|
Pigeon Forge
Outdoor Adventure Attractions Information
Next door to Pigeon
Forge is one of America’s most visited
national parks, thus outdoor attractions
are a strong draw for tourists visiting
the area.
smoky mountains
| hiking | natural
| climbing
- On-Line
Printable Map -
to top
15 Andrews Bald / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
From this great picnic spot, one
can see the towering mountain ranges
of North Carolina as well as Georgia.
A round-trip hike of 3.6 miles from
the Forney Ridge parking area at
Clingmans Dome makes this one of
the most accessible as well as the
highest bald in the Park
3
Cades Cove / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
Once hunting grounds for the Cherokee
and named for Chief Abrams wife,
the area was originally known as
“Kate’s Cove”. Becoming
a frontier farming community in the
mid 1800s the park bought the property
in the late 1920s. Today Cades Cove
is a living museum, showcasing the
settlers ways of life in homes, barns,
churches and mills as they were left
when the occupants departed the area.
Accessible by car, the one-way Cades
Cove loop is 11 miles around and
may be bisected in two locations
to shorten the trip or to revisit
sites.
21 Charlie's Bunion / Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
Well worth a hike, this 1,000-foot
sheer drop can be found four miles
east along the Appalachian Trail.
Named after a bunion that prevented
Charlie Conner from traveling through
the Gap in 1928, his fellow travelers
thought the bare mountain resembled
his bunion.
17 Chimney Tops / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
An amazing outcrop formation, Chimney
Tops rise almost 2,000 feet and to
the cherokee appeared as “forked
antlers”. The overlook on Newfound
Gap Road is a good place to see the
30-foot deep "flue" in
the right-hand peak, which subsequently
led the local settlers to give the
“chimney” its name.
16
Clingmans Dome / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
The highest peak in the Smokies,
Clingmans Dome stands at 6,642 feet
and is the third highest point east
of the Mississippi. An observation
tower is located 7 miles off Newfound
Gap road, providing stunning views.
6
Laurel Falls / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
Rated easy to moderate, this 2.5
mile trail to the double drop Laurel
Falls is one of the most popular
walks in the park. The falls drop
50 feet from a grove of mountain
laurel and rhododendron into a glorious
pool that is perfect for wading.
The trail divides the falls at the
first pool, from there it continues
to drop another 35 feet before reaching
the bottom.
5
Little River Road / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
A must see car trip, the Little River
Road follows the old logging railroad
bed from the Sugarlands Welcome Center
towards Cades Cove then out of the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
down to Townsend. Hairpin turns follow
and crisscross the Little River down
the mountainside, at each bend in
the road appears a feast for the
eyes. By midday during certain seasons,
drivers may find mega traffic back-ups
along this picturesque little road!
20
Mount LeConte / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
The third highest peak in the park,
over a mile high at 6,593 feet, LeConte
serves as the focal point of the
Park. Two different overlooks at
the summit provide some awesome views.
It’s an amazing day trip with
a choice of five trails that lead
to the summit, they range from 11
to 16 miles round trip.
19
Roaring Fork / Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
Just moments away from downtown Gatlinburg,
the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
takes travelers back in time to the
days when Gatlinburg was White Oak
Flats. A six mile loop follows part
of the original 1850 road bed and
explores the primal forests and three
early 19th-century homesteads of
the Bales and Reagan families who
bravely tried to farm among the boulder
strewn fields.
to top
• Abrams
Falls
- Five mile roundtrip hike from Cades
Cove Loop Road
• Chasteen
Creek Falls
- Four mile roundtrip from Smokemont
Campground
• Hen
Wallow Falls
- Four mile and 1/2 mile roundtrip
from parking area at entrance to
Cosby Campground
• Chimney
Top Trail
- Four mile roundtrip from Newfound
Gap Road (6.7 miles south of Sugarlands
Visitor Center) / Strenuous
• Laurel
Falls Trail
- Four mile roundtrip, trial begins
between Sugarlands Visitor Center
and Elkmont Campground / Moderate
• Grotto
Falls
- Three mile walk off Roaring Fork
/ Easy
• Ramsey
Cascades
- Eight mile roundtrip, take Greenbrier
Entrance into Park from US 321 (east
of Gatlinburg)
• All-Access
Nature Trail -
Wheelchair access on a 1/2 mile paved
loop, 1/2 mile south of Sugarlands
Visitor Center
• Appalachian
Trail
- From parking area at Newfound Gap,
3.4 miles to Indian Gap and back
• Andrews
Bald
- Over three 1/2 mile roundtrip from
upper end of Clingmans Dome Road
/ Rocky
• Mt.
Cammerer Fire Tower
- Eleven mile roundtrip from Cosby
Campground
• Walker
Sisters Farmstead
- Two mile roundtrip from Greenbrier
School
to top
22
Cherokee Indian Reservation
- Cherokee Welcome Center / Route
441 / 1-800-438-1601
There’s lots to do and see here,
indoors and out. Besides the Harrah’s
Cherokee Casino, the reservation
offers tubing down whitewater rivers,
fishing, amusement parks, a panoramic
chairlift and horseback riding. The
Oconaluftee Indian Village is a major
craft center as well as living museum
offering a view of 18th century Indian
life. Another aspect to exploring
the Cherokee experience is the outdoor
drama presentation “Unto These
Hills” which delves into the
Trail of Tears, when the Cherokee
were forced away from their mountain
home and relocated westward into
Oklahoma. / $
14
Forbidden Caverns
- 455 Blowing Cave Road / Sevierville
/ 865-435-5972
Explore the history and development
of this natural wonder. One hour
guided tours through the cavern are
offered daily, views of towering
chimneys, waterfalls, cave onyx and
rock formations are enhanced by special
lighting and stereo sound. / Open
from April through November/ $
12
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Petting
Zoo
- 478 Happy Hollow Lane / Sevierville
/ 865-428-3337
A great up-close adventure for the
whole family, over 150 deer and exotic
animals await to greet visitors.
Feed, pet and see zebra, camels,
kangaroos, reindeer and other unique
animals, there are pony rides for
the little ones as well. / $
2
Tuckaleechee Caverns
- 825 Cavern Road / Townsend / 865-448-2274
Underground waterfalls, streams and
huge rooms eroded from the living
rock are a few of the sights to be
sound at Tuckaleechee. One mile round
trip tours are offered along safe
concrete walkways. / Open from mid-March
to mid-November / $
to top
23
Appalachian Outdoors
- Hartford / 1-866-723-8277
Offering white water rafting trips
for beginners to experienced rafters
along the Big Pigeon and French Broad
Rivers. An experienced guide is in
every boat. / $
1
Davy Crockett Riding Stables
- 505 Old Cades Cove Rd. / Townsend
/ 865-448-2274
Guided mountainous trail rides for
the inexperienced or experienced
horseback rider, 1/2 hour and hourly
rates as well as 1/2 day and overnight
trips by reservation. Open year-round,
Christmas through March by reservation
only. / $
13
Douglas Lake View Stables
- 1650 Providence Road / Sevierville
/ 865-428-3587
Horseback riding stables / $
8
Lil' Ponderosa
- 909 Little Cove Road / Pigeon Forge
/ 865-428-9398
Horseback riding stables / $
11
Mountain Sports Outfitters
- 925 Windfield Dunn Highway / Sevierville
/ 865-429-1029
Offering equipment sales and rentals
for mountain bikes, canoeing and
kayak trips, backpacking and rock
climbing plus trip amps and information.
Fishing on Douglas Lake or river
tube trips are among other options
available at Mountain Sports. / $
18
Rafting in the Smokies
- Highway 321 N / Gatlinburg / 865-436-5008
/ 1-800-PRO-RAFT
Featuring white water trips safe
for 3 year olds to grandparents,
as well as more adventuresome trips
for more experienced paddlers wanting
a challenge. No experience necessary,
rafting trips on the Pigeon, Ocoee,
French Broad and Nantahala rivers.
/ $
24
Rip Roaring Adventures
- Exit 447 off I-40E / Harford Road
/ Hartford / 1-800-449-RAFT
Located directly on the Pigeon River,
this site is the closest “in
the water” white water entry
point from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
The Upper Pigeon River trip is 2
hours long and is geared for rafters
8 years and older. Their Lower Pigeon
River trip is ideal for younger families
with children 4 to 7 years. / $
9
River Quest
- 925 Winfield Dunn Parkway / Sevierville
/ 865-774-1029
River trips down the French Broad
River in canoes or kayaks, great
for the whole family. Sleek fishing
boats and lazy tubing trips are also
on the menu here. / $
4
River Romp
- Townsend / 865-448-9743
Life jacket and tube rentals for
adults and children can make an exciting
day on the Little Pigeon River. Call
for river conditions. / $ 2 Rental
Locations - Smoky Mountains Outlet-
2318 Mountain Creek Road or Pigeaon
Forge Traders - 3637 Parkway
25 Smoky
Mountain Outdoors
- Hartford / 1-800-771-RAFT
White water rafting for the whole
family on the Big Pigeon River, experience
not necessary. Experienced guide
in every boat./ $
7
USA Raft
- 611 Parkway / Mountain Mall / Gatlinburg
/ 1-800-USA-RAFT
If you are looking for a memorable
way to explore the area, try a bit
of white water. No experience necessary,
rafting trips on the Pigeon, Ocoee,
French Broad and Nantahala rivers./
$
10
Walden Creek Riding Stables
- 2709 Walden Creek Road / Pigeon
Forge / 865-429-0411
Open year round, patrons get a bonus
Bonfire Supper and hayride with any
ride purchase. / $ |
|
