Tennessee

Best summer hikes in East Tennessee: Places to cool off and take in the views

Published

3 days ago

July 5, 2024

Best summer hikes in East Tennessee: Places to cool off and take in the views

As we have reached the middle of the summer, the time for outdoor activities is at its peak with a variety of activities to choose from to do.

With over 61 million people in the United States hiking at least once a year in 2023, there are plenty of people on the hunt for a new spot. East Tennessee has some of the most attractive hiking spots, ranging from higher altitude climbs to scenic overlooks to places where you can take a cooling dip to beat the heat.

Here are some places to try this summer:

Higher-altitude hikes

It’s hot in Tennessee, and sometimes the only way to cool off is to get high up into in the Great Smoky Mountains. Here are some trails that will get you up where the breezes will give you a break from the stifling heat.

Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the highest peak in Tennessee, and the Appalachian Trail runs right over the top. The peak is 6,643 feet.

There are a variety of long trails to take to reach the peak, including Forney Creek Trail, Noland Creak/Forney Ridge Trail, Noland Divide Trail, Little River Trail/Goshen Prong Trail, Sugar Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail at Fontana Dam.

You can also drive to the parking lot at the top and explore from there. The half-mile paved trail to the observation tower is an easy one. Andrews Bald is another trail from the Clingmans Dome parking lot. It’s 3.6 miles round trip and has gorgeous views.

Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the national park at 6,593 ft. The trails leading up to Mt. LeConte vary in difficulty.

The six trails leading to Mt. Leconte are the Alum Cave Trail, Boulevard Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Trillium Gap Trail, Bullhead Trail and Brushy Mountain Trail. They vary in length, too, but all reach the cool, breezy top. As a bonus, the LeConte Lodge has snacks, souvenirs and outhouses.

Hikes with views, even in the summer

Winter hikes in Tennessee have sweeping views when the lush trees lose their leaves. In the summer, you have to plan to make sure you’re able to catch those gorgeous sightlines.

House Mountain is the highest peak in Knox County and rises to an elevation of 2,064 feet. There are four main trails for hiking this wooded mountain ,and they add up to about 4.5 miles. The hike should take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete so make sure to be well prepared and have some good hiking shoes. The view of surrounding communities and mountain ranges is at the top.

Sharp’s Ridge Loop Trail at Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park in Knoxville is known for having one of the best views of the Smoky Mountains (without having to go there). The unpaved trail is 5.4 miles long and loops back to the start, averaging about an hour and 30 minutes. The high ridge takes you high over downtown for amazing city views.

Hiking trails where you can swim, too

After a hike through the woods, it is nice to have a place for a refreshing swim.

River Trail Loop at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville is an excellent mix between forest and water as the trail travels in the woods and alongside the Tennessee River. The trail is 1.3 miles long at a low elevation with an average of 30 minutes to complete. The location provides easy access to swimming opportunities with kayaking at the Ijams Riverside landing nearby Mead’s Quarry Lake for a cooling dip in the water. There are no lifeguards, however, and jumping of the cliffs is prohibited.

Littler River Trail in Townsend is another great opportunity for those looking for an easy hike and a fun place to swim. The trail is an easier one at about 5 miles with an elevation of just 412 feet. This location also offers excellent opportunity for swimming and tubing as the trail is located all along the Little River. It’s a summertime must for families and a place where childhood memories are made.

Metcalf Bottoms Trail an easy trail located in Gatlinburg with at a 100-foot elevation gain that should take less than an hour to complete at 1.2 miles round trip. Hiking is optional for those visiting Metcalf Bottoms because of its excellent picnic and swimming locations for those wanting a more relaxing ‒ and wetter ‒ excursion.

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Tennessee

Knoxville Man Breaks Kids' Expensive Fishing Rod, Video Sparks Outrage

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2024

Press Room

Knoxville Man Breaks Kids' Expensive Fishing Rod, Video Sparks Outrage

A man yelled at two kids and broke their expensive fishing rod in Tennessee. (Photo Credit: TikTok/ @fishn_shi)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

A man yelled at two kids and broke their expensive fishing rod
The incident took place in Knoxville, Tennessee
The video of the incident has gone viral, sparking outrage

A man was caught on camera yelling at two children and snapping their expensive fishing rod while they were fishing at what he claimed to be his private lake. The incident reportedly took place in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The video, initially shared by TikToker @fishn_shi, shows the man, allegedly intoxicated, aggressively approaching the kids before breaking their fishing rod without warning. He then threatens to toss their phones into the lake and demands they leave immediately.

“You are fishing in a private lake. Get the hell out of here. We are going to prosecute you, and you are going to pay all kinds of money because you are being a d—,” he yells at one child, then walks towards the other, shouting at him to leave.

The footage has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation.

“I understand if they’re trespassing and you’re a homeowner. I completely get it. But they’re just fishing for gods sake. They’re not causing damage or being loud. I just don’t understand why folks can’t be human beings anymore,” one person wrote on X.

Another commented, “There is absolutely no reason a grown man should be treating kids this way.”

A third person wrote, “Right like okay it’s a private lake sure just go down there and say hey you kids can’t fish here can you go somewhere else.”

Another user wrote, “Even if you want them to stop fishing, a simple “hey guys, sorry but this is a private lake, we’re not allowed to fish here” would’ve sufficed.”

Some social media users identified the man in the video as Matt Webster, Chairperson of the Haiti Outreach Program TN, although this has not been officially confirmed.

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Tennessee

U.S. Open Qualifier Mac Clark Sends Verbal To Tennessee (2025)

Published

12 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Press Room

U.S. Open Qualifier Mac Clark Sends Verbal To Tennessee (2025)

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Mac Clark of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has announced his verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Tennessee. Clark has one year remaining at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, and will arrive in Knoxville next fall for the 2025-2026 season.

“I’m thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic careers at the University of Tennessee. I’d like to thank my family, coaches, friends, and teammates for helping me reach this point. I also want to give a special thanks to all of the coaches at Tennessee for extending me the opportunity to be a Vol. Can’t wait to get to Rocky Top! Go Vols!”

Clark, a distance freestyle specialist, trains and competes year-round with Team Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics. He is a U.S. Open qualifier in the 500, 1000, and 1650, as well as in the 400m, 800m and 1500m in long course. Clark also holds numerous Allegheny Mountain LSC Records, including the boys’ 15-16 1000, which used to be the oldest yards record for the LSC by more than a decade.

This past December, Clark competed at Speedo Winter Juniors – East, where he recorded his top finish in the 1650. He stopped the clock at 15:18.12 to finish 11th overall and take nearly twenty seconds off his previous best time. He also set personal bests in the 500 (4:26.61) and 400 IM (4:01.65) earning 23rd and 65th, respectively.

More recently, Clark has opened his long course season with a slew of best times this spring. At the ISCA International Senior Cup, he collected wins in the 400 IM (3:58.29/4:33.31), 1500m (15:46.48), 800m (8:15.93), and 400m free (4:00.91) with best times across all of them. This month he cracked the 4:00 barrier in the 400m free, as he clocked a 3:59.76 at the Holtrey Summer Classic.

Top SCY Times

500 free – 4:25.26
1000 free – 9:07.23
1650 free – 15:18.12
400 IM – 3:58.29

The Tennessee Vols finished 5th as a team at the 2024 SEC Championships with a total of 992 points. With over a year before arriving on campus, Clark already owns a personal best in the 1650 that would have scored this year.

Jake Narvid led the distance squad with a 10th place finish at SECs (14:57.29), while Joey Tepper (15:11.00) and Rafael Ponce De Leon (15:12.15) also scored with 19th and 20th place finishes. Clark’s arrival is timely for the Vols, as Tepper, Narvid, and Ponce De Leon were all seniors last season.

Clark joins Jack McCoy, Mike McCarthy, Gabe Nunziata, Liam O’Connor, Luke Amerson, and Ian Combs in Tennessee’s class of 2029.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Tennessee

Second-Year Lineman is Titans Best Building Block

Published

19 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Press Room

Second-Year Lineman is Titans Best Building Block

The Tennessee Titans are excited to have offensive lineman Peter Skoronski take another leap in his second season in the NFL.

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Northwestern played left tackle in college, which saw him high on many experts’ draft boards coming out. However, the Titans had a different vision for Skoronski, moving him to left guard in his rookie year.

Skoronski’s 6-4, 313-pound frame projects as more of a guard in the NFL than a tackle, so the switch makes sense for the Titans. Still, Skoronski has a ton of talent, which is why he was chosen in NFL.com’s “win-now” draft as a seventh-round selection.

In the exercise, each team had a chance to choose any player in the NFL with the idea that they are starting a team from scratch. Skoronski was the No. 211 overall pick, meaning he should be one of the top-seven players on a roster. For the Titans, he projects as such.

However, Skoronski had to deal with a lot of change in his first season in the league. He had to adjust to the speed of the game changing from college to the pros and learn a whole new position in the process.

Skoronski was thrown into the deep end, but he found a way to float. He committed just one penalty all season long in his rookie year, competing in 14 games for the Titans at left guard.

Now, Skoronski enters his second season with a lot more comfort and experience. He also has No. 7 overall pick JC Latham on his left-hand side at tackle and Lloyd Cushenberry III on his right as the team’s center. That should also make Skoronski feel a lot more comfortable with that kind of help on each side of him.

On top of that, offensive line guru Bill Callahan has joined his son’s coaching staff, and he’s considered to be one of the best position coaches in the NFL. He should be able to develop Skoronski’s talents and make him one of the better guards in the NFL.

Make sure you bookmark All Titans for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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