The Shuckstack fire tower is just 1/10th of a mile from the Appalachian Trail and a 3.4 miles from the nearest road. The best way to access the tower is on the north side of Fontana Dam, which is on the N.C. side of the park.
This is an eight mile round trip and can take a little over four hours, depending on the hikers skill level. This is a very popular hike through the highly prized Greenbrier section of the Park. A hike on the Ramsays Cascades trail not only reveals what has been called the best falls in the Smokies, but also old growth forest that has never suffered from the logger's saw or the settler's ax.
The Rainbow Falls Trail is one of several that will take you to the top of Mount Le Conte. The trail is quite challenging, but about 1/2 way up the trail offers a rest at the beautiful Rainbow Falls. From the fall up to Le Conte Lodge the trail is very challenging.
Old Settle trail is a hike through the parks area history. A seldom traveled trail, it is a good place to hike if you'd like to get away from the crowds on a moderate hike.
