Davenport Gap shelter

[chris]

At the far eastern end of the Smokys. Set in what I think of as a very picturesque Smokys scene. Very nice shelter, but no bear cables. It does have a bear fence and a skylight. Water source is right next to it and there is a variety of big tree stumps to use as furniture. I was the only one there this May as I think most people went to Mountain Momas or the other hostel (standing bear?). No privy.

[lobshot]

Is there access to I-40 at Davenport?

[jaywalke]

Is there access to I-40 at Davenport?

My guidebooks are at home, so I can't give you the exit number, but the short answer is yes. You dive off the highway on a very exciting ramp (you'll see what I mean), follow a crumbling road up the river past a power station and Mountain Momma's lovely collection of cigarette signs, pass what my shuttle driver insisted was a snake-handlin' Baptist church and you can park right by the trail in a lot just past a ranger station.

I love the Smokies.

[veteran]

Here is a Map.

[Seeker]

Is there access to I-40 at Davenport?

waterville exit.

[Digger54]

I'll go along with Chris. This shelter is in one of the most pleasant settings of any I've seen on the AT. I paused there last year (May)after finishing the Smokies AT to have a little lunch and wash the horrid funk off before going down to the road for wifey to pick me up at the gap.

[Lilred]

I was there in June of 05 and I'm pretty sure I remember a bear cable and a privy was there for certain now. That first post is dated 02. The bear fencing is gone now too.

[joel137]

As of late May in '05 there was no privy or bear cables.

[Lilred]

As of late May in '05 there was no privy or bear cables.

I must be thinking of a different shelter then. Sorry, disregard my previous post

[Ghost3]

I just returned from Davenport Shelter:
No, there is not a bear cable.
No, there is no privy, bring a shovel
Yes, there is a bear fence.

There are 2 different ways to get to the AT in this area. Both involve parking (if one vehicle) at the Ranger station.
One way is to walk back to the road from the Ranger station, take a left (field for horse trailers on left) and go up the (soon to be) gravel road for 2 miles. This is where Davenport Gap is. If you start walking on asphalt again, back up 25 feet and look to your left

[Ghost3]

Oops, wrong button *sigh*

The other way is to walk up Chestnut Branch Trail.

By road, you have 1/2 mile to the intersection, 2 miles of gravle road, then 0.9 miles up the AT.

By trail, you have 2.1 miles of moderately strenuous climbing to the AT, then right on AT for 1 mile (1/2 mile flat, 1/2 mile down)

One more item: The spring is downhill from the shelter (about 30 feet), but the stream that feeds it runs across the path to the shelter, real close to the fire circle. The water definitely needs boiling or sanitizing.

[TownDawg]

I have a question. We all agree that overnight parking on Hwy 284/32 is a bad idea.

What if you know you are dragging in LATE (about midnight) and just want a place to sleep for free and hiking up the 0.9mi from the road sounds like a good idea. Do you think a car would be safe from midnight until 7am?

[TownDawg]

I have a question. We all agree that overnight parking on Hwy 284/32 is a bad idea.

What if you know you are dragging in LATE (about midnight) and just want a place to sleep for free and hiking up the 0.9mi from the road sounds like a good idea. Do you think a car would be safe from midnight until 7am?

and if not -- do you think setting up a tent on the NF side of the road (within view of my car) would be an acceptable option?

[generoll]

since this thread is about Davenport Gap, may i steer the thread slightly? I am planning on a BMT section hike which will end at Davenport Gap. any suggestions on shuttles or safe places to leave a car? or is there no such animal.

[Ewker]

some friends of mine used Mt Mama's as a shuttle last week or there is Standingbear Farm who can shuttle you. He is on the other side of I-40

[TownDawg]

Ewker -- I won't be able to leave until after work -- none of those places are going to be prepared to shuttle me at 11pm or midnight.

[TownDawg]

I'm just thinking of crashing there for the night. I meet some friends in Hot Springs NC the next morning, and we will shuttle a car back to Standing Bear Farm. I already got reservations for Davenport Shelter the night before -- I was just trying to detemrine if I could get out of parking in the ranger lot and walking the 3 miles up at midnight.

[generoll]

can you park a car at Mountain Mommas? is that a reasonable option? how far past Davenport Gap is the hostel? It'd be easier for me to leave a car there then to have to try and get someone to drive from Chattanooga to come for me. where is the best place to leave a car around Davenport Gap? any suggestions? (please forgive the thread creep)

[TownDawg]

Oh, you can park at car at Mountain Mamas, and a lot of people do that. A lot of people also park at the ranger station (which is what I probably SHOULD do) -- I'm just trying to get a read on how vandalism prone parking at the actual gap for ONE night would be.

[generoll]

i've never been to Davenport Gap. where is the ranger station located in reference to the trail? and in reference to I-40 i guess. that's the way i will likely be coming.