velodurt

Hey J, Glad you are enjoying the website Thanks for your post.

No, I haven't been to Lakes Basin...sounds like a great hike...I will do some research. Any pointers? We are always looking for new trails! Thanks for the tip.

asdaven

Thanks for the suggestions! How are the trails in late summer? Are the views still good with the pollution and are there wildflowers on these trails that time of year? I also assume that it is cool in temperature because these hikes are in the higher elevations. Also, one last thing, what in your opinion are the top ten most scaryist trails in the entire U.S? I mean scary because of heights. Hikes that have sheer drops on either side of the trail. Angels Landing in Zion NP with its thousand foot drops on each side would be one I would choose. Chimney Tops looks a little like Angels Landing but green. Do you agree? Again, thanks for all your help. Maybe I reccomend a few hikes in the U.S., that you have not taken. Have you done any hiking in Capitol Reef National Park? In my opinion, (I was only there a day, but did several hikes), the Chimney Rock Trail is a great hikes. You have a great website, lots of good hikes on there.

velodurt

Hey asdaven, Hiking in the Smokies in late summer will be hot! The elevation isn't enough to really cool the air...most of the time it is hot and humid in summer...but still great. Wildflowers can be seen all through spring and summer...what you see blooming depends on the time and elevation. Views have been obscured a little by pollution..sad..but you also just usually have that haze associated with the "Smoky" mountains...hence the name.

Top trails that scared the beejeezus out of me include: In order of scariest first:
Mooney Falls in Havasu Canyon--couldn't make it..chickened out.
Angel's Landing--almost didn't make it--see my trip report on our website www.naturalbornhikers.com
Longs Peak-Rocky Mountains--serious exposure on "The Narrows"
Chimney Tops--last section
The Beehive-Acadia National Park-Maine--a little scary, but not too bad.

Those are the ones that come to mind. Keep in mind that I have a pretty good fear of heights, so take my opinions with that in mind.

I would love to hear your hiking suggestions...I have been to Capitol Reef, but just a drive through. I might be back there this May..so I will research that trail. Thanks.

J_Correa

velodurt - the Lakes Basin area is really fun - tons of good hiking and as you can probably guess - lots of lakes My family used to camp up there every summer and one of our favorite things to do was to just plot a course on a topo map, seeing how many lakes we could reasonably walk to on a day hike. Most of the area is national forest land.

There is a good hike starting at the dock at Salmon Lake. Salmon Lake is really pretty and there is a trail around the lake. On the opposite side of the lake is a lodge and some cabins - accessible only by foot or boat - and beyond that a good trail to some additional lakes. Horse lake is real marshy and Deer Lake is crystal clear, so they make a nice contrast. Deer Lake is about a mile from Salmon Lake, so from the dock and parking area, it is probably 2 miles. Beyond Deer Lake are additional lakes, so you can make the hike as long or as short as you want to.

The Sierra Buttes are a journey, but having climbed Mt Whitney, you guys shouldn't have any trouble with this one The route goes past some lakes - I believe Tamarak Lakes, which are small and quite pretty - through the forests, and then climbs up to the Buttes. The last push to the top is steep and open and then there are stairs at the top to a fire lookout. I don't remember exactly how far the hike is, but we always left after breakfast and were back to camp by dinner time, so it isn't terribly far. The view from the top is great though.

asdaven

One more question- How does the smokies compare to the scenery of the white mountains, maine and Acadia? Do you like the smokies better than any of those? The average high for clingmans dome in august is 64 degrees acording to the NPS site. But, 80-90's in the lower elevations. Are the views still breathtaking even with the haze? Did you do the precipice trail in acadia? Have you done Half Dome in Yosemite? How is Havasu Canyon scary as far as heights?
Thanks-

velodurt

Well, they are so different it is hard to compare them...both areas are beautiful. I just have a soft spot for the Smokies, and I have never had a bad view in the park..don't worry about the haze. Clingmans might get a little chilly at night, but I have never been anything other than hot in the Smokies in August...just my experience. We didn't get to do the Precipice Trail, it was closed. Yes, I have done Half Dome..loved it! The only part of Havasu that is scary is the descent to Mooney Falls. Hope I answered everything.

asdaven

Thanks- Would those also rate as "on the edge of a sheer drop hikes"? That is what I was trying to mean. Does the smokies have better hiking opportunities than the white mountains? Also, which hikes that you have done rate as "unusual"? The Narrows in Zion is a good example, you have to hike through the water.

Judyrem

Velodurt, a dream vaction to me, is a wonderful day of fabulous hiking..... a glass(or 2) of wine and a decent dinner.....that is Nirvana IMO.

velodurt

Judyrem: I agree!

velodurt

Yes, they would be sheer drops! Hold onto your hat

asdaven

What hikes would you rate "unusual" and which hikes are your favorite "waterfall hikes"? That is in the U.S., not just the smokies. Would you say hiking in some of the higher elevations of the smokies is "alpine hiking"?

velodurt

I wouldn't consider any hiking in the Smokies "alpine", because you are never above treeline. I can't say that I have been on an unusual hike. As far as waterfalls go--they are all great, but Havasu Falls is the best.

asdaven

Have you done Calf Creek Falls in Utah, the narrows in zion,utah, or the cascade canyon trail in the tetons? All great trails, Calf Creek Falls is a great desert waterfall and not as hard to get to as Havasu in Arizona. It is a good flat, sandy 6 mile RT hike. The narrows are neat, all hiking in water with 1,000-2,000 foot cliff walls, I went as far as Orderville Canyon from the end of the scenic drive. 5 miles RT. But, you can do the whole thing 16 miles one-way from a ranch on the north end and there are campsites along the way. Cascade Canyon is great, you have to take a boat ride to the trailhead accross Jenny Lake and there is a waterfall. Then, it continues on into a canyon between two peaks of the tetons. Gets you right up to it! Hike as far as the forks of the canyon for a dayhike, then hike back. Or you can make it a backcountry multiday

asdaven

Have you done Calf Creek Falls in Utah, the narrows in zion,utah, or the cascade canyon trail in the tetons? All great trails, Calf Creek Falls is a great 120 foot desert waterfall and not as hard to get to as Havasu in Arizona. That is the lower one, there is an upper one that is off the beaten path, but the lower one is the best with the most water volume. It is a good flat, sandy 6 mile RT hike from the road. The narrows are neat, all hiking in water with 1,000-2,000 foot cliff walls, I went as far as Orderville Canyon from the end of the scenic drive. 5 miles RT. But, you can do the whole thing 16 miles one-way from a ranch on the north end and there are campsites along the way. Cascade Canyon is great, you have to take a boat ride to the trailhead accross Jenny Lake and there is a waterfall. Then, it continues on into a canyon between two peaks of the tetons. Gets you right up to it! Hike as far as the forks of the canyon for a dayhike, then hike back (6-7 miles RT). Or you can make it a backcountry multiday hike, and come back through another canyon. Good Wildlife Viewing! I didin't really do any hiking in Yellowstone, but the Uncle Tom's Trail is very neat. A short trail into the canyon, with stairs shackled to the canyon walls, and a close up view of Yellowstone Falls! I don't know if you have done any of these. Just ones I like a lot. Does the smokies have some of your favorite waterfalls? I guess you can consider Andrews Bald an "alpine" hike, since it a bald with no trees. But, that dosen't have to do with elevation, since clingmans is higher and has trees. What are your favorite hikes or most scenic in the U.S.?

asdaven

Sorry, posted twice, read the second post.

asdaven

ttt

velodurt

Hey asdaven, those sound like great hikes...thanks for sharing. The Smokies do have some great waterfalls...a couple are Grotto Falls and Ramsay Cascades. I can't really pick a favorite hike...I love them all, but Mt Whitney and The Wave are high on the list. Thanks again for the hiking info.

asdaven

How about in the eastern united states? Also, would you consider the smokies area to have the best waterfalls in the eastern us?

Floridafran

velodurt,

Since I know you've hiked/walked our powdery beaches here in the FL Panhandle, and the in-some-places- sandy trail to The Wave - how do they compare? I know you had blisters to contend with that day, but if that hadn't been a factor would say that the sandy parts of The Wave trail are no worse than slogging through dry beach sand here?

I'm curious because I've read several trip reports for The Wave and each of them had comments about the sandy parts and the difficulty thereof. But I have no idea if any of these people have had much experience walking for hours along a beach like I have. Since I know you've done both, figured you could help.

We'll be in Capitol Reef in May and hope to try the Chimney Rock Trail as well as the short hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls just outside the park. The more I read about CR, the more time I wish we had to spend there.

velodurt

Hey floridafran, I don't remember the sandy parts being any different from a beach...it was just the blisters, like you mentioned, that made it hard. Yeah, we are hoping to spend some time in CR too...looks like a great hiking destination. Did you get my email?