This morning started off a little later than planned, thanks to us forgetting about the spring-forward time change! We missed the continental breakfast and had to dash to Starbucks in town before quickly getting ready for our hike to Charlies Bunion. But just as we were driving into the National Park, we found out the road was shut down due to ice from the previous day’s rain. We were so disappointed and didn’t know what to do since none of the other trail options seemed right for the day. I was especially stuck on the idea of Charlies Bunion, so it was hard for me to want to do any other trail.

We were on a tight schedule because if the road didn’t open by a certain time, we knew we wouldn’t have enough time to complete Charlies Bunion, but we also didn’t want to wait around the hotel with no guarantee. Luckily after about an hour the road reopened, and we could finally head out for our hike. We were so relieved because this was one trail we didn’t want to miss! Funny enough, had we not woken up late, we’d have wasted an early start only to wait around anyway!

I have to admit, I was a bit spooked by the ice still covering parts of the road as we made our way up the mountain—thank goodness Jordan was driving! Growing up in Florida, I’m not used to weather like this, so it was a new experience. As we drove deeper into the park, the temperature dropped even more, and the road got icier. We could see snow piled up along the roadside—definitely a sign of the freezing hike we had ahead of us.

Charlies Bunion is a stunning 8-mile out-and-back trail that follows the Appalachian Trail for most of the hike. I had hiked it once before with my friend Lisa (Hi, Lisa!), and we quickly regretted not having micro spikes after we both took some tumbles on the icy patches. This time though, Jordan and I came prepared! I can’t even describe how much worse the conditions were compared to my previous hike. The trail was completely iced over. Without our micro spikes, I honestly don’t think we could’ve made it through.

It was so cold that our hydration pack straws actually froze, but honestly, the weather just added to the magic of the experience. The snow-dusted trees made it feel like we were walking through a true winter wonderland—so different from the sunny Florida life we’re used to. We had a blast snapping photos of the icy landscapes, capturing the snowy branches, and documenting just how incredibly frozen everything was (seriously, you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it!) The viewpoints at the top were amazing too, we even saw a Dark-eyed Junco at the summit as we were eating lunch.

We timed our return perfectly, arriving back at the trailhead right at golden hour. The trailhead sits at Newfound Gap Overlook, offering up some incredible views, so of course, we had to stop for a few more photos. By this point, though, I was absolutely freezing and more than ready to head back to the hotel for a long soak in the hot tub!

Leaving the next day was such a bittersweet moment. We had the most amazing time, and neither of us were ready to say goodbye! I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better trip—it was everything we hoped for and more. I know this Gatlinburg adventure will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we’ve already decided we want to make it an annual anniversary tradition. So, until next time, Gatlinburg—we’ll definitely be back!