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Description & Photo by Jacqueline
Lott |
Length: 6.8 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Medium to Strenuous
Highlights: Excellent views of Fontana Lake and
the Smoky Mountains
Caution: Steep terrain can be slick in snow or rain, or
on fallen leaves
Note: Best hiked on a clear day to enjoy the view.
Directions: Shuckstack is on the North Carolina side of
the Park. From Bryson, take NC 28 to Fontana Dam. Start your hike
from the north side of the dam.

Forest
fires in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were
once spotted by using the park's fire towers in order to gain a
bird's eye view of the mountains. Though a number of the towers
have since been removed as more modern methods for fire
detection were developed, Shuckstack and three other towers
remain. These out of the way destinations are well worth the
extra effort if you happen to be vacationing or just taking a
day trip to the national park. The views alone are by far better
than any roadside overlook the park provides.
Located
along Twentymile ridge, the Shuckstack fire tower is but a tenth
of a mile from the Appalachian Trail and a mere 3.4 miles from
the road. To reach the tower, the easiest way is to begin on the
north side of Fontana Dam, which is on park's North Carolina
side. Currently, vehicles are prohibited from crossing the dam
because it is under renovation. However, foot traffic across the
dam is allowed. The trailhead can be reached along a nice, level
path, but count on adding another mile to the hike's roundtrip.
As
you cross the dam, the tower can be seen in the distance by
scanning the mountain. The largest dam east of the Rocky
Mountains, Fontana Dam is a monumental piece of engineering. At
full pool, the lake is over 400 feet deep! Once you cross the
dam, hang a right and you'll find yourself on the Appalachian
Trail after about a half-mile. Now comes the ascent of
Twentymile Ridge and a fairly challenging one at that. Nearly
from the start the trail is uphill. Now, just remember slow and
steady wins the race. Don't be afraid to take a break, however
many you need. The three and a half miles to the tower isn't as
daunting as it may seem. Still, there are plenty of short, flat
stretches on the trail that allow you to take a breather and
plenty of rocks and fallen logs to sit on along the way.
Gauguing your progress can be difficult, but there are glimpses
of the tower along the trail (especially in winter months). The
trail will level considerably around two and a half miles, and
the walking will be easy for the next half mile or so. Once
you're about a quarter of a mile from the tower the terrain
starts to climb upward. In fact, you'll encounter your steepest
climb (it's mercifully short, though) here. You'll encounter a
three-way intersection once on Twentymile Ridge. The simple
white line blazed on the surrounding trees marks the AT, while
the tower trail is marked with a white "T". Now you're just a
tenth of a mile from the tower.
Composed primarily of
wood and metal, the
Shuckstack fire tower sits
perched atop a winding eighty-foot staircase. From the bottom of
the fire tower the view is incredible, but the view from the
tower is aw-inspiring. Be sure to prepare yourself accordingly
before beginning your climb up the tower as you'll notice that
it moves ever so slightly. Now don't be alarmed, wind
continuously blows across this ridge, and the tower is made to
give just a bit. Once you've reached the top though, you'll be
awarded a spectacular 360-degree view of the park, with
mountains in all directions. To the west you'll notice the
Unicoi Mountains, the Nantahala and Snowbird Mountains to the
south, to the southeast lie the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the
Smokies come into view from the east and the north. Remember as
you walked across Fontana Dam looking up at the tower? Now
you'll be able to make out the dam from this vantagepoint and
all the land you trekked on your way to the tower. In all, you
have hiked three and a half miles and climbed over 2,000 feet.
What a rewarding feeling.
If your trip to Shuckstack
is simply a day-hike, carry a few extra items along with you and
a knapsack. Include a snack and some bottled water. Be
fore-warned, do not drink the water from a park stream without
boiling it first. Though invitingly cool and deceptively clear,
the streams contain bacteria that can ruin your trip, as well as
a significant time thereafter. You might also want to find a
place for your camera in your knapsack too. For overnight stays
in the backcountry, a backcountry permit is required. And some
campsites are reserved in advance. Permits can be found at
visitors centers or by calling (865) 436-1231.
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