The AT through the Smokies is way overrated after what I saw at Clingmans Dome last October

I hiked a section of the AT through Great Smoky Mountains National Park last fall because everyone always says it's the best part. Got to Clingmans Dome on a Saturday and there were like 200 people at the summit. Tour buses, kids with iPads, a guy blasting music from a speaker. Felt more like a mall than a trail. I learned that popular sections mean crowds and that ruins the whole point for me. So now I stick to less known loops in national forests. Has anyone else abandoned a famous route after seeing how packed it gets?

2 comments

2 Comments

paule5317d ago

Buddy tried the AT in Shenandoah. Turned around after the first overlook. Zoo up there.

jason52417d agoTop Commenter

Man @paule53 you are not wrong at all. I did a section hike there last fall and it was crazy. Had to wait behind like 15 people just to get a look at the view from Marys Rock. Felt like i was in line at a theme park.