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Lakeshore Trail and two creeks in the Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Trailhead: Fontana Dam
5/26 - 5/31/23 (5 nights)
Lakeshore Trail => Bear Creek Trail => High Rocks => Cold Spring Gap Trail => Hazel Creek Trail => Lakeshore Trail
Sites: 86, 98, 75, 83, 90
Caltopo says 64 miles and 11,000' elevation
I planned this trip to finally come down Eagle Creek (been on my todo list for multiple years). but my legs weren't up to the climb up to the ridge and then down again. I ended up modifying along the way.
Day 1:Start by walking across Fontana Dam to the beginning of the Lakeshore Trail
Mountain Laurel blooms everywhere
History remnants
Fontana Lake through the trees
I hate snakes
Deer are ok
Fontana Lake near Eagle Creek. I saw a snake in the water, two snakes in a couple of hours, not good.
Bridge over Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek
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More history
Calhoun House on Hazel Creek
I got to Site 86 (Proctor) and all of the sites near fire rings were taken (about 10 people total). I didn't want to crash anyone's party and I didn't care about a fire. Two guys saw me poking around and said I could set up near them. They turned in early and I never talked to them again.
I walked down the trail/road to the lake and then back to camp and bed
Day 2: Lakeshore Trail and cemeteries
First thing in the morning as I'm hiking along, there was a crash and I looked up and saw a bear standing up trying to figure out what I was was. I tried pulling out my cell phone but he ran too fast. 1st bear of the trip. I ended up seeing a couple more along the Lakeshore trail over the next couple of days.
A little while later, I took a short side trip to check out Fairview Cemetery, there is a trail down to the lake
The Cable name is all over the area. I'm always sad seeing the kids graves, can't imagine both twins dying in two weeks.
Fairview Cemetery
The first day I met a guy who had spent the day in his boat driving the lake to put flags on all the veteran's graves (Memorial Day was coming up).
An unnamed cemetery with 5 graves but no grave stones.
And another unnamed place with two children's graves
Way better than snakes
Site 98 (Chambers Creek). There were a couple dads and kids who had boated over. They had setup close to the lake while I was in the "official" site so I did not interact with them other than to say hello.
Day 3: Lakeshore Trail to Forney Creek to Bear Creek Trail
Humongous fungus
McClure Cementery
Forney Creek embayment
Forney Creek
Site 75 (Poplar Flats)
I got to the campsite and there were three guys setting up. I found a place off to the side and then relaxed near the fire ring. One of the guys was ready for a fire (saw, nice knife for batoning, firestarter). They seemed a little suspicious of me until I volunteered to take a turn sawing logs. We ended up chatting for a couple of hours and they were happy to share their party. They all worked together in Alabama and had been doing an annual trip to the park for the last couple of years. As it started getting dark a mom and dad and a young teenager rolled in, after setting up camp they joined us around the fire for a bit. Ended up being an entertaining night.
Old logging history
Big trees
Day 4: Bear Creek Trail, High Rocks, Cold Spring Gap Trail, Hazel Creek Trail
Old steps to the firetower on High Rocks. I ran into the parents/kid from the night before as I was heading up the side trail. They said the view was great.
Nice view with Fontana Lake down below. Great place for lunch.
Old desk chair and a foundation stone for the firetower
Remains of the cabin
.
Along the Cold Spring Branch. The trail is a little wet in places, a month earlier it would be impossible to keep your feet dry.
Down to Hazel Creek, these signs usually mean there is a cemetery somewhere
Wilson Cemetery (only a couple graves)
Camp Site 83 (Bone Valley). I got set up away from the one tent that was already there, not a problem since it is a huge site. It turned out the tent was the family from the night before.
Someone really wanted to avoid siting on the ground. It actually was pretty comfortable with my sit pad. I ended up sharing a campfire with the family and told them a little bit about the park since this was their first trip.
Hazel Creek
Before campfire time I hiked up to the Bone Valley Cemetery
I stirred up this mouse from under some leaves, scared us both, he ran out and then immediately froze
Not everyone died young
Made it through WW1 and then died a couple years later
Day 5: Bone Valley, Hazel Creek, Lakeshore Trail
Hall Cabin at the end of the Bone Valley Trail
100 years old
Bridge over Hazel Creek
Bridge near Proctor
Site 90 There was gear spread all over the area (and it is a large space). I thought there were a couple large groups but it ended up being a guided trip (two sets of mom/dad/kid and one guide) that had paddled over from the marina. The seven of them had managed to take up space for about 15 people. There was one other solo hiker who was setting up his tent but I never saw him again, must have gone to sleep at 7pm.
Fontana Lake/Eagle Creek embayment
Can't really tell, but the shadow in the middle is a bear running away (5th bear of the trip)
Back to the car and the drive home. I was thinking how good a beer would be and then I saw a sign for Fontana Village that said "Cold Beer" and my lunch stop was decided. Damn good beer.
Pretty good pulled pork with great home made potato chips
I ended up seeing people everyday which usually annoys me (especially along the Lakeshore Trail where there are usually fewer people) but this time it was nice talking to some people and everyone I encountered was very nice.
Got to finally see High Rocks, but still need to do Eagle Creek. All in all, a great trip.
