Forney Creek in the Nolan Creek region of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Nolan Creek Region is located in the south-central area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is an access point for hiking trails and backcountry campsites. You can also reach portions of Fontana Lake from here, though on hiking trails only. The area is accessed by Lakeview Drive, a paved road starting near Bryson City, North Carolina.
HIKING TRAILS
There are many hiking trails in the Nolan Creek Region and over 800 miles of trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is not possible for me to hike all of them, but I did hike a few in each region. At Nolan Creek I made a loop out of five trails, including the Goldmine Loop and Whiteoak Branch trails in their entirety.
Goldmine – Forney Creek – Lakeshore Loop Hike
Easy to very strenuous, 10.5-mile, double loop hike formed from multiple trails in the area: Lakeshore Trail, Whiteoak Branch Trail, Forney Creek Trail, Goldmine Loop Trail, and the Tunnel Bypass Trail.
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Last updated on February 17, 2025
