The Miry Ridge trails winds along the top of Miry Ridge from its start high on the main spine of the Smokies at the Appalachian Trail down to its end at the junction of the Panther Creek and Jakes Creek trails. Despite its name, it's no muddier than a host of other ridgeline trails in the Smokies. On the day in late April that we chose to do the walk, the ridge was dusted with a light snowfall, and raked by high wind. The photos on this page were shot from the west side of Dripping Springs Mountain, looking further west across the deep valley of the Middle Prong of Little River towards the high crest of Thunderhead Mountain. By climbing to the top of Dripping Springs Mtn., it's possible to get some pretty good views out across the main drainage of Little River and up to the bulk of Clingmans Dome. I've hiked the trail both in mid-summer and during winter months, and it's always been a pleasant walk. I'd suggest using it as part of a point to point from Clingmans Dome to Elkmont, or perhaps an out and back from the Jakes Creek trailhead. Avoid the Lynn Camp Prong and Panther Creek trails, unless you happen to enjoy wading for miles through churned up mud and horse crap. Those are trails that are OK to do once if you wish to join the ranks of the 800 Miles fraternity, but otherwise, they have little to recommend themselves to hikers.

At one time, back in the early 70s, a push was made to build a road from Bryson City to Townsend, Tennessee across the main ridge of the Smokies. The ill-advised thorofare would have plowed down the northern side of the range on Miry Ridge. Only through the hard work and dedication of many people was the boondoggle stopped. If you happen to wander the heights of Miry Ridge someday, be sure to remember the folks that worked so hard to keep it wild.