Mt. Kephart via Sweat Heifer Creek Trail

About the Hike

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Hike Description

Contact the hike leader by email for reservation. Limit of 10 hikers. This hike is designed to visit two of the best scenic overlooks in the Smokies, The Jumpoff and Charlies Bunion, and to climb Mt. Kephart (6217 ft.). From Newfound Gap, we will hike on the A.T. to Mt. Kephart and The Jumpoff, and from there to Charlies Bunion. After lunch, we will return via the A.T., and then down the Sweat Heifer Creek and Kephart Prong Trails. Car shuttle. Note: A parking pass for each vehicle is required in GSMNP. For more info: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm.

Scout Report

I scouted this hike, along with Tom Butler, on Wednesday, September 19, 2026, which was a cool, beautiful day in the Smokies. I am not sure that I have ever seen a clearer day in the Park during the summer. The hike itself consists of two different parts. The first part of the hike utilizes the Appalachian Trail and the Boulevard Trail to access the summit of Mount Kephart (which is more than 6,000 feet high), the Jump Off, and Charlie?s Bunion (the tourist version). As you can see from the attached photos, the Jump Off and Charlie?s Bunion provide two of the best views available in the Park. The Appalachian Trail, in particular, is both well-maintained and heavily used, so we can expect a lot of company during this part of our hike. The second part of the hike, which is almost six miles in length, involves a steady descent from the Appalachian Trail to Highway 441. The initial part of the descent utilizes the Sweat Heifer Trail, which, while in generally good condition, is occasionally overgrown, has a very narrow surface in a few places, and has a few blowdowns. On the Sweat Heifer Trail, one passes a couple of nice small waterfalls, the second of which provides a good place for a rest break. After the Sweat Heifer Trail reaches the Kephart Shelter, we will travel the rest of the way to Highway 441 on the Kephart Prong Trail, which is essentially an old roadbed along the side of scenic Kephart Prong Creek. As the trail nears Highway 441, the hiker passes through the remnants of an old Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The hike, while a very beautiful one, is long and will take all day to complete. For that reason, you should not expect to be back at your car before late afternoon. In addition, the hike involves a car shuttle. - Jim Ervin