BluePonyV8 - Oct 19, 2006 4:12 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
First of Many
Great hike, I did it with two of my best friends, Slick858 was one of em. Beautiful views but it was quite a big elevation change for a 2 mile trail. I loved the class 2 climb at the summit. Great hike, the view is well worth the some 1700ft elevation change.
slick858 - Oct 18, 2006 5:07 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
Favorite
My Favorite Mountain YET!!, I love the scramble at the end. Many people turned around.
Fun little hike with my girlfriend. The top was fun, climbed up the steepest part I could find. I also continued out to the lower peak at the end of the ridge. A good time was had by all.
J.Iannotti - Jul 30, 2006 7:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Chimney Tops
Made it to the top just as the last hikers were leaving. Enjoyed a perfect sunset.
Route Climbed: Chimney tops Trail Date Climbed: August 27, 2005
This is a good hike. Being an alpinist at heart, this is the best hike I've had in the Smokies from an technical standpoint (the third class scramble makes it). Actually if you go up the rock about 25 yards before the trail turns up, you can do a fun 4th class crack that is way better than the "trail" that ends up with one hand on rock and the other on dirt, roots, etc. Can't wait to go back in winter. the traverse to the lower peak looked interesting. Will do that next time.
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: August 27, 2004
This is a classic hike. It is not an easy walk in the park, but you wouldn't know that by the many people hiking up in sandals and without water bottles. It was great fun scrambling up to the very top. There was a nice "chimney" on top that acted like a natural air conditioner, and was much appreciated. I'll definately get back up here someday.
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: May 22, 2005
If youre not too afraid of heights and have the agility and fitness to do so, then you definitely should climb up the top of the big rock at the end. On top of the rock is a great 360 view however the rock can be tough to climb and there are a few spots that make people reconsider and turn back around. Definitely do not climb this rock if you're alone!
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: July 10, 2001
This was a great hike. The views along the ridge were nice and the scramble at the top was easy but fun. We were amazed at the number of people who did this rocky hike in house sandals and skirts.
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: November 20, 2004
I started the journey at 8:15 am on November 20, 2004. After a quick 2 mile walk and a 1700 ft ascent, we reached the summit. The hike was well worth the time. The last 200 feet are defiantly a class 2 climb.
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops trail Date Climbed: Spring 1970
I had forgotten all about this one until I came across this page. I have some slides and I'll see if I can get a couple to scan decently. I remember this as a nice hike and spring was in the air. We stayed down at Gatlinburg.
Route Climbed: Basic path Date Climbed: July and March
I climb this about every time I see it. There is a nice brook to cross right after leaving Newfound Gap road.
It gets pretty steep at the top with a slate cap which is slippery when wet. Took my two small brothers in law up it in 1978 or so. The younger one was really into it. Last summer he took his hunting buddies up there and they pronounced him crazy saying it was the hardest thing they would never do again.
Route Climbed: Straight up Date Climbed: Many times, last August 2002
One of my favorite hikes in the Smokies. Last time I did it, I started up from the parking lot just at daybreak. No one ahead of me, and I hustled up so no one would pass me. I was first on the summit and had it all to myself for about an hour and a half before some college students from Ohio State came up. Nice folk. They'd never been there and wanted to know some other nice hikes they could knock out before they headed back to school. They had one more day, and I told them to take the AT to Charlie's Bunion if they liked The Chimneys.
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: Sept 19,1989, May 13,1990,June 14,1994, May 2,1996,June 28, 2003
This is one of our favorite hikes...as you can see from our many summits! If you are in the Great Smoky Mountains don't miss this trail!! Great views, great exercise, and fun for all. Check out our trip report and photos on our personal website at Natural Born Hikers
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: December 26, 2002
On this day after Christmas and 1-3 inches of fresh snow, US 441 was restricted to vehicles with chains about 1.5 miles below the Chimney Tops trailhead. So my sister and I had to hike along the road just to get to the trailhead. Once there We enjoyed the relatively easy snow-covered trail. We did not have crampons or snowshoes but neither were necessary. Our hiking poles came in very handy though. Even with these we each took a spill on the way down. The summit view was incredible and better than in the spring. The forests were blanketed in a cloth of pure white snow. We ate lunch on top and videotaped an expert hiker who bushwhacked and scrambled to the lower chimney. An outstanding hike!
The day started out foggy, but the clouds broke and I had a nice view from the summit. It was a nice climb and I am impressed with the amount of exposure on this well-named 'chimney' top.
BluePonyV8 - Oct 19, 2006 4:12 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
First of ManyGreat hike, I did it with two of my best friends, Slick858 was one of em. Beautiful views but it was quite a big elevation change for a 2 mile trail. I loved the class 2 climb at the summit. Great hike, the view is well worth the some 1700ft elevation change.
slick858 - Oct 18, 2006 5:07 am Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2006
FavoriteMy Favorite Mountain YET!!, I love the scramble at the end. Many people turned around.
Alcas24 - Oct 2, 2006 4:08 am
Chimney TopsFun little hike with my girlfriend. The top was fun, climbed up the steepest part I could find. I also continued out to the lower peak at the end of the ridge. A good time was had by all.
J.Iannotti - Jul 30, 2006 7:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Chimney TopsMade it to the top just as the last hikers were leaving. Enjoyed a perfect sunset.
Mgross - Apr 21, 2006 9:48 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2006
Fun runBeautiful and lush place to go for a little jog. There's a fun scramble at the end with good views.
vbc285 - Dec 3, 2005 4:22 pm
Route Climbed: Standard trail Date Climbed: August, 1996Great little hike!
sshankle - Aug 27, 2005 4:08 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney tops Trail Date Climbed: August 27, 2005This is a good hike. Being an alpinist at heart, this is the best hike I've had in the Smokies from an technical standpoint (the third class scramble makes it). Actually if you go up the rock about 25 yards before the trail turns up, you can do a fun 4th class crack that is way better than the "trail" that ends up with one hand on rock and the other on dirt, roots, etc. Can't wait to go back in winter. the traverse to the lower peak looked interesting. Will do that next time.
1:20 round trip travel time. Good summit.
I was impressed...
SteveinFXBG - Jun 19, 2005 11:26 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: August 27, 2004This is a classic hike. It is not an easy walk in the park, but you wouldn't know that by the many people hiking up in sandals and without water bottles. It was great fun scrambling up to the very top. There was a nice "chimney" on top that acted like a natural air conditioner, and was much appreciated. I'll definately get back up here someday.
gwave47 - May 23, 2005 1:10 am
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: May 22, 2005If youre not too afraid of heights and have the agility and fitness to do so, then you definitely should climb up the top of the big rock at the end. On top of the rock is a great 360 view however the rock can be tough to climb and there are a few spots that make people reconsider and turn back around. Definitely do not climb this rock if you're alone!
indianabob - Nov 28, 2004 4:23 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: July 10, 2001This was a great hike. The views along the ridge were nice and the scramble at the top was easy but fun. We were amazed at the number of people who did this rocky hike in house sandals and skirts.
Tbacon251 - Nov 22, 2004 12:45 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: November 20, 2004I started the journey at 8:15 am on November 20, 2004. After a quick 2 mile walk and a 1700 ft ascent, we reached the summit. The hike was well worth the time. The last 200 feet are defiantly a class 2 climb.
gunnersmith - Apr 18, 2004 9:09 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney tops trail Date Climbed: multiplefun hike. Last time I ran to the top for a workout. It's one of the best hikes in the park.
Dean - Jan 11, 2004 7:11 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops trail Date Climbed: Spring 1970I had forgotten all about this one until I came across this page. I have some slides and I'll see if I can get a couple to scan decently. I remember this as a nice hike and spring was in the air. We stayed down at Gatlinburg.
desainme - Nov 16, 2003 3:32 pm
Route Climbed: Basic path Date Climbed: July and MarchI climb this about every time I see it. There is a nice brook to cross right after leaving Newfound Gap road.
It gets pretty steep at the top with a slate cap which is slippery when wet. Took my two small brothers in law up it in 1978 or so. The younger one was really into it. Last summer he took his hunting buddies up there and they pronounced him crazy saying it was the hardest thing they would never do again.
BobSmith - Nov 15, 2003 8:19 pm
Route Climbed: Straight up Date Climbed: Many times, last August 2002One of my favorite hikes in the Smokies. Last time I did it, I started up from the parking lot just at daybreak. No one ahead of me, and I hustled up so no one would pass me. I was first on the summit and had it all to myself for about an hour and a half before some college students from Ohio State came up. Nice folk. They'd never been there and wanted to know some other nice hikes they could knock out before they headed back to school. They had one more day, and I told them to take the AT to Charlie's Bunion if they liked The Chimneys.
velodurt - Jul 6, 2003 5:04 pm
Route Climbed: Chimney Tops Trail Date Climbed: Sept 19,1989, May 13,1990,June 14,1994, May 2,1996,June 28, 2003This is one of our favorite hikes...as you can see from our many summits! If you are in the Great Smoky Mountains don't miss this trail!! Great views, great exercise, and fun for all. Check out our trip report and photos on our personal website at Natural Born Hikers
climber46 - Apr 24, 2003 7:09 pm
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: December 26, 2002On this day after Christmas and 1-3 inches of fresh snow, US 441 was restricted to vehicles with chains about 1.5 miles below the Chimney Tops trailhead. So my sister and I had to hike along the road just to get to the trailhead. Once there We enjoyed the relatively easy snow-covered trail. We did not have crampons or snowshoes but neither were necessary. Our hiking poles came in very handy though. Even with these we each took a spill on the way down. The summit view was incredible and better than in the spring. The forests were blanketed in a cloth of pure white snow. We ate lunch on top and videotaped an expert hiker who bushwhacked and scrambled to the lower chimney. An outstanding hike!
climber46 - Apr 24, 2003 7:03 pm
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: May 5, 2002The day started out foggy, but the clouds broke and I had a nice view from the summit. It was a nice climb and I am impressed with the amount of exposure on this well-named 'chimney' top.