Backpacking the Great Smoky Mountains • 80 Mile Loop • 4 Nights
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Follow Redbeard & Plug-It-In, the current record holder for the fastest person to hike all miles of the Smoky Mountain NP in 43 days, as they set out on an 80 mile loop envisioned by Plug-It-In and Redbeard. This 80 mile loop is a step up from my last loop and perfect for those who are looking to challenge themselves. Check out the route below.
Plug-It-In Circuit ROUTE
Rainbow Falls Trailhead to Trillium Gap Trail
Trillium Gap Trail to Brushy Mountain Trail
Brushy Mountain Trail to Porters Creek Trail
Porters Creek Trail to Short Dirt Road Walk
Turn Right at first Dirt Road Intersect and cross Bridge
Turn Left onto Old Settlers Trail
Old Settlers Trail to Campsite 33 (Night 1)
Campsite 33 to Maddron Bald Trail
Maddron Bald Trail to Campsite 29 (Night 2)
Campsite 29 to Snake Den Ridge Trail
Snake Den Ridge Trail to Cosby Campground
Cosby Campground to Low Gap Trail
Low Gap Trail to Appalachian Trail
Turn left on AT to Mount Cammerer Trail to Fire Lookout
Head back to AT and take a right to Cosby Knob Shelter (Night 3)
Cosby Knob Shelter to Pecks Corner Shelter (Night 4)
Pecks Corner Shelter to Boulevard Trail
Boulevard Trail to Mt Leconte Shelter (Optional Night 5)
Mt Leconte Shelter to Rainbow Falls Trail
Rainbow Falls Trail to FINISH!
Really missing your content man. As a native ocalian, you inspired me to check out the ocala national forest and came across some old grave stones out there which was really cool. Hoping for more content soon!
Saturday, February 10th: Thank-you for sharing your video. Pretty cool. Happy Trails! Ross08
Dude, Would love to see more content! Your content is great!
More coming soon. Farming down here in florida has kept me busy.
This is wonderful! Love Redbeard vidoes!
Gatlinburg is such a jarring experience after spending a few days out in the backcountry. Awesome video, man!
You have such a gift for capturing all the key moments. Definitely will be doing that loop one day. Thank you!
Laine Seely thanks! You will love it. It was a wonderful hike for sure.
Videos like this i personally like the best, keep up the great work
Payton McGlamery thanks! Will do ✌️
Beautiful hike! Thanks for sharing your journey and all the sites along the way, and also thanks for not showing too much of Gatlinburg. That town is unreal, possible the most visually offensive place I’ve ever been. 😂
Bill Bryson's description is spot on in A Walk in the Woods.
Pigeon Forge is much worse.
Enjoyed this video, Will. I'm a friend of Benny's, and run into him in the park a few times a year (usually on LeConte). I remember him talking about this trip last year. Glad you guys had a good time.
Great video, thanks for taking the time to produce it for us.
Thanks for watching ✌️
Man, these has the same feels as your first Appalachian trail video which inspired me to go hike Springer Mt to Hot Springs back in 2015. Thanks for taking us along on your journey!
Sweet. Thanks 👍 The trail is inspiring I just try to show that off. Happy Hiking
I like the way you detail your videos with the miles, elevation, terrain, and details about the area.
If I remember from my dendrology class over 30 years ago: Red spruce cones hang down/Fraser fir up, Red spruce needles are 4-sided (you can roll them between fingers)/Fraser fir needles are flat, Red spruce bark is flaky (like corn flakes)/Fraser fir bark (especially young trees) is smoother with resin blisters. Once you see the differences it is easy to tell apart from a distance. Red spruce will also grow at lower elevations than fir. Me and my high school buddy I used to hike with (after about 30 years) did a 2-nighter the week before your video. We got a late start and did Icewater the first night then Leconte on the second night...We are not in very good shape...
Where are you? Are you ok? I miss your videos!
Great video and I really enjoyed your commentary on parts of the Smokey Mountains...looking forward to your next adventure.
Hi Will, I have been watching for your Smokey Mountain hike. It was great, I do love the Smokies! I enjoyed the many streams and foot bridges you crossed and Rainbow Falls. Amazing you were out there when Michael blew thru. Thanks for sharing, this made my day!
Looks like one hell of a loop..glad u got to hike around one of the best parks in the country..ao magical from what I've seen....
Thanks for the trail idea. I love hiking the Smokies but it's been a couple years. As for shoes. I am wearing the same shoes for the last two years everyday and refuse to replace until the sole falls off. The 4 inch mess rip out is worth it and well earned. lol
Great video... good tip about raising bathtub to negate wind ... of the non digestive tract type
Yea, I hadn't even thought about doing that with my duplex. Tip of the day.
Miss the content, I hope all is well.
Thanks Redbeard...always enjoy your adventures. God bless!
Thanks for watching 🙌
Wow you guys are awesome. And your captures and commentary is great 👍. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Amazing. I think I’ve found something new I’d love to do
Loved watching this!
That was awesome 👍
Thanks for taking us along
Great video. I’ve hiked the low gap trail up to the AT and then back down to walnut bottoms before. I felt like a punk on the way up the low gap trail, so it was nice to hear you say that was one of the hardest climbs you have done in the park.
During that same trip I continued up to sterling mountian and spent a night there too. The next morning on the way down Baxter creek trail I thought to myself the climb to sterling from big creek might have been worse so I was actually glad I started the trip over in Cosby campground.
Smoky Mountain Brewery is always a great way to end a hike! We make sure we stop there every year.
Leonidas the beer was perfecto!
How crazy!?!?!? You were hiking through the outer bands of Michael when we were getting smashed down south. Glad I found your channel, Instagram and a new passion for myself in the outdoors. Great content! Thanks!
Another great video! The smokies never disappoint. Looks like a good trail too hike in the future for sure.
Recently found your channel and love your videos. I was looking for AT video in NC and ended up watching your entire hike! Subscribed after watching the first one. Good job!
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy Hiking ✌️
Sweet video, great to see you and Benny out backpacking
Where did all your new videos go? I'd love an update of your latest adventures. You make great videos.
I’m farming now in Florida. No time to hike. One day I’ll get back out there.
@@RedBeard0924 I still go back and watch all your vids, AT,PCT, LT, Smokies etc. Never gets old. Hope you’re enjoying farming 👍🏻
I just realized when you mentioned the hurricane that I was driving 40 to Ashville through that rain you had. It got pretty windy that day. I was going to pick up my son at Wofford in Spartanburg. I remember seeing the point where the AT crosses I40.
anyone know what happened to Will? I saw a post on another thread that he is no longer with zpacks. Hope all is well, it's been a bit of a zoo in FL with covid.
Thanks for the route idea. Could be my spring break.
Nice hike...brings back memories....not a fan of Gatlinburg however....it reminds me of International Drive in Orlando without the tan....thanks for sharing....
Are you still hiking these days?
Will is back... I definitely enjoy your vids
Great video !
Redbeard, We haven't heard from you in a few years. Hoping all is well. Are you still with Zpacks?
Wow this video did a great job of capturing the essence of the Smokies! I think that little snake you saw was a ringneck; they grow to be about the same size around as a pencil. Also that was a wicked view you had at the Mt. Cammerer fire tower. We will definitely be taking a trip out there in the future. Did you find it to be pretty secluded on that end of the park? Thanks for posting such a detailed video of this route!
TrailTakers typically it is the most secluded area of the park especially old settlers trail. But we did see a fair amount of people on the AT section but the leaves were changing so it was inflated due to that.
Magificent scenery
Love your videos. Have you considered hiking the Cohos trail in NH?
Great stuff! Thank you.
Just booked a lookout in Montana for the first week of October
Great video... We just returned from A week in the area did some day hikes. You really know your way around those trails what reference either on paper or gps like Guthook would you recommend to plan a trip like you have 4 or five days. Would love to do the AT through the park ...
The cabin you came to on the first day is the former property of The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club. It was constructed from parts of two other cabins. The club lost the use of the cabin sometime after the formation of the national park.
having trouble finding a mileage index to help me plan this trip .. reservations are a bane of my existance
Great video
Great Video!! I plan on hitting up Mt. Le Conte to try my own series on the smokies!! Do you almost always see bears on a daily basis there? F.Y.I enjoy your WHOLE channel very much!!
Kindle Adventures thanks! Honestly I’ve been hiking there my entire life and this was the first hike that I ever saw a bear on the trail. But they are everywhere so it’s possible.
Hey Redbeard. Thanks for another great hiking video.
When you pitch your tent high like you did at site 29, at what height do you set your poles?
Thanks and keep on truckin'
Lulu typically I set the bottom number to 120 and the top to about 130 to 135. This can vary if one side is higher than the other due to undulating ground. 👍 if you pitch too high you will notice it’s tough to zip the door closed so I go as high as I can.
Great video. I knew you were out there since it's been a few weeks since your last one! re: shoes... have you looked at the Merrell Trail Glove 4? It's only 8oz. I don't do anything like you do in the way of long distance hikes, but I love these shoes. They fit my size 13 foot really well and feel really light and have good traction. I haven't put the miles on them though, so I can't vouch for their durability. But they're my favorites I've tried so far.
Eric Schmidt I haven’t looked at those. I will definitely take a look at them. Thanks for the recommendation. 👍
Could you do a quick review on the Altras? Thanks for all your videos and inspiration.
I probably should do a video review. They didn’t work for me. I have no issues with them around the house but on the trail the traction is so bad that I won’t ever wear them again.
Thanks RedBeard. I was wondering how they effected you.
Really town between the arc zip and the arc haul. I see you rocking the arc zip, any suggestions? Thanks!
Tyler Hoepker you can’t go wrong with either pack. For me though it’s easy I love the Arc Zip. I really just like being able to get into the pack without having to take everything out. The zipper can leak a tiny bit if you are hiking in a serious serious downpour but that doesn’t happen often and I use dry bags so it doesn’t really matter anyways. Also I prefer the zippered front pocket to the mesh. Just personal preference and I think it looks cleaner.
What are those critters/bugs chirping back and forth at the fire tower? Love the Smokies. Been going there since I was 12. Great video!
T Morgan I was told the were cicadas but didn’t sound like cicadas to me. I was thinking thinking most likely frogs or possibly crickets.
Following Redbeard They are called Katydids, and they look completely different than most “standard” insects.
My car broke down at Klingsman Dome. Good Samaritans and a Park Ranger gave us a ride down before it got dark.
45:34 Does that shelter also have a two year wait list like everything else atop Mt. LeConte?
Nope. But it is the most popular shelter in the entire park. So plan accordingly. 👍
I have been to Grotto falls! Is Red Beard taking a break? What are you doing these days?
I own a farm in Florida and it has been keeping me super busy. Hopefully I’ll get back out there soon!
@@RedBeard0924 thats awesome do some farming videos. Love your vib friend
you seemed to know all the details about where you were going. Did you have some app or maps with the elevation and trail data and where did they come from? I guess you had to reserve and register your camping sites, did you do that online or at the sugarland ranger station? Hiking these trips are one thing but planning and executing is another, I have no idea how to execute a multi-day or overnight trip in the park.
We were using the official map for the park. I was also running a gps app that was tracking mileage and elevation. I found it to be not very accurate but it still provided some info. I use my watch for elevation too. We registered online about a month in advance for all the campsites and shelters. You can register them easily from the National Park site. Hope that helps.
Where can you park your vehicle to begin the trail?
I was born near the Smokies and the cove was a popular weekend trip for us. The bears were all over the place back in the day. Mamma bears are definitely not to be petted :)
I have to agree with you on that one.
You said you got lucky and there were only 2 spots left at that one campsite. Did ya’ll not reserve them? I thought that was required in the Smokies.
Yes we reserved all of our spots however others do not always follow the rules. Also some of the campsites are quite small and would not fit all the people if each person was setting up their own tent.
Great vid! Thank you for sharing. Subscribed for more :)
Nice video, thanks for sharing. No Adirondacks?
Mark Cummings it ended up not working out. We are rescheduling.
Following Redbeard Well, wish you well in your rescheduling. Would love to run into you all when you make it up this way. Take care!
Dang where did redbeard go
I hope you are ok
Redbeard when is your next video
what is your country?
I wish you'd get back into making videos.
Always love your videos. What editor do you use and camera?
I use Final Cut Pro and a small Sony 4k action camera. 👍
Redbeard how did the lone peak's do?
Not good. Didn’t work out for me. I’m back in Cascadias.
@@RedBeard0924 What issues did you have?
nerdygearhead (zack) the traction I terrible on wet surfaces. Also they contributed to some knee problems which wasn’t fun. The traction though was my biggest concern. The new ones might be better as they have improved the lower part of the shoe.
@@RedBeard0924 Thanks I am planning on thru hiking the AT in 2021. In the process of dialing in my gear. Considering the 4.0 mid. Glad to hear they didn't fall apart. That was main concern. Will probably give the 4.0 a shot. Will let you know how they fair.
Anyone know what happened to Wil? His facebook is gone and this channel has been inactive for 8 months.
Thanks for reaching out. I am running my farm full time now that I have left Zpacks. It’s harder for me to work in hikes now. Hopefully I’ll be hitting the trail soon. 👍
Bro, lots of people respect and love you man. Hope your able to get back out there and it's a relief to know your ok. I hope your departure from zpacks was amicable.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Those trees were red spruce....
Cool thanks for the info! 👍
so, you're stream crossing always with your hiking shoes ? Aren't you miserable hiking with wet feet?
Spent my whole life in dem there hills
So that was the hardest climb in the smokys. Whats the hardest climb hike that you have done?
That is a really good question. Any climb over 10K is tough on the breathing but passes usually are only a thousand feet or so. Honestly one of the toughest climbs that sticks out to me was on the AT up a mountain called Three Ridges in VA. Super tough, long, false summits and really no views. One of the few times I remember getting ticket off climbing it.
👍
This is a deer. You can tell that it's a deer because of the way it is.
Hey man, I noticed you didn`t film in 4k. What happened to the other camera? I always enjoy your trips.
I filmed in 4k and uploaded a 4k file. Sometimes it takes UA-cam longer to make the 4k resolution available.
@@RedBeard0924 That makes sense. I might have to do this loop next year myself. Thanks for the reply and happy hiking
There's 8 Bigfoots Lives in The Great Smokies Mountains
On my thru hike I remember walking in horse shit most of the time thanks to the rangers. The smokeys are the most dysfunctional part of the AT.It was beautiful but I couldn't wait to get through it thanks to tourist s and the feds. Gatlinburg was the perfect punctuation.
Awesome videos! 😍😍 How can we contact you thru email?
Get a rubber band and a piece of foam
I would not stash my pack in the woods.
Edited out almost all of the camping. :-(
lapicker I don’t film the camping it would pretty much be me sleeping. Ha! But I do love camping too 💚✌️
Always like to get a look at the different campsites in SMNP. Also how you set up camp, how you manage your gear in camp, what you eat, how you fix your food, how you brew your coffee/tea, using your camp stoves, using your cook kits, do you start a fire, processing firewood, packing up (esp in the rain), etc., etc. Everyone develops their own little routines to deal with all of those things, especially if you've been doing it a while. Inquiring minds want to know.
with as much hiking he was doing 3/6 years ago his wife probably told him me or the hiking. not much of a family man when your never home.. who knows maybe his wife left him.. for a man who wants to be with her and not out on some trail 2,000 miles away smelling like a dead horse
I absolutely admire the stamina it took to hike that! Also, my two friends and I are heading the smokies and are new to backpacking. Is there a trail that you would recommend? We want to get up to high elevation but are planning on doing two nights, so can't do 80 miles or anything like that lol.
thanks!
Kylegood101 yeah if you have two cars you could park one at Alum Cave Trailhead and hiked up to the Mt Leconte shelter. It’s 5 miles to the top and you will be on one of the highest mountains in the park. It will be really cold up there in the winter. Then take Boulevard Trail to the AT and stay at either icewater spring shelter or Pecks Corner. Then hike to the other car at Newfound Gap Parking lot. You will be over 6,000’ for most of this hike. Cheers ✌️
@@RedBeard0924 Thank you! I think that's what we are going to do.
Great video.