Gregory Bald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gregory Bald |
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Gregory Bald, snow-capped, looking south from Foothills Parkway
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,949 ft (1,508 m) |
| Prominence | 1,107 ft (337 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Blount County, Tennessee / Swain County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent range | Great Smoky Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Gregory Bald |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Gregory Ridge Trail + Gregory Bald Trail |
Gregory Bald is a cool mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains. It stands super tall at about 4,949 feet (1,508 meters) high! Many people love to hike to its top. One special thing about Gregory Bald is its amazing flame azaleas. These bright flowers bloom all over the mountain every summer. They are usually at their prettiest in mid-to-late June.
This mountain sits right on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. It's located between Blount County and Swain County. Gregory Bald is completely inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Gregory Bald is a special kind of mountain called a grassy bald. Most mountain tops in the Appalachians are covered with thick forests. But grassy balds are different! They are mostly covered by wild grass with only a few trees. Scientists aren't totally sure why some mountains become grassy balds. Even though Gregory Bald was naturally a grassy bald, the National Park Service works hard to keep trees from growing too much on its top.
Mountain's Rocky Foundation
Gregory Bald is made of a very old rock called Elkmont sandstone. This rock formed from ancient ocean sediments a very long time ago. You can even see some of these sandstone rocks poking through the grass on the mountain's top. Gregory Bald, like many mountains nearby, was formed about 200 million years ago. This happened during a time when huge forces pushed the Earth's crust up.
A Look Back in Time
The Cherokee people had a special name for Gregory Bald: "Tsistu'yi." This means "Rabbit Place." According to their old stories, the chief of all rabbits, known as the Great Rabbit, lived on this mountain's summit. The rabbit was an important and often tricky character in Cherokee legends. This shows how important Gregory Bald was to the tribe.
A scientist named Arnold Guyot first wrote about the mountain in 1856. He called it "Great Bald's Central Peak." Later, people living in Cades Cove named it "Gregory Bald." They did this to honor Russell Gregory (1795–1864). He was an important settler in Cades Cove.
Russell Gregory used the mountain to let his cattle graze during spring and summer. This was when his fields in the valley were needed for growing crops. He even lived on the mountain top during these months in a circular stone house. That house is not there anymore. Sadly, Russell Gregory was killed in 1864 while trying to protect his cattle and land.
How to Reach the Top
You can get to the top of Gregory Bald using several hiking trails. These trails are kept in good condition.
- From Cades Cove: You can take the Gregory Ridge Trail. This trail is about 5.5 miles long. It starts at the end of Forge Creek Road.
- From Fontana: You can hike along the famous Appalachian Trail. Then, you'll take a two-mile connector trail. This route is about 7.3 miles long.
- From Twentymile: The Wolf Ridge Trail will take you to the summit. This trail is also about 7.3 miles long.
From the top of Gregory Bald, you can see amazing views! To the north, you can spot Cades Cove and Rich Mountain. To the south, you'll see the Nantahala and Yellow Creek Mountains. Look east to see the crest of the Smokies, including Thunderhead Mountain and Clingman's Dome. You can also see Fontana Lake and Shuckstack to the southeast.
