Mountains

Bullhead trail is closed Monday - Thursday for trail rehabilitation. Learn more about this closure. Overview Expect extreme crowding and limited parking—consider a shuttle and alternate hikes listed below One of five routes to Mount Le Conte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park , the Bullhead Trail offers consistent views along the way. This strenuous hike is 13.6 miles (21.9 km) roundtrip. See rocky cliffs near the beginning and climb the Bullhead, a heath-covered bald that may resemble a bull's head from a distance. Near the top, proceed straight at both the Rainbow Falls Trail and Alum Cave Trail junctions to arrive at Mount Le Conte. Partially due to the burn remnants of the 2016 Chimney Tops fire, the trail does not offer much shade during hot summer months. From the parking area on Cherokee Orchard Road, follow the nearby gravel road (technically the Old Sugarlands Trail) for four-tenths of a mile (0.6 km) to the Bullhead Trail junction on your left. Consult a map to pair this with Rainbow Falls Trail or Trillium Gap Trail to create a loop hike to Mount LeConte (total mileages will vary). In cold weather, prepare for ice on the trail and potential falling icicles. Microspikes (chains or small spikes to slip on shoes for better traction) recommended in winter. Length 13.6 miles (21.9 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead Please consider a shuttle or park at Rainbow Falls/Bullhead Trailhead on Cherokee Orchard Road (follow Old Sugarlands Trail from the parking area to arrive at Bullhead Trail). Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Pit toilets at Rainbow Falls Trailhead Alternate Hikes Appalachian Trail & Boulevard Trail to Mount Le Conte : 16.2 miles (26.1 km) roundtrip Trillium Gap Trail to Mount Le Conte : 13 miles (20.9 km) roundtrip Rainbow Falls Trail to Mount Le Conte : 13 miles (20.9 km) roundtrip Alum Cave Trail to Mount Le Conte : 10 miles (16.1 km) roundtrip

Join Park Rangers for a ranger led hike at Quarai every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am . Hikes are open to the public and no reservation is required. Bring plenty of water and snacks and wear comfortable shoes and proper clothing. For more details on upcoming events please consult the park calendar: https://www.nps.gov/sapu/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Enjoy a Snowshoe Walk or Hike Enjoy a snowshoe walk or hike this winter! It's as easy as strapping a pair of snowshoes on your waterproof winter boots and hitting the trail. When the snow is soft or deep enough, most high elevation trails in RMNP can be explored with snowshoes. A few pieces of equipment are essential: you will need a pair of snowshoes and waterproof boots. Hiking poles are helpful for maintaining balance. Additional equipment that is essential include a waterproof/wind proof jacket, hat, gloves, and sunglasses or goggles to help protect your eyes from the sun, snow and wind. Safety Tips for Planning a Snowshoe Trip in Rocky Mountain National Park Before heading out on an backcountry trip this winter, make sure that you are avalanche aware. We recommend to start by checking with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center ( https://avalanche.state.co.us/ ) for the current avalanche forecast, do your research to understand what your desired trail is like, and make sure you are prepared for winter recreation in the park before heading out. Please be aware that travel across and under steep slopes is not advised unless all members of your party have the education and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain. Some important things to keep in mind include: Avalanches are possible when you have snow on a slope steeper than about 30 degrees. Most avalanches happen during or soon after a big snowstorm, period of strong winds, or during a thaw (rapid increase in temperature). Signs of higher avalanche danger include recent avalanches, cracking in the snow, and audible collapsing. Avoid traveling on or under similar slopes. An avalanche could happen on any steep slope in the Rocky Mountains. They can release on their own or be triggered by the movement of a backcountry skier, snowshoer, or even wildlife. When hiking in low-elevation areas, it is always important to be paying attention to movement on the slopes above you. An avalanche can travel far. What If I Don't Have My Own Snowshoes? Don't have your own equipment? The communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake have shops where winter recreation equipment, including snowshoes, cross-country skis, hiking poles, boots, sleds, tubes, saucers, gaiters, and traction devices can be rented or purchased.

The Williams Ranch Road is currently closed. The Williams Ranch Road is closed to all public access at this time due to severe damage and dangerous conditions. This closure includes public access by foot, vehicle, mountain bike, and stock traffic. Heavy rains in the summer of 2021 caused extensive damage to the road, rendering it impassable for 4x4 vehicles. This closure is enacted to allow staff time to develop appropriate planning and compliance actions in order to address road conditions and return the road to safe condition efficiently. If you have a high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicle , the primitive dirt road to Williams Ranch provides a unique opportunity to get off the beaten path and get close to the remote and imposing western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains. This road traverses bedrock and washes, often making for an extremely rough drive. A slow speed is mandatory for safe passage. Be prepared with plenty of water, a jack, and good spare tire. On these isolated, infrequently patrolled backcountry roads, a disabled vehicle can become a life-threatening situation. A no-fee permit and a gate key is required for access to the Williams Ranch Road. Before you attempt the drive, check in at the Pine Springs Visitor Center for road informaiton and the gate key. You Will Need A High Clearance Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD) Vehicle A high clearance 4WD vehicle is defined as a SUV or truck type vehicle, with at least 15 inch tire rims or more, with a low gear transfer case, designed for heavier type use than a standard passenger vehicle, with at least 8 inches of clearance or more from the lowest point of the frame, body, suspension, or differential, to the ground, also including a means to mechanically power both, front and real wheels at the same time. Rain can make roads difficult to drive or impassable following summer monsoons. Always inquire about current road conditions. Protect the Guadalupe Mountains. Always stay on established roadways. OFF ROAD DRIVING IS PROHIBITED . The effects of off-road driving last up to 50 years, and result in compacted soils, heavy erosion, and destroyed vegetation. Thank you for helping to keep Guadalupe Mountains National Park's ecosystem healthy.

Overview Limited parking available at trailhead—consider a shuttle or see below for alternate hikes Follow the flow of mountain streams 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip through hardwood forest and across several log footbridges to the remains of a CCC camp and the Kephart Shelter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park . This trail follows the route of a formerly-paved jeep road and includes five railed footbridges that cross various streams. With a total elevation gain of 830 feet (253 m), many find this a leisurely trail. Reservation and backcountry permit required to stay overnight at Kephart Shelter. Length 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead Please consider a shuttle or park at Kephart Prong Trailhead at a small, paved pull-off 5 miles (8 km) north of Smokemont Campground on Newfound Gap Road (US 441). Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Collins Creek Picnic Area (open seasonally) south of the Kephart Prong Trailhead (restrooms also available at Oconaluftee Visitor Center ) Alternate Hikes Lynn Camp Prong Cascades : 1.4 miles (2.3 km) roundtrip Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop : 5.4 miles (8.7 km) roundtrip

Depending on your journey, you've either passed through the Foothills Entrance Station or you're about to leave the park for the next chapter in your trip. Take a moment to stop at the Foothills Visitor Center. Get information about the road ahead. Pick up some maps, books, and gifts. Use the restrooms. Browse exhibits about the ecology and human history of the foothills, and join a free ranger-led program if one's on the schedule.

Overview West Prong Trail is a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) horse and hiking trail that climbs nearly 1,000ft from Tremont Road near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont to provide hiking connections between Tremont, Elkmont, and Cades Cove trails. Seasonal wildflowers and wildlife such as deer, black bears, and invasive wild hogs are popular sights on this trail. For hikers interested in exploring the settlement history of Cades Cove, mile 0.3 presents a fork, where hikers can travel 100 yards to Walker Valley Cemetery, the serene resting place of several residents of the area from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hikers that opt for this route may retrace their footsteps or follow an unmaintained trail that reconnects with West Prong Trail at mile 1.1. West Prong Trail continues to scale the side of Fodderstack Mountain to take hikers through hardwood forests with pines, sourwoods, and chestnut trees. West Prong Little River sings from below. Campsite #18 at mile 2.1 is a large group camping spot with a fire ring and bear cables along the river. The trail continues through the campsite, across the foot log bridge to the right, and to the left at the hemlock tree. Hikers that reach a sign for campsite A have traveled too far into the campsite and should turn around to locate the trail. The West Prong Trail ends at mile 2.7 at the junction with Bote Mountain Trail. Mile 0.3: Fork that offers a 100-yard spur trail to Walker Valley Cemetery to the right as West Prong Trail continues to the left. Hikers that go right can reconnect with West Prong Trail at mile 1.1 by following the unmaintained trail, or they can reconnect with West Prong Trail by following their footsteps back to the fork. Mile 2.0: The trail crosses a creek that is traversable with a rock-hop. Mile 2.1: Large group camping area with fire ring, bear cables, and access to West Prong Little River Mile 2.7: The trail ends at the junction with Bote Mountain Trail. Hikers return the way they came along West Prong Trail to the trailhead. Length 2.7 miles (4.3 km) to junction with Bote Mountain Trail 5.4 miles (8.7 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead The trailhead and parking area are located across from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. From the parking lot, there is a pump house uphill to the left. The trail starts behind the pump house. Surplus parking and large-vehicle parking is available to the left just past the main parking area. Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Smokemont Campground Alternate Hikes Smokemont Loop Trail with Bradley Cemetery: 6 miles (9.66 km) roundtrip

Overview Hike 1.2 miles (1.9 km) roundtrip along a wide gravel roadbed that follows a mountain stream to a cascade surrounded by moss-covered rocks and mixed hardwood forest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park . After a half-mile walk along Twentymile Trail to the first junction, take Wolf Ridge Trail one hundred yards from the first bridge and look to your right for a foot trail that leads to the Twentymile Cascade. If you're up for more, you can continue on Wolf Ridge Trail to the Twentymile Loop Trail for a longer 7.6-mile (12.2-km) loop through one of the more remote areas of the Smokies known for its picturesque streams and shady hardwood forest. This longer loop includes narrower sections of trail with some muddy and rocky areas. Twentymile Trail is wider with fewer ups and downs than Wolf Ridge. Length 1.2 miles (1.9 km) roundtrip Parking & Trailhead Twentymile Trailhead at the end of the road just beyond Twentymile Ranger Station. Don't forget your parking tag . Nearest Restroom Facilities near Deep Creek or outside the park before arriving Alternate Hikes Goldmine Loop Trail : 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip

Pick up a Yosemite Junior Ranger Handbook and head out for a day of fun! You can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by taking a self-guided handbook with you as you travel around the park and complete the activities that are the best fit for you. The Yosemite Junior Ranger handbook is available for free at all park visitor centers. When you are done, share your booklet with a park ranger at any Yosemite visitor center during operating hours to receive your badge. Make sure to get your book early on in your trip (or in your day) to allow for plenty of time to complete it while exploring the park. If you're unable to get to a visitor center, you can download the Junior Ranger book [5 MB PDF]. As part of earning your junior ranger badge, attend a guided ranger program. Check the event calendar on the NPS app or the Yosemite Guide for current program offerings.

This moderate trail to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain is 1.8 miles/2.8 kilometers roundtrip. Rising above the surrounding canyons, the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at 7,310ft/2,228m is one of the highest points in the monument. The dark rock is dacite, evidence of a lava flow. Lightning activity is monitored from the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed fire lookout during the summer. Return the same way. Access is from the Sugarloaf parking lot.