Established June 15, 1934 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains over 800 miles of beautiful trails to hike, including over 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail. There are a few different trails that will get you to Rocky Top and I have added a waypoint for the parking we used to make the hike. The hike from the listed parking will include 1.7 miles up Lead Cove trail to Bote Mountain trail which is 2.9 miles up to the Appalachian Trail. Add another mile up the AT for a round trip total of around 11 miles. This is the shortest route with a total elevation gain of approximately 3900 feet (approximate to climbing up 360 floors) and rated as hard. Just before you arrive at Rocky Top you will pass the junction of Jenkins Ridge trail.
This geocache will not be for everyone. Please be prepared for a full day hike, consider the weather and review the National Park Service 10 Essentials. If you're up for it, another 1/2 mile will put you on the peak of Thunderhead mountain.
INFO FOR LOGGING: As you pass the junction of Jenkins Ridge trail note the number and date on the large rock. You can't miss it. If you are NOBO on the AT and miss it, then just post the photo and email me something descriptive and unique to Rocky Top. Please do not share this info in your log. Upload a photo with your found-it log including you, your gps OR a hand pointing at Rocky Top feature. Send to my profile email the number and date found on the rock at the Jenkins Ridge trail. Logs without photo and email answer will be deleted. Log only visits after published date for this cache please.
"Rocky Top" the song is a favorite of UT fans, alumni, and others who sing it while the Vols play at Neyland Stadium and Thompson–Boling Arena. It was first played by the Pride of the Southland Band on the October 21, 1972 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
While the writers of the song never indicated that "Rocky Top, Tennessee" refers to a specific place, some have suggested that the 5,440-foot barren summit known as "Rocky Top"— located in the Great Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border— is the best fit, due in large part to its proximity to Gatlinburg, where the song was written.
FTF - CanAmGuy & Mellowyellow2 on 4/11/21
STF - JediJosh83 on 4/19/22
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2021. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.