This hike is challenging and not for the faint of heart. It is not dog friendly because it's in the Smokies. The entire hike is pretty much straight up but it's a great view at the top and an even better workout.

I would recommend doing this in the shoulder seasons to avoid the humidity and heat exhaustion since there isn't a ton of water access on this one. Bears are common in the smokies so make sure to bring bear spray and make noise while on the trail.

There's a decent amount of parking in the area since this is at the Deep Creek Entrance. You need to pay a nominal fee for the parking in the Smokies - you can pay at the kiosk when you get there by the picnic area.