The Forney Ridge Trail joins the Forney Creek Trail on a 7.6 mile descent from Clingman's Dome to the Jonas Creek Trail. While few might choose this as an out-and-back, it's part of a popular 20.5 mile backcountry loop that continues up to Silers Bald on the Appalachian Trail and back to Clingman's Dome. No matter your route, the Forney Creek Trail is compelling for its passage through several distinct ecotones, a stop at Forney Creek Cascade, light crowds, and several unaided, potentially challenging creek crossings.

Yellow poplar grow fast and straight, contributing to their dominance of second growth forests

Catawba Rhododendron is found over 3,500', distinguished by its purple blooms and smaller leaves

Creek crossings are more swift at lower elevations, a challenge to those with heavy packs

Clingman's Dome is the highest mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and 3rd highest in the eastern US

Camp #68 is located at the base of Forney Creek Cascade, one of the most sought after backcountry sites in the Park

There are over 1,600 flowering plants in the Park, more than any in North America

The banks of Forney Creek below the cascade at site #68

Successive crossings on the lower trail become more voluminous past each tributary

Forney Creek Cascade's high elevation make it a relatively low-flow fall, even during wet periods

The Forney Creek Trail crosses Forney Creek 5 unaided times on its descent from Clingman's Dome

The upper trail is somewhat unkempt, adding to an already difficult climb back to Clingman's Dome

The upper tier of Forney Creek Cascade spills over a rock slick to the second

Grassy slopes below Clingman's Dome are good places top find deer, turkey, and bear

Salamanders exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide through blood vessels in their skin and linings of their mouths and throats