That trail in the Smokies I hiked 15 years ago is barely recognizable now

I went back to the Laurel Falls area last month for the first time since 2009. The old gravel path I remember is now paved almost the whole way, with railings and signs every few feet. I get it, too many people were getting hurt and eroding the hillside, but it felt like walking through a park instead of a real trail. My boots made this weird hollow sound on the pavement the whole time. I was hoping to find that quiet spot by the creek where I used to filter water, but it's all roped off with a "stay on trail" sign. I guess I learned that sometimes the best routes are the ones nobody maintains anymore. Has anyone else gone back to an old favorite and found it completely different?

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby_jones1mo agoMost Upvoted

Everything's getting sanitized for the masses these days.

knight.dylan1mo ago

Respectfully, paved trails keep the mountains from getting destroyed by millions of boots.

spencer7821mo ago

Yeah, Dylan's got a point for sure. Paving and railings are basically the price we pay for letting everyone visit without turning the whole place into a mud pit. It's a bummer when your old secret spot becomes a tourist highway, but at least it's still there for the next generation to ruin, I mean enjoy. I guess the real trick is finding those forgotten side trails that nobody bothers to maintain where you can still get that wild feeling. Did you ever explore any of the unmarked paths branching off the main drag?