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A short trail bypassing the "Road to Nowhere" tunnel.


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Map Key

1.6

Miles

2.6

KM

89%

Runnable

2,242' 683 m

High

2,059' 628 m

Low

274' 83 m

Up

194' 59 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

15%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs No Dogs

Runner Notes

This is a short trail with moderate elevation changes that make it a good choice for those who want to get off the nearby pavement.

Description

Beginning across from the parking area, the Tunnel Bypass Trail quickly heads around the low southern tip of Tunnel Ridge. Two hundred and forty yards farther, the trail intersects the eastern terminus of the Goldmine Loop Trail, which circles down to an embayment of Fontana Lake before climbing up and around to intersect the Lakeshore Trail 110 yards beyond the western terminus of the Tunnel Bypass Trail.

Upon leaving the Goldmine Loop junction, the Tunnel Bypass Trail remains in dry-ridge hardwoods, proceeding a mile before crossing the headwaters of Hyatt Branch. From the creek crossing, the trail takes a course angling up to the Lakeshore Trail. It rises gradually over 350 yards to converge with the Lakeshore Trail past the end of the tunnel.

This content was contributed by author Ken Wise. For a comprehensive hiking guide to the Great Smoky Mountains and to see more by Ken, click here.

Contacts

Shared By:

Ken Wise

Trail Ratings

  3.5 from 2 votes

#16

in Fontana Lake

#24944

Overall
  3.5 from 2 votes
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Trail Rankings

#16

in Fontana Lake

#1,006

in North Carolina

#24,944

Overall
14 Views Last Month
1,024 Since Jul 29, 2016
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

The west side of the "Road to Nowhere" tunnel.
Jul 29, 2016 near Bryson…, NC

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