Walking Guide

AVA's TRAIL/ROUTE RATING SYSTEM IS MADE OF TWO PARTS

Part 1 – INCLINE/ELEVATION

1 -- Very small hills or very little stair climbing.

2 -- Some moderate hills or stair climbing.

3 -- Some significant hills or stair climbing.

4 -- Lots of significant hills or stair climbing.

5 -- Many steep hills.

Part 2 – TERRAIN

A -- Almost entirely on pavement.

B -- A significant part of the route is on well-groomed trails with very few obstacles.

C -- A significant part of the route is on somewhat difficult terrain (rocky/rooted paths or soft sand).

D -- A significant part of the route is on very difficult terrain.

E -- The majority of the route is on very difficult terrain

For example -- 1A could be an easy walk on pavement, and might be wheelchair accessible.

ACRONYMS

AT = Appalachian Trail

AVA = American Volkssport Association

GSMNP = Great Smoky Mountains National Park

KM = Kilometer / Each Kilometer is equivalent to 0.6214 miles.

M&G = Meet & Greet

MMA = Music, Moonshine and Art

OSB = Online Start Box

PSB = Physical Start Box

SVC = Sugarlands Visitor Center

TBD = To Be Determined

TE = Traditional Event

TGW = Traveling Guided Walk

UT = University of Tennessee

YRE = Year Round Event

TYPES OF AVA WALKS

Members are able to stamp their Distance/Events and Special Program books for the following:

Traditional Events (TE) are walks limited to one or two days with a set start and end time. Register using AVA's OSB ($4 fee) or pay $3 onsite to the ETW's walk leader. Details about local walks hosted by our club are sent via an email as a "Walk Alert" and posted on Meetup.
Traveling Guided Walks (TGW) are done as a group at different locations throughout the year. Pay the $3 to the walk leader. Details about local walks are not on the AVA website, but sent to ETW club members in the "Walk Alerts" and posted on Meetup.
Year Round Events (YRE) can be done as a group or as an individual. The directions and maps can be downloaded from the AVA website using the OSB. Register your walk on the OSB ($4 fee) or pay $3 to the walk leader for the group walk. Our club's group walks are listed with dates on our annual calendar. Details are sent to club members in the "Walk Alerts" and posted on Meetup.

Our club's YRE walks are located in Alcoa, Clinton, Elkmont, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Rogersville, Seven Islands State Birding Park, Townsend and Vonore. Plus, hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee. Information about our club walks and walks in other locations can be viewed on AVA's OSB.

Our club's TGWs have been offered at Abrams Falls, Alcoa Greenway (Clayton Homes Branch), Baxter Gardens, Cades Cove, Concord Park, Cove Lake State Park, Davis Ferry Branch, East Lakeshore Trails, Emory Valley & Martin Lake Greenways, Enterprise South Park, Eureka Rail Trail, Founders Park & Grigsby Chapel Greenway, Hall Bend Trail, Haw Ridge Park, Hiwassee & Ocoee State Park, I.C. King Park, Ijams Nature Center, Indian Boundary Lake, Kahite Neighborhood, Lakeshore Park Greenway, Melton Creek & Emory Valley Greenways, Norris Dam State Park, Northern Boundary, Obed Wild & Scenic River, Panther Creek, Riverwalk Greenway, Sequoyah Hills, Sevierville Greenway, Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park, Ten Mile Creek Greenway, Third Creek Greenway, Urban Wilderness, UT Arboretum, Victor Ashe Park & Pleasant Ridge Greenways, Ware's Bend, West Town Mall, White Oak Sink, and a Wildflower Walk in the GSMNP.

It is obvious, that the club offers a variety of walks. Special thanks to our club officers for all their hard work!

For details about the different Special Programs offered by AVA clubs go to https://cb.ava.org/specprog.php.

Please note:

1. Our events take place unless weather presents a danger to the participants either while walking or getting to the start point. Contact the Club President if you have any concerns.
2. It is important to stay hydrated. Please bring water to drink during ALL walks.
3. If you have not walked in awhile, please do not start off walking the 10K distance, but walk the 5K instead.

Information about events for club members can also be accessed at https://www.groupworks.com/. New members are added to the group when their membership application is processed.

NOTICE: Before visiting the Smoky Mountains, review https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm. Also, check for up-to-date information on road closures due to downed trees, unsafe conditions or special events at https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps. For a view of the weather, check out the camera installed at Newfound Gap at https://www.air-resource.net/grsmnfgap/.

Updated 02/24/24