Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN · NC
A steep ridge climb to a rocky overlook above Bryson City.
Overview
Lonesome Pine Overlook is an out-and-back from Deep Creek along the lower Noland Divide Trail to a rocky knob on Beaugard Ridge. Figure 6.8 miles round trip, about 2,300 feet of climbing, and 3 to 4 hours, depending on how long you stay at the top. This is a hard half-day hike: a long wooded climb that ends on a narrow ridge with views toward Bryson City and the Southern Smokies. Choose it for the climb and the overlook; the shorter Deep Creek waterfall walks are better for an easy stroll.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Smoky Mountains audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Deep Creek Waterfalls and Picnic Area“You're coming up on Deep Creek, where waterfall walks and a creekside picnic can fill a relaxed afternoon.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Start at the Noland Divide Trailhead across from Deep Creek Campground. The trail crosses Durham Branch on a footlog, then climbs through mixed hardwood and pine woods. The grade builds after the gentler opening stretch. A small cascade tumbles down a rock face from a tributary of Juney Whank Branch partway up, but there is no potable water along the route. This is also a horse trail, so hikers share the tread with horse traffic.
Near the top, the path follows a narrow, rocky spine with steep drop-offs in places. It circles around the back of the knob before a short signed spur reaches the rocky outcrop. Trees interrupt some of the view from the top, so look along the ridge as well: the wider sightlines run across the Tuckasegee River Valley toward Bryson City and the Nantahala, Cowee and Alarka ranges. The name can mislead; there is no single pine on the summit, but a group of pines grows below the knob.
Across Lands Creek, Kelly Bennett Peak recalls a Bryson City pharmacist who helped make the case for a national park in the Smokies. His family opened a drugstore in town in 1905, and the old building still stands. It is a small but fitting local story to carry along the ridge.
Use the Noland Divide access on W Deep Creek Road, opposite the campground. The park map marks parking for horse trailers at the trail access, but the number of spaces for day hikers is unclear. A displayed Smokies parking tag is required if your vehicle stays more than 15 minutes. The adjacent campground has seasonal drinking water and restrooms off the route; pets are not allowed on this trail.
Wildlife
1,566 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
899 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
142 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
26 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
42 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Smoky Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingNoland Divide Trail11.5 mi · 7 hr · At the trailheadA long ridge traverse from Deep Creek to Kuwohi Road.
EasyJuney Whank Falls Trail0.6 mi · 30 min · 0.4 mi awayA short loop reaches an 80-foot cascade and crosses its wooden footbridge.
EasyTom Branch Falls Trail0.5 mi · 1 hr · 0.4 mi awayA very short creekside walk to a tiered waterfall across the water.
ModerateDeep Creek Waterfalls Loop2.4 mi · 2 hr · 0.4 mi awayThree waterfalls in one short loop, with one steep opening climbModerateDeep Creek Loop Trail4.6 mi · 3 hr · 0.4 mi awayA creekside loop links two falls with a steady half-mile climb.
ModerateIndian Creek Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 1 mi awayA 3.6-mile route climbs past Indian Creek Falls to Sunkota Ridge.
ModerateDeep Creek Horse Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.1 mi awayA wooded climb past Juney Whank Falls to Deep Creek Trail.
ChallengingSunkota Ridge Trail8.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayAn 8.6-mile point-to-point ridge hike through Deep Creek backcountry.
Picnic area · 0.1 mi awayDeep Creek Picnic AreaCreekside shade, charcoal grills, and waterfall walks in one stop.
Campground · 0.2 mi awayDeep Creek CampgroundCreekside camping puts waterfalls and tubing within easy reach.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayJuney Whank FallsCross a footbridge for an unusually close look at both waterfall tiers.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayTom Branch FallsFront-row benches across from tiered falls, after an easy walk.Sight · 1.1 mi awayIndian Creek FallsA creekside walk to two falls, ending at a broad 25-foot cascade.
Sight · 5.7 mi awayLakeview Drive TunnelWalk a 1,200-foot tunnel on a road that never reached its end.
Sight · 6.5 mi awayAndrews BaldAn open mountain meadow with a 3.6-mile hike and a steep return.
Visitor center · 7.5 mi awayKuwohi Visitor CenterA stone-built visitor stop and small shop before the Kuwohi climb.Parkwolf’s Great Smoky Mountains ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
