From one of the most popular swimming holes in the Smokies to a majestic waterfall and more, Meigs Creek Trail has plenty to offer in terms of diverse scenery and unique experiences. Find out more about what awaits you throughout this lovely hike and learn how you can make the most of your time around… Read more »
Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is allowed year-round, every day, from 30 minutes before until 30 minutes after official sunrise and sunset respectively. The park is one of the last habitats in the eastern US for wild trout. The park doesn’t stock fish, but with almost 3,000 miles of running water throughout… Read more »
Camping is abundant in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the options range from rugged to luxurious. Full information on the variety of options and campsites can be found at the park’s website. Here’s our quick guide to all your options. Backcountry camping involves hiking to a camp site located deep in the park away… Read more »
In a region defined by its rolling peaks and captivating scenery, Mount LeConte holds a special place for many visitors to the Smoky Mountains. While its summit is not quite the tallest point in the range, Mount LeConte is enjoyed for the numerous hiking opportunities that surround it. The trails offer a plethora of excellent… Read more »
Fern Branch Falls is a beautiful 50-foot waterfall that lies along Porters Creek Trail, which is a moderately difficult 4-mile round-trip (2 miles each way) hike in the eastern part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trail features some wonderful natural scenery and is one of the less traveled trails that you can drive… Read more »
Rich Mountain Road offers an alternative way to leave Cades Cove if you want to take a break from the traffic. It’s a one-way, 7-mile journey on a twisting gravel road that leads to Townsend. The road winds through quiet forest that often features excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature photography…Read more »
Waterfalls are one of the most popular sights to visit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re in the mood for discovery, one of the hidden gems of the park requires a short – but tricky – hike with some beautiful views, on a less well known trail that leads to a stunningly beautiful waterfall. This is Spruce Flats Falls trail…Read more »
Abrams Falls is a beautiful natural water feature in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located near the popular Cades Cove area. Getting there requires a moderately difficult hike, but the path covers some tranquil wilderness in the park that gives you a true sense of the Smokies. And the reward is one of the most… Read more »
From the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area you can access the Metcalf Bottoms trail, which is an easy-to-moderate hike that goes 1.5 miles out and back (3 miles round trip) and should be passable for almost all members of the family. The trail meanders along the river and provides views of some of the classic rolling… Read more »
Even in an area known for its abundance of beautiful waterfalls, Ramsey Cascades stands out as one of the premier attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains. Not only are the falls themselves the tallest in the park and among the most beautiful, but the hiking trail that takes you there is a worthy experience all… Read more »
One of the premier hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Alum Cave Trail. This popular trail features dramatic views and unique natural features, and culminates in a vista at Alum Cave Bluffs that will give you memories for life, and will leave you wanting to return. Enjoy a challenging and rewarding hike… Read more »
Mouse Creek Falls stands at 45-feet high, and showcases gentle cascades of mountain water coming down an impressive rock face. It features an easy trail and a nice swimming hole along the way. You’ll be treated to some spectacular views of this natural beauty, so be sure to bring a camera to get some memorable… Read more »
The twin peaks of Chimney Tops present some of the finest panoramic views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Chimney Tops trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, and yet it’s not exactly easy. Although fairly short, the trail is very steep and quite challenging, but the rewards are what people… Read more »
Curry Mountain Trail is a moderate, 3.3-mile (6.6 mi round trip) hiking trail near the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trail is known for its solitude and copious wildflowers, and it is worth checking out if you are looking for a quiet hike in the wilderness. Embark on a… Read more »
Hen Wallow Falls and the Gabes Mountain Trail that lead out to it are located near Cosby, TN, a beautiful section of the northeastern area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of the main benefits of this area is that it is generally a little less crowded than some of the more popular spots… Read more »
The Tremont area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a beautiful place to drive, hike, fish, swim and simply enjoy the outstanding natural scenery and the quiet. There are many destinations and points of interest within the area, each one in itself enough to make memories to take away from your visit. Tremont Road… Read more »
Elkmont Campground is the largest tent and RV campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and also the closest to Gatlinburg, 8 miles away. The campground is also beautiful, in a gorgeous setting. With the Little River and Jakes Creek running through it, Elkmont offers some riverfront camp sites out of its 220 pads for… Read more »
The Greenbrier area is a less visited part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park that offers captivatingly beautiful views, and water to play in or simply gaze at, all in a peaceful and heavily forested setting. Greenbrier Road is an easy access from central Gatlinburg, but rapidly plunges deep into the forest silence broken only… Read more »
The Cosby area on the eastern side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park doesn’t get as much attention as some of the park’s more world-famous landmarks, but people who explore this scenic wonderland like it that way. Many of the star attractions of Cosby, such as the Cosby Picnic Area and various hiking trails, see… Read more »
Indian Flats Falls is a captivating destination, with a fairly easy hike alongside a creek, cascades and bridges along the way, and a beautiful, four-tier cascading waterfall that drops modestly a total of 60 feet across all the tiers. Indian Flats Falls has a distinctive beauty that makes it a destination worth visiting. This is… Read more »
Baskins Creek Falls is a less visited waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at the end of a 1.5-mile one-way, moderate hiking trail. It’s a great waterfall to visit if you prefer avoiding crowds and are willing to do some hiking, but the trip itself requires some planning. Hike to one of the lesser… Read more »
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 black bears in the wild. With ten million human visitors each year, the park pulls off a remarkable feat keeping the wildlife wild, and the humans tame – so we guests in the park don’t damage the animals, their well being or their habitat. Everyone… Read more »
Here are some suggested trails for winter hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This offers snow and ice in comparatively mild temperatures with accessible trails ranging from dead easy to challenging, and great scenery to traverse through, with visibility enhanced from the lack of leaves on most of the trees. The park is open… Read more »
Clingmans Dome is a spectacular attraction in the Smoky Mountains. This 6,643 foot mountain towers over the landscape and commands views that you simply can’t experience anywhere else in the park. …Read more »
Festivals happen all year in the Smoky Mountains area of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, and hundreds of thousands of people plan their visits according to particular events and seasonal activities. Here’s a calendar of seasonal festivities to help you plan your stay…Read more »
In Pigeon Forge there’s one show you don’t want to miss and it’s Country Tonite. The spectacular show features a variety of song, choreography, comedy and costume, impressive for the sheer quality of the talented performances and the seamless flow of the fast-paced, dynamic show…Read more »
Try some Southern entertainment, Pigeon Forge style, at dinner shows featuring some of the nation’s top performers. Here’s a sample of what to expect. Can the Hatfields and McCoys finally solve their differences after all of these years feuding with each other? Probably not, but one thing is guaranteed – everyone in your family will… Read more »
Billed as the Smokies’ Most Fun Place to Eat, Dolly Parton’s Stampede is a restaurant and show like no other. Watch as 32 magnificent horses and a cast of top-notch riders thrill you with daring feats of trick riding and friendly competition, all culminating in a patriotic salute of Red, White, and Blue! Read more »
Almost everyone knows about the many great music shows that play in theaters in the Smokies, but fewer people are aware that there is plenty of world-class comedy to be found here as well. Check out some of the following options for shows that will have you doubled over in laughter on your next Smoky… Read more »
The towns and theaters of the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains area are home to many types of world-class entertainment, and fantastic magic shows are no exception. Here are some of the most notable and popular magic shows in the area so you can start planning the magical entertainment for your next visit. Impossibilities:… Read more »
Quality entertainment, big laughs and solid productions aptly describe the dinner theater scene down in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. You and your friends and family simply can’t afford to miss some of the top-notch performances you’ll find here. But when it comes to family-friendly comedy, one venue in particular stands out: The Comedy Barn… Read more »
Array is a fast-paced variety show that runs the gamut of specialty acts ranging from comedy to juggling, acrobatics, high-wire, quick-change, ventriloquism, song and dance. The family-friendly show offers a high-energy spectacular with a Cirque de Soleil feel of extravaganza, and the talent is as good as anywhere in the country. Top-rated local performers combine… Read more »
Each year starting in March and going into April, Dollywood stages its month-long celebration of world music, food, culture and entertainment known as Festival of Nations. Reminding us that around the world, “we all smile in the same language,” Dollywood seeks out and hosts top talent acts from different countries in a lavish smorgasbord of… Read more »
Springtime in the Smoky Mountains is a nature lover’s paradise. Two major events occur in April and May, centered around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These are the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, based in the national park close to Gatlinburg, followed by the annual Wilderness Wildlife week, based in Pigeon Forge…Read more »
2023 INFO: A Mountain Quiltfest this year is June 5-8. Most everything is free and open to the public but many things require registration at the website (see below). Registration this year opens March 7. Every year in the latter part of March – now in June – the city of Pigeon Forge plays host… Read more »
In early March of each year, two events occur, usually right together and frequently on the same weekend. You have to choose – or juggle – between magic and comedy, as Gatlinburg hosts a comedy improv festival and Pigeon Forge hosts a magic convention. The Winter Carnival of Magic happens in the world-class setting… Read more »
