Icewater Spring Shelter — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I have stayed at this shelter a few times, and it has not changed much the last three or four times I went. The main difference was the time of year and the ability to see past the trees. During December when I went, you can see much more than I could this time because of the foliage. Another great thing about staying at this shelter during late summer is that there are fewer people staying there. I have stayed at this shelter when there were over a dozen people, some of them sleeping right beside you Not only are you sleeping beside a stranger, but you also have to hear his/her snoring, plus the snoring and groans of several other people. Make sure to carry a good sleeping pad since you will be sleeping on a wooden platform. One of the good things about this shelter during the summer is that you don’t have to carry your zero degree sleeping bag to be comfortable. However, don’t make the mistake of taking a summer sleeping bag either. I’m not sure of the elevation, but it is close to a mile or higher and the temperatures at night usually run in the fifties. Another good thing is that when you wake up in the morning, you can see the morning light without having to unzip a tent door or open any other door. The view from the platform is pretty nice. Make sure to take a water filter since the only fresh water is from a pipe in the ground about a couple of hundred feet away. There is a shelf under the shelter for cooking or eating, but make sure you don’t leave scraps for the critters, including mice, which will be present while you are there. This shelter is extremely popular during late spring when thru-hikers are on their way to Maine along the Appalachian Trail. Unless you are a thru-hiker, the main attraction is Charlie’s Bunion, which is less than a mile away on a side trail. When I went in December, nobody could reach the Bunion because of the ice. This time, it was perfect weather, and the views from Charlie’s Bunion were absolutely spectacular. I have been before when clouds prevented anybody from getting a good view. I highly recommend Icewater Spring Shelter, especially if you can make it to Charlie’s Bunion. Although the only facility is a pit toilet, it is well worth it.

This is really an incredible camping site. The shelter is well maintained and they have taken all the COVID precautions. Another feature of this shelter that is really special is the composting toilet bathroom. They built an entire stall to help with waste buildup at the site. The shelter itself is very large and has a bench for sleeping on along with a fireplace to keep everyone warm. At the moment they are asking people to sleep outside as a safety precaution but in the future, this is a wonderful communal place to sleep. This is a very busy trail and highly trafficked but still worth the stay. If you are considering this site though make sure to book it early cause it can get full. Finally, I would suggest visiting all the small side trails along the way since the views are incredible!!!!

Great shelter to stay in especially if you are only hiking in for the night. The shelter is three sides with wooden planks to sleep on. There is a composting toilet and bear hooks to hang food/packs from. It is a short hike to Charlies bunion which has great views. The shelter can be quite crowded especially when the thru hikers go through in early spring. There is a spring water source to get water from but be prepared to treat the water. It can be difficult to fit a water bottle under the pipe- recommend you bring a small plastic bag to collect the water in and transfer to the water bottle. Overall great shelter with great view of the sunrise in the morning!