The Jump Off Trail

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There are no services along this trail. The nearest restrooms are a the parking lot at Newfound Gap and the closest stores are either down in Gatlinburg or Cherokee, NC. When you get to the Jump Off, be careful of where you are going and if you have children, make sure that they stay close to you as the drop is hundreds of feet straight down.

The Jump Off Trail is accessed by parking at the Newfound Gap parking lot and hiking out the Appalachian Trail toward Charlie's Bunion and the Boulevard Trail. After hiking roughly 2.7 miles, when you arrive at the junction, take a right and follow the Boulevard Trail for a short distance until you see a sign on the left side of the trail that points to the Jump Off Trail on the right side. The trail climbs steeply up the hillside up basically a water runoff.

In the winter, this may be ice, so bring your spikes if hiking in the fall, winter, or early spring. The forest starts to open up as the trail levels out, before descending back into the woods. The trail levels out as it approaches the edge of the mountain. At the end of the trail, the woods open up on the right side and the Smokies spread out before you. Be careful here, as the drop-off is steep (immediate) and if you have kids, you'll want to make sure you are watching them closely.

At the Jump Off, you get views of Charlie's Bunion, the Porter's Creek drainage below you, and the Sawteeth range off in the distance. You can also see cities and towns beyond the boundary of the National Park. Even though this is a a popular hike, it's not as popular as other trails in the area and you can find yourself alone with a beautiful view even on a beautiful day.

Once you have enjoyed the view and maybe taken a couple of selfies, you retrace your steps back to the Boulevard Trail. From here, you can either work your way toward Mount LeConte, hike to Charlie's Bunion, or return to your car.