Chimney Tops is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. It is a double-capstone knob on the eastern slopes of the Sugarland Mountains, which stretches across a section of the Smoky Mountains.
Chimney Tops Details
This mountain is 4,724 feet above sea level and has chimney-like formations on the ridge. The nearly vertical holes in the tops of the rocks make them look like natural chimney flues, which is why the mountain people named them Chimney Tops.
The Cherokees called the mountain Duniskwalgunyi, which means forked antlers.
As you ride through the mountains early in the morning, you will see what looks like white smoke billowing out of the chimney tops. It looks just like a chimney on a home!
Formation of the Chimney Tops
The chimney tops are half a billion year old! They are one of the few instances of a bare rock summit in the Smokies.
The bedrock is mostly Anakeesta Formation metamorphic rock, like slate, phyllites, and metasiltstone, and they sit on top of even older rock called Thunderhead Sandstone.
The chimney rock is softer than the sandstone which allows the rain, hail, and ice to create the chimney shaped tops.
This bare rock offers very little soil for plants. Only shallow-rooted shrubs and trees can thrive here. Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Red Spruce, and Eastern Hemlock all thrive here.
Hiking Chimney Tops
There is a hiking trail that begins at the chimney top trailhead, about 1.5 miles from the scenic mountain overlook.
This Chimney Top hike leads to a panoramic view of the Sugarland Valley. It is a steep, strenuous hike so be sure to bring plenty of water!
To learn more about this hike, click here
Other Points of Interest in The Area
Other Things To Do In The Area
Our Visit To Chimney Tops
We enjoyed every mile of our motorcycle ride through the Great Smoky Mountains!
Seeing the Chimney Tops from the overview was spectacular. The next morning as we began our ride, we were able to see the white smoke rising out of the valley and it looked just like smoke coming out of the chimney on a house. This was an amazing sight to see!
We also made stops at all the points of interest listed above, and we recommend stopping at them if you get a chance!
Have you been to the Great Smoky Mountains? Leave us a comment on your experience, we’d love to hear about it!
We cannot wait to go and explore more of this area!
