Oconaluftee Area Hiking Trails

Besides being a visitor center, there is really nothing much to offer here as far as hiking goes.  Mountains-to-Sea Trail comes out north of the center and runs down US 441, exiting the park.  Most visitors take Oconaluftee River Trail to visit the starting point area of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Mingus Creek Trail

This is the tail-end portion of Mountains-to Sea Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stretching 6.2 miles.  Coming out of Campsite #52, near Newton Bald and the Newton Bald Trail intersection, Mingus Creek Trail runs 3.3 miles down to the intersection of Deeplow Gap Trail from the Deep Creek area.  After this, there is a 2.9-mile section leading to US 441, just north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Oconaluftee River Trail

A 1.6-mile trail that starts outside the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway, and then continues to the park border with the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

View the main Smoky Mountain Trails here