This hike has many possible variations, so this 21.5 mile loop is not the only option. If you want somethin shorter or longer, you can change the trails up to get the length that you want. Since we have only hiked this loop, this is what we will review here.

Having said all of that, this is one of our favorite backpacking hikes! This loop hike has almost everything you can imagine that you would want to see while backpacking... lakes, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife. You can go fishing in mountain streams and lakes, or study the backcountry history of long forgotten pioneer towns. Keep in mind that there are black bears in the Smoky Mountains, so be prepared for that by careful cooking and handeling of your food.

Our hike started by catching a boat shuttle across Fontana Lake from the marina to the Hazel Creek trailhead. The shuttle costs $35 for 2 people, but it's the only way to get across the lake to start this hike.

About .5 miles up the trail you'll come to the abandoned village of Proctor, build right along the banks of Hazel Creek. If you look closely you can find the remnants of a balfield, school, community building, theater, train depot, church and mill. Our hike took us up the Hazel Creek trail for 4.5 miles to campsite #84. Here, the Jenkins Ridge trail meets the Hazel Creek trail, as well as the Sugar Fork creek meet Hazel Creek. This is a popular spot for fly fisherman, and would be a great place for a weekend fishing outing. Just be careful to hang your foodbag early.. mice are just as big a problem as the bears! We learned this the hard way.

On day 2, we backtracked to Proctor, but continued on the Lakeshore Trail. After passing the Calhoun House, we came to a small spur trail that lead us up to the Proctor Cemetery. There are grave markers here with dates in the 1800's and supposedly there are graves of Civil War soldiers. We didn't linger long here; we almost felt like we were tresspassing and didn't belong. We stopped for lunch just after leaving Possum Hollow (the lower valley just below Proctor). Evidence of this town can be seen for another mile of so, with chimneys standing alone along the trail

Our 2nd might was spent at campsite #90, which sits just on the banks of Fontana Lake. I don't know if was because of Memorial Day weekend or not, but this campsite was packed. We must have counted 12 tents scattered all over the campsite, but we found a small site that sat alone away from the big cround, and we had a great night of sleep. This time we hung out foodbag early, before the mice had a chance to get into it!

Day 3, we started early and had about 8 miles planned. We hiked along the Lakeshore trail, which follows the lake along a series of hollows and ridges for about 5 miles. Eventually, you will climb up onto old route 28, where you will find several old cars that look as though they were abandoned back in the 30s. This trail eventually leads you out to the Lakeshore trailhead where you will meet up with the Appalachian trail at the far end of the parking lot. Make sure at this point you follw the road to the left downhill; this will lead you to the Fontana dam.

The dam is really a sight... walking across it makes you feel small and will give you vertigo if you look over the downstream side. It certainly is a great feat of engineering!

Just a 1/2 mile up the road you will come to one of the nicer shelters on the AT called the Fontana Hilton. The shelter is on a small spur trail down to your left, but the trail continues on straight ahead. The trail leaves the road shortly after this spur trail, and after about 2 miles will spill out into the parking lot back at the marina where the whole hike started.

This was a great hike... Im sure we'll be back again someday!

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