Avoid the crowds this Memorial Day weekend

May 19, 10:40 AMAtlanta Hiking ExaminerNathan Sears

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Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest (c) Nathan Sears

Memorial Day marks the start of the summer hiking season. The heavy rains of April and early May have typically subsided, the temperature and humidity haven’t reached their unbearable summer peaks, and the mosquitoes are tolerable. With the ideal conditions come the crowds. Campsites and cabins at state and national parks are usually booked far in advance and it is probably the single busiest weekend out on the trail. So where can you go to beat the rush? Here are a few places that might get overlooked this memorial day weekend.

1. Start hiking early. You would be amazed at how few people want to get hiking at 7 am. Okay, maybe you‘re not amazed, but some times the best way to avoid the crowds is to simply get out of the gate first. 
2. Once you start hiking, don’t stop. Ironically one of the easiest ways to beat the crowds is to simply hit the trail. A surprising number of people who visit state and national parks hardly ever leave the side of the road or their campsites. The number of hikers diminish even further the longer you extend your hike. If a hike seems crowded early on just keep hiking.  Typically the crowds will thin out the farther you go.
3. Go as difficult as your abilities allow. It’s not hard to figure out why the most popular and crowded hikes are also the shortest, easiest, and most accessable. If a hike is under two miles and ends at waterfall then you can bet it is going to be crowded. Really want to see that water fall or view? Check to see if there is an alternate route to the top.
4. Avoid State and National Parks. Typically these are your most over-crowded locations. Their high profile’s and the ease of information available make them typical first choices for most car-campers and novice hikers. If you are thinking of making the trip to Tennessee/North Carolina and Smokey Mountains National Park, consider checking out Cherokee or Nantahala National Forest for a Smokey Mountains experience, but hopefully without the crowds.

TIP: Haven't gotten a campsite, yet?  Most National Forest trails, unlike those in National and State Parks, have free, first come first serve campsites along longer hiking trials, some just a few hundred feet from parking areas and restrooms.

5. Section hike a generic version of the Appalachian Trail. Instead of knocking off a few miles of the world famous AT, which is nearly guaranteed to be crowded every weekend let alone Memorial weekend, try a section of one of the southeast’s other great long distance trails. The Benton MacKaye, Duncan Ridge, and Pinhoti Trails are all either completely or partially in Georgia and can give you the same great taste of the southern Appalachians.