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headwaters of Meadow Branch, it parallels the upper ridgeline of the Little River Gorge. Little River's rushing waters and winds sweeping up the narrow hollows typically create an unbroken roar emanating from the valley below. The trail follows the gorge's ridgeline for nearly a mile before being forced inward by a high knob on the mountain's western flank. The trail briefly crosses to the northern slope of the mountain, above a quiet hollow, before rounding the knob and beginning its descent to the Little River Valley.
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161:. The trail traverses the crest of Roundtop, a 3,077-foot (938 m) mountain that straddles the park's northern boundary. This trail, which passes through a thick forest of pine and oak and provides vistas of the valleys to the north and the mountains to the south, is one of the least-used trails in the park.
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Beyond Little
Roundtop, the trail follows the crest of the ridge as it drops below 2,000 feet (610 m). This leg of the trail overlooks the southeastern extremes of Tuckaleechee Cove, and the sound of church bells from nearby Townsend are not uncommon on weekends. As the trail swings around the
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There is no parking at the
Roundtop Trailhead, and very limited parking at the Little Greenbrier Trailhead, which is a block away on the other side of Lyon Springs Road. The nearest substantial parking lot is at Metcalf Bottoms, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the south. There is substantial parking at
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The
Roundtop Trail's descent is relatively sharp, but short. This leg of the trail is characterized by sandstone outcroppings, some of which form natural dry rock shelters. The Townsend Y and Little River Road can be discerned from the trail less than one-half mile from its terminus. The trail's
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Just past the rental lodge, the trail begins to wind around the summit of
Roundtop. The trail doesn't traverse the summit, however, and never eclipses 3,000 feet (910 m). Beyond the main summit, the trail passes along the south slope of the mountain's sub-peak, known as Little Roundtop. The
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Roundtop is situated in the southwest corner of Sevier County and the southeast corner of Blount County, Tennessee. Along with Cove
Mountain to the east and Rich Mountain to the west, Roundtop is one of a series of high ridges that form a "wall" that spans the park's northernwestern boundary. The
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in Wears Valley and via Little River Road at
Metcalf Bottoms). The trail immediately rises out of Wear Cove Gap and gradually ascends to the crest of Roundtop. The northern side of the first leg of the trail is private property, although most of it is still heavily forested. A house is visible
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While large parts of the mountain's northern slopes are private property, the entire summit of
Roundtop is protected. The south side of the summit is within the national park's boundaries. The north side is part of a 237-acre (0.96 km) tract purchased by the state of Tennessee in 1974 and
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atop a knob near the trailhead, and a rental lodge sits right on the trail approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) beyond the trailhead. The aesthetic disturbance from the privately owned side of the trail is minimal, however, and consists mainly of surveyor ribbons and the occasional sign.
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to the south. Wear Cove Gap, which is traversed by Lyon
Springs Road, divides Roundtop from Cove Mountain. The Townsend Y, formed by the confluence of Little River and the Middle Prong of Little River, is situated at the mountain's southwestern corner.
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Blount County, Sevier County, and
National Park boundaries all join atop Little Roundtop. Just beyond the Big Creek headwaters, the trail declines sharply at a steep switchback as it descends to the lower, western half of the mountain.
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There is no bridge at the trail terminus along Little River, so the river will have to be forded to complete a one-way hike. The river typically ranges from ankle-high to hip-high, although it can be altogether impassable after heavy
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The
Roundtop Trail mostly follows the national park boundary. While the south side of the trail and the trail itself are federal property, parts of the northern side of the trail are private property.
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terminus isn't marked, and splinters into several short paths, all leading the river's edge. The river is most easily forded immediately downstream or immediately upstream from the Y.
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The Roundtop Trail begins just inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Wears Cove entrance, on the right (west) side of Lyon Springs Road (Lyon Springs Road is accessible via
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rocks of the Ocoee Supergroup. Large outcroppings of this rock form rock overhangs along the trail as it descends to the Townsend Y. Roundtop's forest consists largely of
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There is a relatively steep switchback near the middle of the trail, although most of the trail involves gradual inclines and declines.
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the Townsend Y, although the Y is a popular swimming area, and this parking lot fills up quickly in summer months.
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A Roadside Guide to the Geology of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Blanket Mountain and the mountains immediately south of Little River Gorge
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Vistas of Wears Valley and the mountains south of the Little River Gorge
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forest in the coves and hollows at the base of the mountain.
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Like most of the Great Smokies range, Roundtop is made up of
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Just below the summit of Roundtop, 2,639 ft (804 m)
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Trail terminus at the Townsend Y, 1,118 ft (341 m)
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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, "
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340:(Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1988), 32.
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Hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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323:The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, "
135:No bridge across Little River, if hiking one-way
294:The Townsend Y, viewed from the Roundtop Trail
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425:Protected areas of Blount County, Tennessee
420:Protected areas of Sevier County, Tennessee
33:Roundtop Mountain rising above Wears Valley
70:Lyon Springs Road, just inside the park's
325:Hiking Routes with Tremont Hike Programs
187:is located near the Roundtop Trailhead.
16:Hiking trail in Tennessee, United States
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278:The Roundtop Trail near Little Roundtop
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178:(Townsend) to the northwest, and the
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374:— Carolina Mountain Club page
367:Great Smoky Mountains National Park
210:dominates the forest's understory.
159:Great Smoky Mountains National Park
51:Great Smoky Mountains National Park
230:View of the mountains to the south
202:trees, which gives way to a mixed
165:Geographic and natural information
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353:." Retrieved: 29 February 2008.
327:." Retrieved: 29 February 2008.
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74:boundary; the Townsend Y along
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42:7.5 mi (12.1 km)
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259:Sandstone outcroppings
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216:National Park Service
396:35.6924°N 83.6461°W
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251:Landmarks/overlooks
196:Table Mountain Pine
170:mountain overlooks
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180:Little River Gorge
174:to the northeast,
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351:Roundtop Mountain
222:Vital information
185:Little Greenbrier
176:Tuckaleechee Cove
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361:External links
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284:U.S. Route 321
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270:Trail synopsis
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98:Lowest point
76:Little River
399: /
192:Precambrian
414:Categories
387:83°38′46″W
384:35°41′33″N
311:References
204:mesophytic
200:Pitch Pine
117:Year-round
106:Difficulty
66:Trailheads
72:Wear Cove
55:Tennessee
147:American
109:Moderate
47:Location
131:Hazards
243:rains.
145:is an
122:Sights
114:Season
85:Hiking
39:Length
198:and
153:and
141:The
82:Use
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