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Revised Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:33:37 -0400 (598 falls, 244 arches, 246 lakes, 29 rocks, 17 balds, 13 peaks). Corrections and additions welcomed.

This site has GPS waypoints (latitude/longitude WGS84) and maps to interesting landforms in Tennessee. Some of these landforms are on private property, get permission first. Other formations are diffcult to access because they are off-trail. Many of the locations for waterfalls and lakes were harvested from the USGS database (also see wayhoo.com). WARNING: Some of the waypoints are extrapolated from descriptions or trail maps (class B1 data). Many of the waypoints are from site visits with GPS. Over time, more of the sites will be visited and waypoints verified. Sites whose location are particularly "uncertain" are noted with "?". Many of the sites do not have "official" names. Get out and enjoy the natural wonders of Tennessee!

Maps of the landforms include Maptech, Rand McNally, google maps, yvanovich.com, and TerraServer satellite/aerial images, and Mapquest. For some formations there are also pictures and additional information. Topozone and the USGS topo maps use CONUS 1927 datum, which can be more than 200m off (north-south) from WGS84 for UTM, but is typically only 7m off for latitude/longitude in Tennessee. (Here is a web-based datum/UTM conversion utility.) There is also a clickable map that displays the locations of waterfalls, natural bridges, etc. all on the same map, or a Google locator map select address or click on map.

Waypoints

Download waypoints (WGS84)

Download these waypoint files (.gpx) and use EasyGPS (free) to upload the waypoints from your PC to your GPS. Maptech .mxf waypoint files are also provided, CSV format. These files are continually being updated, so be sure you have downloaded the latest version. Last revised Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:33:37 -0400

waterfalls gpx waypoints or mxf arches gpx waypoints or mxf rock formations gpx waypoints or mxf peaks gpx waypoints or mxf balds gpx waypoints or mxf lakes gpx waypoints or mxf other gpx waypoints or mxf download landform waypoints by county GSMNP landforms TN/NC waypoints gpx or mxf send to Garmin GPS GSMNP campsite TN/NC waypoints gpx or mxf send to Garmin GPS BSF landforms TN/KY waypoints gpx or mxf send to Garmin GPS county high points     gpx or mxf lookout towers     gpx or mxf send to Garmin GPS Appalachian Trail shelters     gpx or mxf send to Garmin GPS

These are just plain-text files, so you can easily harvest latitude/longitude values for your own purposes. The waypoint names consist of a county abbreviation, landform type, and count within the county. See the links below for software for uploading/downloading and viewing the waypoints on a single map. ( the need for accurate directions humor)

As if you didn't have enough maps to choose from already, this clickable state map will show arches, waterfalls, etc. all on a single scalable map. Also, USAPhotoMaps (shareware) will display multiple waypoints on the same topo or aerial image. See the commercial GPS/mapping products below, too.

Related information

Links

Tennessee

• natural areas and national natural landmarks
• state parks and downloadable GIS data for state parks
• greenways and parks TennGreen.org
• state forests
• wildlife management areas
• geology
• caves 9100+ (latitude/longitude) caves-per-county map
• rivers (latitude/longitude) and stream flows or stream flow map
• TN river/lake navigation charts
• NPS TN rivers and state scenic rivers
• national wildlife refuges
• national wilderness areas
• Bowater pocket wilderness areas

Maps
tn geospatial GIS data or TN GIS data and UT's TN map info
maps of national parks in Tennessee
clickable (zoom/pan) GSMNP trail map and interactive 1931 park map
clickable USGS quadrangle map of GSMNP, zoom/pan
our clickable TN map/location selector or Google locator map select by address or click on map
Google map with distance and elevation tools or google map with profiles and contours or another google maps nexrad
GSMNP park maps (pdf's) '03
smoky mountains topo maps
TN USGS 7.5 topo quad maps by county
National Geographic TrailSmart topo CD , trail maps on topo, GPS-ready for BSF and GSMNP.
TN county maps pdf and state hiways gif (3 MB)
TWRA maps WMA's, some lakes
East TN landform map and WorldAtlas Tennessee landforms
historical maps of the Great Smoky Mountains
TN geologic maps
TN historical maps
geographic center of Tennessee and waymark
3-D fly thru maps Cades Coves, TN river gorge, Albright Grove
My Google maps     arches     falls     GSMNP     BSF     towers     AT shelters     greenways
gpsvisualizer view your GPS files on Google map

Google Earth KML files based on our waypoints:    TN waterfalls falls.kmz and arches arches.kmz    Big South Fork landforms bsf.kmz    Smoky Mountains landforms gsmnp.kmz or campsites camp.kmz or trails.kmz trails (2/22/08)    TN lookout towers towers.kmz    Appalachian Trail shelters atshelters.kmz    Oak Ridge greenways gw.kmz

Google Earth has the Smoky Mountain Park trails built-in (though inaccurate and incomplete), you can also download KML files for the Smoky Mountains trails trails.kmz, or Appalachian Trail (4 MB) or the Big South Fork trails (0.5 MB). Also, here is a topographic map overlay.

Books
Plumb's Waterfalls of Tennessee ratings, directions (200 falls)
McDade's Natural Arches of the Big South Fork (10+ in TN)
Corgan/Parks Natural Bridges of Tennessee 1979 bulletin (36+)
Barr's Caves of Tennessee (700+) 1961 bulletin
books about exploring Tennessee
Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide Skelton, 2005
The Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Tennessee Mountains, online, trail info, history
Manning, 100 Trails of the Big South Fork
Manning 40 Hikes in Tennessee's South Cumberland
Manning The Historic Cumberland Plateau
Means Hiking Tennesse Trails
Smoky Mountain Hiking Trails trail narratives, elevation profiles, map
Murless/Stallings Hiker's Guide to the Smokies
Wise Hiking Trails of the Great Smoky Mountains
Roark Hiking Tennessee

GPS info

• GPS info, products, software, how GPS works, ...
• UT's GPS info
• using UTM with your GPS and topo maps
• Backpacker.com using GPS
• comparison of GPS-aware topo maps/software cd's, not reviewed but good (except for missing pieces of maps) and based on gpx-format are expertgps and topofusion
• free/shareware USAPhotoMaps or EasyGPS or lostoutdoors.com or GPS TrackMaker or GPS Utility
• gpx schema v1.1
• GPS accuracy SA, WAAS
• gpx the GPS exchange format
• Trimble's free GPS planning software satellite positions, DOP, etc.
• travelbygps.com
• geocaching.com -- learn about geocaching
• Tennessee geocaches or TN state geocache map or Buxley's TN cache map and stats
• Tennessee earth caches
• USGS landforms and features by county with maps and latitude/longitude
• wayhoo's TN USGS waypoints (save as .gpx)
• TN Cliffs, Forests, Gaps, Parks, Ridges, Summits, Trails from USGS and TN county high points
• GMapToGPX convert google maps data to gpx
• handy datum/UTM converter and gpsbabel waypoint file conversion
• Convert gpx to kml for Google Earth
• the need for accurate directions humor
• in TN a degree of latitude is about 69 miles, and a degree of longitude is about 56 miles (varies with latitude). great circle calculator

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visitors since 12/20/02
© Tom Dunigan 2002
Last modified: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:33:37 -0400 548801

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