstrated here by my balancing act, crossing one at a time is encouraged. As for the trail, it's mostly an old road with patches of eroded pavement.

We love this trail because it highlights the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a federal work project that employed young men during the Depression and developed critical infrastructure for the park. 4,000 CCC workers were assigned to the Smokies, and along Kephart Prong Trail you will find remains of a CCC camp active from 1933-1942, including this chimney. Look for other remains: a signboard, water fountain and pipes for a fish hatchery.

The hike ends upon reaching the Kephart Prong shelter, where you may find overnight campers. There is a picturesque area just beyond the shelter by the water for a picnic lunch. If you're interested in further exploration, there are two trails that extend beyond Kephart Prong.