Weekend Gem-The Forney Loop
Along Forney Creek TR
Start the trip at Kuwohi or Clingmans Dome, depending on how long it’s been since you have been to the Park. Jump on the Forney Ridge TR heading down many a stair to Andrews Bald to hopefully see some Azalea Blooms starting. Enjoy the wide open views across the North Carolina Mountains and Fontana Lake in Andrews before steeply dropping into the Rhododendrons. Along this scenic Ridge the views open up in the nice grassy sections that are rare in the Smokies. Big trees are periodically line your way as the trail slowly makes its way down to Forney Creek. Season flowers also line the path adding a splash of bright colors on the abundant green that surrounds you. Soon you hear the Creek down below as you keep on rocking. You will hit Springhouse Branch TR at Board Camp Gap which is a fine spot to take a break and enjoy the fine spring scenery that’s all around you like a curtain of every shade of green. Keep right as you slowly make your way down to #71 or the CCC Camp in a large pretty spot creek side. With the spaciousness and large intact chimney it’s easy how this would be a dreamy place for many a young person to settle up for the night after a long day of making what is today Smoky Mountains National Park. Keep on the Forney Creek TR here as it slowly climbs up to Camp #70 where a trail sign is missing leading over an old bridge to Jones Creek TR. After a couple of few creek crossings you arrive at your campsite #69 located between two creeks. The best spot are up the hill past the bear cables in a nice open forest near a cascading waterway. Enjoy the amazing Blue Ghost Fireflies as you fade into a restful night’s sleep.
Andrews Bald
Nice open forests on Forney Ridge
CCC Camp #71
Creek crossings…
An unusual blight?
An impressive rock wall
Close to Camp #69
After another memorable night with the Blue Ghosts it’s time to get motivated to get back up to the Forney Ridge TR again. The grade continues to be gentle for a little bit before getting off the logging track that you have been following up Forney for some time now. Soon you start seeing some old tracks that seem to bend directly into the Creek where there’s an old axle laying in the middle of the waterway. It’s fun to imagine what happened here as the way continues to climb a steeper grade on your way back to higher ground. Along the way you climb to camp #68 with has a lower and upper spot. The bottom one has a nicer pool for getting in the water and the upper one has a marked waterfall. It’s weird that there are 2 spots this far apart in the Smokies? I wonder if the lower one is an older spot #68 and they moved to the higher location from years of use? I’m sticking with that theory until I know the facts. Meanwhile past the camps you continue to slowly make your way up the obvious notch in the right side of the canyon which is Forney Ridge. Once on top at the intersection, make a left and take the steps up back up to the parking lot.
Flowing streams and an abundant green, that’s the Smokies
Forney Creek Falls at the second camo
