Sunkota Ridge Trail,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Elevation
The Sunkota Ridge Trail has a maximum elevation of 4,813 ft., a minimum elevation of 2,359 ft. and an elevation range of 2,454 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 8.8 mi | 2,359 ft | 4,813 ft | 2,454 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 5.0 hrs | 198.4 | 2,381 ft | 23 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 4.2 hrs | 1.9 | 23 ft | 2,381 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Sunkota Ridge Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Silers Bald, NC
- North Topo Map: Clingmans Dome, NC
- Northeast Topo Map: Smokemont, NC
- West Topo Map: Noland Creek, NC
- Topo Map: Bryson City, NC
- East Topo Map: Whittier, NC
- Southwest Topo Map: Wesser, NC
- South Topo Map: Alarka, NC
- Southeast Topo Map: Greens Creek, NC
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Sunkota Ridge Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Sunkota Ridge Trail?
The length of the trail is 8.8 miles (14.2 km) or 19,876 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Sunkota Ridge Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 5.0 hours in one direction and in 4.2 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) may be present in this area. The American dog tick transmits Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) may be present in this area. The Blacklegged tick transmits orrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii (which cause Lyme Disease), Anaplasmosis, Borrelia Miyamotoi Disease, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan Virus Disease.
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum) may be present in this area. The Gulf Coast tick transmits Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis, a form of spotted fever.
- The Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) may be present in this area. The Lone star tick transmits Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, (which cause human Ehrlichiosis), Heartland Virus, Tularemia, and STARI.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.