Charlies Bunion - Hike to Charlies Bunion in the Smoky Mountains


Trail Features:		Panoramic Views
Trail Location:		Newfound Gap
Roundtrip Length:		8.1 miles
Total Elevation Gain:		1640 feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		405 feet
Highest Elevation:		6122 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:		11.38 (strenuous)
Parking Lot Latitude:		35.61084
Parking Lot Longitude:		- 83.42509

Directions to Trailhead:

From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 13 miles south on Newfound Gap Road to the Newfound Gap parking lot. You'll be hiking eastward on the Appalachian Trail to reach Charlies Bunion.

From Cherokee, drive 20.2 miles north to reach the Newfound Gap parking lot.

Trail Description:

The trail to Charlies Bunion, via the Appalachian Trail, begins from the Newfound Gap parking lot. A steady climb over the course of the first two miles of this hike will quickly leave the crowds at Newfound Gap behind. For your effort during this section of trail, you'll be rewarded often and early. Take a short break at roughly two-thirds of a mile to enjoy the grand views of the North Carolina Smokies to the south of you. Make sure to keep an eye out for the wide variety of wildflowers that bloom in this area as well.

Just before reaching the Sweat Heifer Creek Trail junction at 1.7 miles, take in the outstanding views of Mount LeConte and Myrtle Point towards the northwest.

Throughout several portions of this section of trail you'll be traveling at an elevation of roughly 6000 feet. Being at the highest point along this narrow ridge, with outstanding views on either side of the trail, you'll feel like you're walking along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains.

At just over 2.7 miles the Boulevard Trail to Mount LeConte forks off to the left. Continue going straight here to reach Charlies Bunion.

A quarter of a mile further down the trail you'll pass the Icewater Spring shelter, named after the nearby spring flowing from a pipe onto the Appalachian Trail. If thirsty, you'll need to treat this water first before drinking it.

At roughly 4 miles from the trailhead, a short spur trail forks off to the left that takes you to your destination.

Charlies Bunion is a rock out-cropping that was originally known as Fodderstack. The current name was derived when Charlie Conner went hiking one day with Horace Kephart, one of the early proponents of a national park in the Smokies, and author of Our Southern Highlanders. When they paused for a rest on the rocks Conner took his boots and socks off, exposing a bunion that looked like the surrounding rocks. Looking at Conner's feet, Kephart remarked, "Charlie, I'm going to get this place put on a government map for you." And so he did.

Charlies Bunion offers stunning views of the mountains to the north of you, Mt. Kephart and the Jump Off to your west, and Mount Guyot towards the east. Due to the steep drop-offs, you'll definitely want to watch you're footing around here.

If you still have the energy on the way back, take the relatively short side trail near the Boulevard Trail junction, to visit the Jump Off. The stunning views there are well worth the additional one-mile roundtrip.