Just when we thought spring was right around the corner, Mother Nature decided she wanted it to be cold again. While we're waiting for it to warm up, we need to start looking at the trails we want to explore when the time comes. This trail in North Carolina will not only lead you up to some amazing views, but you can pick blueberries along the way. The Forney Ridge Trail to Andrew's Bald is the perfect spring hike because it isn't too strenuous.The hike round trip is only 1.8 miles so you can spend just a little bit of your day here and still have hours to explore the surrounding areas. Andrew's Bald is the highest bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so it's worth a trip. This hike is in the same area as Clingman's Dome, so you can hit two incredible spots at once. View this post on Instagram Here’s to new seasons, a new sunrise, the dawn.✨ A post shared by RAEANN STRICKLAND (@raeann.strickland) on Nov 11, 2019 at 4:04pm PST To get to the spectacular views, you have to first hike up Forney Ridge Trail. You'll hike through a dense forest and gain elevation fairly quickly so go at your own pace! It also can get pretty muddy so prepare for that as well. Most tourists go straight to Clingmans Dome, so you will probably get lucky by not having to share the trail with anyone else. This means you can hike it as fast or as slow as your heart desires. View this post on Instagram "Forest Ablaze" We returned to this location because we didn't use a tripod the first time and you can't fix blurry! #greatsmokymountainsphotography #appalachianphotography #hikethesmokies #blueridgemountains #landscapephotography A post shared by John Morgan (@morgan.morganphoto) on Nov 16, 2019 at 4:44am PST Once you get to the bald, you'll see mountaintops for miles. This area is massive and flat, so you can sit down and have a picnic while you have the most picturesque backdrop. During the summer months, blueberries and raspberries grow along this trail and you can pick them yourself. The peak season is in June and July, but you'll still see them blooming during the spring. View this post on Instagram When I’m among the trees, I feel most free🦅 A post shared by Brooke Kading (@b.kading) on Sep 17, 2019 at 3:18pm PDT If you ever find yourself in this great state, you need to go outdoors and explore what North Carolina has to offer. This is also one hike that you can enjoy any time of the year, so whenever you visit, you need to check it out. Andrew's Bald Price: Free Address: 107 Park Headquarters Rd., Gatlinburg, TN Why You Need To Go: This trail will take you to a huge bald with insane mountain views. Website
