Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 50 Must-Do Hikes for Everyone

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of Great Smoky Mountains National Park through 50 incomparable hikes.

With its secluded mountain waterways, awe-inspiring views from grassy balds, diverse plant and animal life, and impressive stands of old-growth forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. To find the best of them, follow expert author Johnny Molloy-who has spent more than 900 overnights in the Smokies, hiking and camping!

Leave the roads to explore the heart of the park--whether you’re looking for an easy family stroll to a soothing stream, a seven-mile trek through a spruce forest atop a peaceful ridge, or a panoramic 22-mile overnighter. You’ll experience the best of the treasured national park that lies along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Inside you’ll find:

• 50 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists


• Detailed maps and elevation profiles


• Trailhead directions and ＂don’t get lost＂ milestones


• Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities


• Expert trail commentary

Johnny considers the Smokies his home stomping ground, so he makes sure you have the necessary information to enjoy Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you’re looking for a scenic walk to stretch your legs, a full-day hike, or a rewarding backpacking trip, you’ll find it here.

Johnny Molloy is a writer and adventurer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. His outdoor passion was ignited on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while he was attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed a love of the outdoors that led Johnny to spend over 4,500 nights backpacking, canoe camping, and tent camping over the past three decades. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friend’s idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are more than 80 books and guides. His writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area, and books about true outdoor adventures throughout the eastern United States.

Although primarily involved with book publications, Johnny writes for varied magazines and websites. He continues writing and traveling extensively throughout the United States, pursuing a variety of outdoor endeavors. Johnny is a Gideon and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Johnson City. His non-outdoor interests include reading, ancient and American history, and University of Tennessee sports.