Asheville or McGhee-Tyson for AT or BMT in GSMNP?

[whywoogy]

Which airport would be better for accessing the AT or Benton Mackaye Trail in the Great Smokey Mountain Nat Park? Also I was reading on this website (http://www.journeymart.com/dexplorer/northamerica/usa/nationalparks/great_smoky.htm) that you can catch a bus from the airport to the park entrance. How far from the entrance are the trail heads? Which trail heads?

I am trying to plan a trip for March to the park and would be flying to one of the above mentioned airports. I will not have a car. I was wanting to hike a few days on either of the trails. Any answers/help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[10-K]

Which airport would be better for accessing the AT or Benton Mackaye Trail in the Great Smokey Mountain Nat Park? Also I was reading on this website (http://www.journeymart.com/dexplorer/northamerica/usa/nationalparks/great_smoky.htm) that you can catch a bus from the airport to the park entrance. How far from the entrance are the trail heads? Which trail heads?

I am trying to plan a trip for March to the park and would be flying to one of the above mentioned airports. I will not have a car. I was wanting to hike a few days on either of the trails. Any answers/help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

If you flew into AVL you could get to the AT or BMT at Davenport Gap on the northern terminus of the BMT or where the AT exits GSMNP.

Shouldn't be any trouble getting a lift - if you have any problems I'd be happy to pick you up and drop you off there.

[Sly]

From Asheville:

If you can get a bus to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center it's only about three miles to where the BMT crosses at Smokemont Campground, or 5 miles or so from Cherokee.

There are a couple trails near Oconaluftee that hook up with the BMT including the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)

From Cherokee you could also get a shuttle to Newfound Gap where the AT crosses.

Here's a map that may help..

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/GSMNP%20Backcountry%20Map.pdf

[whywoogy]

Thank you both for the replies and info. A special thanks to 10-K for the ride offer!

I have a new question. I am thinking about this making this a possible hike (http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=946948).

Any idea of directions on how to get to the trail-head stated in the above link?

[Sly]

Thank you both for the replies and info. A special thanks to 10-K for the ride offer!

I have a new question. I am thinking about this making this a possible hike (http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=946948).

Any idea of directions on how to get to the trail-head stated in the above link?

Townsend and Tremont are on the Tennessee side of the park. I'm not familiar with transportation from McGhee-Tyson

[whywoogy]

I was able to pull up the directions from google maps. On to the next question!

Anyone know of any hiker shuttle services from Mcghee-Tyson to the Townsend TN side of the park?

[Tennessee Viking]

PM Sgt Rock or contact Standing Bear for suggested shuttles.

[BigGiant]

If you are hiking the Thunderhead loop, you certainly want to fly into McGhee Tyson (TYS) in Alcoa. It is directly on 129. You can go south from there and hit 321, where you can go east all the way to the "Y", an intersection where people swim in the lake and jump off of big rocks. Take the right turn in the Y and it will get you going towards Cades Cove, and it is fairly easy to find from there.

Public transportation is virtually non-existant in the Knoxville area, so unless a friend or other hiker gives you a ride, your best bet is likely to rent a car.