The Great Smoky Mountain National Park Area
Sightseeing
Bike Through Cades Cove
Of all the things to do around Gatlinburg, the most popular is a visit to Cades Cove. This beautiful little mountain valley is tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and was once a thriving community. A number of rustic log cabins, cantilever barns, and grist mills are still preserved which gives Cades Cove a quaint air of times past.
An 11-mile one-way loop runs through Cades Cove allowing you to tour it by car, bicycle, or on foot. Because Cades Cove is so popular, you can expect there to be lots of traffic during the summer months and in the fall when the leaves are changing color around Gatlinburg.
The best way to see Cades Cove is, without a doubt, by bicycle. The Cades Cove loop road allows only bicycles (and foot traffic) before 10:00am on Saturday mornings and Wednesday mornings from May to September.
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Bike Through Cades Cove
Of all the things to do around Gatlinburg, the most popular is a visit to Cades Cove. This beautiful little mountain valley is tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and was once a thriving community. A number of rustic log cabins, cantilever barns, and grist mills are still preserved which gives Cades Cove a quaint air of times past.
An 11-mile one-way loop runs through Cades Cove allowing you to tour it by car, bicycle, or on foot. Because Cades Cove is so popular, you can expect there to be lots of traffic during the summer months and in the fall when the leaves are changing color around Gatlinburg.
The best way to see Cades Cove is, without a doubt, by bicycle. The Cades Cove loop road allows only bicycles (and foot traffic) before 10:00am on Saturday mornings and Wednesday mornings from May to September.
See the View from Clingman’s Dome
From Newfound Gap you can continue heading up the windy mountain road to Clingman’s Dome. At 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. From the Clingman’s Dome parking lot, it’s a half-mile walk on a paved trail to the top of the mountain where a long spiraling concrete ramp leads up to an observation deck from which you can enjoy the spectacular views. On a clear day, you can enjoy up to 100 miles of visibility from the top of Clingman’s Dome.
The 23-mile drive to Clingman’s Dome from downtown Gatlinburg can take over an hour with traffic so make sure you plan accordingly. There is also limited parking at the top. It’s best to arrive early in the day so you’re not stuck waiting for a parking spot.
Clingman’s Dome Winter Road Closure:
The final 7-mile stretch of road to Clingman’s Dome is closed from December 1st until March 31st. It may also be closed if there has been recent snowfall or cold temperatures. In the winter, there is significantly more snow at this elevation than there is in Gatlinburg.
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See the View from Clingman’s Dome
From Newfound Gap you can continue heading up the windy mountain road to Clingman’s Dome. At 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. From the Clingman’s Dome parking lot, it’s a half-mile walk on a paved trail to the top of the mountain where a long spiraling concrete ramp leads up to an observation deck from which you can enjoy the spectacular views. On a clear day, you can enjoy up to 100 miles of visibility from the top of Clingman’s Dome.
The 23-mile drive to Clingman’s Dome from downtown Gatlinburg can take over an hour with traffic so make sure you plan accordingly. There is also limited parking at the top. It’s best to arrive early in the day so you’re not stuck waiting for a parking spot.
Clingman’s Dome Winter Road Closure:
The final 7-mile stretch of road to Clingman’s Dome is closed from December 1st until March 31st. It may also be closed if there has been recent snowfall or cold temperatures. In the winter, there is significantly more snow at this elevation than there is in Gatlinburg.
Laurel Falls (2.6 miles roundtrip): The hike to Laurel Falls is one of the most popular in the park. The entire trail is paved so you’ll find it’s possible even for those with limited mobility. This hike does get crowded so it’s best to do it early in the morning or right before sunset.
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Laurel Falls (2.6 miles roundtrip): The hike to Laurel Falls is one of the most popular in the park. The entire trail is paved so you’ll find it’s possible even for those with limited mobility. This hike does get crowded so it’s best to do it early in the morning or right before sunset.
Grotto Falls (2.8 miles roundtrip): Grotto Falls is a popular hike that is also relatively short and easy and is also on a well-maintained trail. This beautiful hike takes you directly behind a waterfall for a breathtaking experience.
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Grotto Falls
Trillium Gap TrailGrotto Falls (2.8 miles roundtrip): Grotto Falls is a popular hike that is also relatively short and easy and is also on a well-maintained trail. This beautiful hike takes you directly behind a waterfall for a breathtaking experience.
Chimney Tops (3.3 miles roundtrip): The Chimney Tops trail is one of the Smokies’ most iconic hikes. It’s a short hike and offers amazing views at the top, but don’t be fooled by the relatively short distance this hike covers. The last mile has an elevation gain of over 800 feet making it a strenuous climb to the top. The Chimney Tops themselves were closed after the huge Gatlinburg fire of 2016, but a new viewing platform has been built where the trail currently ends.
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Chimney Tops (3.3 miles roundtrip): The Chimney Tops trail is one of the Smokies’ most iconic hikes. It’s a short hike and offers amazing views at the top, but don’t be fooled by the relatively short distance this hike covers. The last mile has an elevation gain of over 800 feet making it a strenuous climb to the top. The Chimney Tops themselves were closed after the huge Gatlinburg fire of 2016, but a new viewing platform has been built where the trail currently ends.
Alum Cave (4.4 miles roundtrip): One of our favorite hikes in the Smokies, the Alum Cave trail starts on Newfound Gap Road and follows Alum Cave Creek before heading up towards Mount LeConte. You’ll hike through a rock tunnel known as Arch Rock, and at the end of your hike you’ll reach Alum Cave which is actually an 80-foot tall concaved bluff you can rest under before heading back down.
Alum Cave
Alum Cave (4.4 miles roundtrip): One of our favorite hikes in the Smokies, the Alum Cave trail starts on Newfound Gap Road and follows Alum Cave Creek before heading up towards Mount LeConte. You’ll hike through a rock tunnel known as Arch Rock, and at the end of your hike you’ll reach Alum Cave which is actually an 80-foot tall concaved bluff you can rest under before heading back down.
Charles Bunion (8 miles roundtrip): This hike starts at the Newfound Gap parking lot. From there, it follows the Appalachian Trail east for 4 miles to a rocky outcrop known as Charles Bunion. This strenuous hike is worth the reward of the spectacular views at Charles Bunion as well as at several other points along your hike.
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Charlies Bunion
Charles Bunion (8 miles roundtrip): This hike starts at the Newfound Gap parking lot. From there, it follows the Appalachian Trail east for 4 miles to a rocky outcrop known as Charles Bunion. This strenuous hike is worth the reward of the spectacular views at Charles Bunion as well as at several other points along your hike.
Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is one of the most popular drives through the national park. This one-way loop is only 5.5 miles long, but it is a narrow winding road with lots of places you’ll want to stop to explore and take pictures. Most people take around 2 hours to drive through the entire trail.
For the best experience, it’s best to stop at one of the park’s visitor centers beforehand to pick up the National Park Service’s guidebook to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. It’s only $1 and contains information on the flora and fauna of this area, as well as the history of the community that existed here before it was displaced by the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Towards the second half of the drive, you’ll encounter log cabins, grist mills, and a church that are all very well-preserved and quite interesting to visit. You’ll also drive past the Place of a Thousand Drips which is one of only two waterfalls in the national park that you can drive to.
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Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Roaring Fork Motor Nature TrailDrive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is one of the most popular drives through the national park. This one-way loop is only 5.5 miles long, but it is a narrow winding road with lots of places you’ll want to stop to explore and take pictures. Most people take around 2 hours to drive through the entire trail.
For the best experience, it’s best to stop at one of the park’s visitor centers beforehand to pick up the National Park Service’s guidebook to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. It’s only $1 and contains information on the flora and fauna of this area, as well as the history of the community that existed here before it was displaced by the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Towards the second half of the drive, you’ll encounter log cabins, grist mills, and a church that are all very well-preserved and quite interesting to visit. You’ll also drive past the Place of a Thousand Drips which is one of only two waterfalls in the national park that you can drive to.
Food scene
The Heavenly Roast
3637 Wears Valley RoadBest coffee in town