Here’s The Story Behind The Charlies Bunion Mountain Peak In Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Published February 21, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
The Great Smoky Mountains are crisscrossed with incredible hiking trails, some great for wandering the wilderness, others perfect for running or horseback riding. Perhaps one of the most popular hikes is along the famed Appalachian Trail. The trail itself spans 14 states and runs through six national parks, all the way from Maine to Georgia. Although some folks want to hike the famous route in its entirety, you can hike part of it along the Charlies Bunion Trail. It begins at Newfoundland Gap and includes a scenic hike along the famed Appalachian route. If you want to check the Appalachian Trail off your bucket list without spending months wandering its full length, then Charlies Bunion may be your best shot.
It’s a strange name, Charlies Bunion. Most folks scratch their heads, confused at the peculiar moniker. The history of the trail is quite simple but still worth a campfire retelling. Pictured above you can see a rocky outcropping that looks oddly like… a bunion. Can you see it?
Charles W. Connor was a local resident of the Smokies in the early 20th century, and he is attributed with giving the trail its quirky name. It is said that he was out hiking with Horace Kephart, a mountain enthusiast, to inspect the area after a 1929 rainstorm. While they rested along the trail, Charles took off his shoes and socks, Horace exclaimed that the bunion on his foot looked just like a rocky ledge on the trail. In that way, "Charlies Bunion" was born.
Charlies Bunion is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Smokies, mainly for its relationship with the Appalachian Trail, and it can be accessed from the famed Newfound Gap. The hike is over eight miles roundtrip and peaks in elevation at roughly 6,000 feet.
Once you reach the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of both Mount Kephard and Mount Guyot. The rocky protrusion known as the "bunion" is a popular place for folks to take photographs, but make sure you watch your step. The trail is rocky, and a tumble can be scary so far out in the wilderness.
The Charlies Bunion trail runs along the western edge of a series of jagged bluffs known as "The Sawteeth," a narrow shelf of cliffs that connect the Eastern and Central sides of the Great Smoky Mountains. The rocky area makes for a moderately difficult trail, and the out-and-back trek can take the entire day. Make sure you plan accordingly and bring snacks and plenty of water.
Charlies Bunion is open throughout the year and features a stunning bank of wildflowers in the springtime. The trail is best used from April through October, and dogs are not currently allowed.
The trail name may be strange, and the route to the top is difficult, but a hike up Charlies Bunion makes for a fun story to tell around the dinner table. The panoramic views remain unmatched, so much so that you may just forget the trail’s elevation gain.
