BMT Thru-Hike itinerary
Every mile marker on the BMT Thru-Hike route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one, and which permit each stretch needs. To set alerts for your dates, go to the Benton MacKaye Trail Thru-Hike permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The BMT Thru-Hike. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by walk-up.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Springer Mountain (Southern Terminus, shared with the Appalachian Trail) and Big Creek (Northern Terminus) are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 33
- Across the markers
- 287.6 mi
- Published route length
- 287.6 mi
How long it takes: 3-5 weeks for a full thru-hike (BMTA Thru-Hikers' Guide; no single official figure published). That is the figure the permit publishes. This page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The BMT Thru-Hike route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
3,782 ft
Springer Mountain (Southern Terminus, shared with the Appalachian Trail)
Entry point: the permit is issued for this trailhead
The BMT and the AT share their southern terminus at Springer Mountain; the two trails interweave and cross four times in the first seven miles.
1.4 miles to Owen Vista
Mile 1.4
Owen Vista
An early overlook on the shared BMT/AT corridor near Springer Mountain.
5.6 miles to Long Creek Falls
Mile 7.0
Long Creek Falls
The point where the BMT and AT finally part ways after four crossings in the first seven miles; a 0.1-mile side trail reaches the falls.
1.2 miles to The Bald
Mile 8.2
The Bald
6.6 miles to Toccoa River Bridge (Swinging Bridge)
Mile 14.8
1,913 ft
Toccoa River Bridge (Swinging Bridge)
A 270-foot suspension footbridge over the Toccoa River, one of the BMT's most photographed crossings.
5.3 miles · 1,181 ft up to Wallalah Overlook
Mile 20.1
3,094 ft
Wallalah Overlook
3.2 miles to Rhodes Overlook
Mile 23.3
Rhodes Overlook
14.2 miles to Shallowford Bridge
Mile 37.5
1,775 ft
Shallowford Bridge
Road crossing at Aska Road; the BMT store sits across the bridge here.
3.8 miles to Fall Branch Falls
Mile 41.3
Fall Branch Falls
10.0 miles to Indian Rock Shelter
Mile 51.3
Indian Rock Shelter
19.4 miles to Pinhoti Trail Northern Terminus (junction)
Mile 70.7
Pinhoti Trail Northern Terminus (junction)
Junction with the Pinhoti Trail, which continues southwest into Alabama.
10.8 miles to Double Spring Gap (Georgia/Tennessee state line)
Mile 81.5
3,185 ft
Double Spring Gap (Georgia/Tennessee state line)
The BMT crosses from Georgia into Tennessee here.
1.3 miles · 1,039 ft up to Big Frog Mountain
Mile 82.8
4,224 ft
Big Frog Mountain
The Cohutta/Big Frog Wilderness high point (4,224 ft) the BMT skirts on its way toward the Georgia-Tennessee line.
9.2 miles · 3,529 ft down to Ocoee River
Mile 92.0
695 ft
Ocoee River
A dramatic river crossing on the way toward the Tennessee/North Carolina boundary ridge.
13.8 miles to Lost Creek
Mile 105.8
Lost Creek
4.1 miles to Hiwassee River / Reliance, TN
Mile 109.9
769 ft
Hiwassee River / Reliance, TN
Second of the trail's dramatic river crossings, near the small resupply town of Reliance.
4.7 miles · 106 ft up to Narrows
Mile 114.6
875 ft
Narrows
33.3 miles to Upper Bald River Falls
Mile 147.9
Upper Bald River Falls
5.2 miles to Tellico River
Mile 153.1
808 ft
Tellico River
6.0 miles · 1,287 ft up to Sycamore Creek
Mile 159.1
2,095 ft
Sycamore Creek
1.7 miles · 2,832 ft up to Whigg Meadow
Mile 160.8
4,927 ft
Whigg Meadow
7.9 miles · 336 ft up to Bob Bald
Mile 168.7
5,263 ft
Bob Bald
1.4 miles · 2,251 ft down to Naked Ground
Mile 170.1
3,012 ft
Naked Ground
1.4 miles · 2,233 ft up to Hangover
Mile 171.5
5,245 ft
Hangover
A bald summit in the Citico Creek/Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock area known for 360-degree views.
8.8 miles · 4,098 ft down to Tapoco Lodge
Mile 180.3
1,147 ft
Tapoco Lodge
Popular hiker stop on US 129 for food, lodging and resupply.
9.8 miles · 673 ft up to Fontana Village
Mile 190.1
1,820 ft
Fontana Village
Resupply village near Fontana Dam; the general store also hosts the kiosk hikers use to register for GSMNP backcountry campsites.
4.5 miles · 104 ft down to Fontana Dam / Fontana Lake
Mile 194.6
1,716 ft
Fontana Dam / Fontana Lake
The BMT and AT meet again near here, roughly 180 miles after parting at Long Creek Falls, just before both trails enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
4.2 miles to Entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mile 198.8
Entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The BMT follows a course close to Fontana Lake with lakeside camping (permit required) before climbing toward Mount Sterling.
7.3 miles to Calhoun House and Hazel Creek
Mile 206.1
1,669 ft
Calhoun House and Hazel Creek
Historic homesite along Hazel Creek inside the park.
23.0 miles · 377 ft up to Tunnel to Nowhere (Road to Nowhere)
Mile 229.1
2,046 ft
Tunnel to Nowhere (Road to Nowhere)
An unfinished road tunnel, a well-known curiosity along the Lakeshore Trail section of the BMT.
7.5 miles · 377 ft down to Noland Creek
Mile 236.6
1,669 ft
Noland Creek
43.6 miles · 4,173 ft up to Mount Sterling (BMT high point) Fire Tower
Mile 280.2
5,842 ft
Mount Sterling (BMT high point) Fire Tower
At 5,842 feet, the BMT's highest point, topped by a historic fire lookout tower with wraparound Smokies views.
7.4 miles · 4,215 ft down to Big Creek (Northern Terminus)
Mile 287.6
1,627 ft
Big Creek (Northern Terminus)
Entry point: the permit is issued for this trailhead
The BMT's northern terminus, near Big Creek Campground and the Standing Bear Farm hostel close to Davenport Gap on the Appalachian Trail.
Getting a BMT Thru-Hike for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. BMT Thru-Hike dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations. They return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag checks BMT Thru-Hike around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.