June Hike: Gregory Bald GSMNP

[Guest aBRG2far]

Gregory Bald is world famous for its flame azaleas which peak around Fathers Day every year. This is THE hike for the month of June anywhere in the Great Smokies. Balds are natural clearings found on high ridges and mountain tops. They can be either heath balds (impassable scrub brush) or grassy balds, Gregory is the latter. Once used as summer pasture by families living in Cades Cove the bald is now kept clear by regular mowing. The azaleas have naturally hybridized from the common orange to the full spectrum of colors. The Royal Botanical Gardens in the United Kingdom have gotten specimens from Gregory. To get there I took the Gregory Bald trail off of the primitive road Parsons Branch. This is an one way road leaving Cades Cove and connecting to Hwy129 also known as "The Dragon" by motorcyclist for its twisting curves. Gregory Bald trail travels for 4.1 to Sheep Pen Gap and then another .5 to Gregory Bald. This is a horse trail too and it was very muddy. Once at the Bald we took Gregory Ridge trail 5.5mi back to Cades Cove to avoid the mud. This was a good decision since we were caught in a thunderstorm on the way down. Heres a sampling of pics from the top.

Storm coming

Azalea and Blueberries

My sister Melanie and friendly deer

Me in the Garden of Eden.

Click on the pic below for all 41 of my pics from this hike.

[DRM]

Very nice! I need to get back into some hiking myself, and when my wife saw these pics she could be convinced to as well

[creeky]

Awesome!!

I have been there many times! It's a great place.

I have hiked the same trail leaving my car at the foot of Gregory ridge, walked up parsons road, then the gregory trail staying the night at sheep pen gap then down Gregory ridge.

Also have been the other way, passing Andersons bald. In july-august the bald is FULL of Blueberries!!!

You look GREAT by the way! Your weight loss and dedication is a great example for all of us!!

I've seen the Azela's in bloom, the bald looks like it is on fire. I hear it's a special type that is only found there.

[Guest pjblurton]

Looks like an awesome hike!

You keep loosing weight and you're going to blow away one of these days...

(Looking Great!)

[56FordGuy]

Looks like a great hike, makes me want to dig my pack out of the closet and go again. Maybe this winter...

[Guest SUNTZU]

Good Lord, man, where did you go! That is a HUGE difference from where you were last year. You've now made me sad. I always eat when I'm sad. Seriously, congratulations are definitely in order. My hat is off to you, sir.

[BBill_TN]

Looks like a great hike.

I lived in Knoxville for 7 years, and still miss the proximity to the mountains.

Looks like a great hike, makes me want to dig my pack out of the closet and go again. Maybe this winter...

Winter time is hiking time for me too....just too hot in the summer unless you get some elevation (Smokies, Pisgah, etc.)

Guess it is canoe and kayak season for me, at least until these temps let up.

[Guest MR. E]

Great Pictures!

[Guest db99wj]

Great pics. Great job on the weight.