Charlies Bunion

Consistently rated as one of the top hikes in the Smokies, I decided to give Charlies Bunion a try. I also tacked on the Jumpoff detour, making for about 9 miles total.
DSC00242 The drive into the park from Townsend is gorgeous with river crossings and endless green.
The drive into the park from Townsend is gorgeous with river crossings and endless green.
DSC00248 Morning fog hovering over one of the cascades alongside the road.
Morning fog hovering over one of the cascades alongside the road.
DSC00331 The trailhead for Charlies Bunion is at Newfound Gap on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.
The trailhead for Charlies Bunion is at Newfound Gap on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.
DSC00333 Nice views from Newfound Gap.
Nice views from Newfound Gap.
DSC00255 The Charlies Bunion trail runs entirely along the AT.
The Charlies Bunion trail runs entirely along the AT.
DSC00256 Awesome trail sign. Can you imagine your hike destination being 1,972 miles away!?
Awesome trail sign. Can you imagine your hike destination being 1,972 miles away!?
DSC00259 The trail is very literally gnarly for much of the way.
The trail is very literally gnarly for much of the way.
DSC00260 Wet and green.
Wet and green.
DSC00263 The familiar white blazes of the Appalachian Trail.
The familiar white blazes of the Appalachian Trail.
DSC00264 The trail has been worn quite deep in places.
The trail has been worn quite deep in places.
DSC00268 The dense forest is starting to open up for some great views.
The dense forest is starting to open up for some great views.
DSC00272
"Closely Control Children". Easier said then done!
DSC00297 Made it to Charlie's Bunion. The peak is named after exactly what it sounds like. The person who originally named the peak was hiking with his friend Charlie...
Made it to Charlie's Bunion. The peak is named after exactly what it sounds like. The person who originally named the peak was hiking with his friend Charlie…
DSC00279 Some nice views from the bunion.
Some nice views from the bunion.
DSC00291 So much green.
So much green.
DSC00283 Like most trails in the Smokies during the summer, it was extremely crowded. The conversation was mostly about how incredibly difficult people thought the trail...
Like most trails in the Smokies during the summer, it was extremely crowded. The conversation was mostly about how incredibly difficult people thought the trail…
DSC00285 Purple azalea.
Purple azalea.
DSC00295 As soon as the tourist crowd ends at Charlie's Bunion, the Appalachian Trail instantly narrows and gets overgrown. I was very tempted to continue on for a ways,...
As soon as the tourist crowd ends at Charlie's Bunion, the Appalachian Trail instantly narrows and gets overgrown. I was very tempted to continue on for a ways,…
DSC00327 On the way back, I took the detour to the Jump Off, which was supposed to have an amazing view.
On the way back, I took the detour to the Jump Off, which was supposed to have an amazing view.
DSC00308 More great grooved single track.
More great grooved single track.