![]() In the early 1900s a local rancher brought two dozen European wild boars to his hunting ranch, several of which eventually escaped into the mountains. In fact, it looked like the lake was at least 20 feet below its normal level, so it really wasn't the most scenic view at that time.Īs you make your way around the loop you may notice a couple of wild hog traps. At the time of our first visit lake levels were pretty low. Roughly a quarter-mile past the side trail hikers will reach a small cove jutting out of Fontana Lake. To continue on the loop you should stay towards the right at this junction. As far as I could see the only thing left at this former homestead site was an old washtub and a crumbling chimney.Īt roughly 1.5 miles hikers will reach a side trail that leads to Backcountry Campsite 67. This is the location of an old homestead. After walking 30 or 40 feet past the creek you may notice a clearing up ahead. Hikers should turn left here to continue on the loop hike.įrom the junction the trail makes a steep descent down to the Goldmine Branch creek. In addition to people using this path to avoid walking through the tunnel, it's also used by horseback riders for the same reason.Ībout a tenth-of-a mile further down the Lakeshore Trail you'll reach the Goldmine Loop Trail. Roughly two-thirds of a mile from the parking lot hikers will arrive at the Tunnel Bypass Trail junction. The longest, the Appalachian Trail, runs for nearly 72 miles along the crest of the mountains. At 34.7 miles it's the second longest trail in the Smokies. On the other side of the tunnel hikers will reach the official start of the Lakeshore Trail. After a decades-long fight the dispute with Swain County residents was finally resolved in February of 2010 when the US Department of Interior signed a settlement agreement that paid the county $52 million in lieu of building the road. Unfortunately for the citizens of Swain County, environmental issues stopped construction of the road at the tunnel, and it was never completed. In exchange for their lands, however, the Federal Government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road that would run along the north shore of the lake, thus giving displaced residents access to old family cemeteries. As a result, many of those people lost access to their family cemeteries. Additionally, when the TVA filled Fontana Lake, Old Highway 288 was buried beneath its waters. During the 1930s and 40s hundreds of people were forced to leave their homes in order to make way for these Federal projects. The tunnel marks the end of the so-called "Road To Nowhere." Its construction came about when citizens of Swain County gave up the majority of their land for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fortunately the tunnel is flat and easy to walk through however, it's 1200 feet in length, or almost a quarter-mile long! On dark overcast days you may want to bring a flashlight. If you have a fear of walking through the rather long Lakeview Drive Tunnel, you'll have the option of taking the clockwise approach and using the Tunnel Bypass Trail, which avoids the tunnel.įrom the parking area at the end of Lakeview Drive hikers will immediately proceed through the tunnel. For purposes of this trail description we will take a counter-clockwise direction. Since this is a loop you can start your hike in either direction.
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