Some Tennessee hikes ease you in. Chimney Tops is not one of them.
This Great Smoky Mountains favorite gets straight to business with steep grade, stone steps, and the kind of climb that makes your calves start negotiating early. It is not especially long, which is exactly why people underestimate it.
The trail gains about 1,400 feet in nearly 2 miles, and that much elevation packed into a short route can feel downright rude. Then again, rude trails often come with the best scenery…