In & Around Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (but NOT Dollywood)

[CycloneBandDad]

Hi all. I am going to be in Pigeon Forge (or somewhere nearby) in late August for work meetings, and I was hoping for any local pointers to good spots for indulging in our hobby. I am staying the hell away from Dollywood, though... Looking more for local landscape views, waterfalls, things of that nature. I'll have only limited time, evenings and late afternoons, to go out and play. I'll have some access to a rental car, and I've already warned my partner-in-crime that he may get dragged off into the Great Smokies park to try and catch some sunsets during the week. Either that or he loses the car for one evening!

Suggestions welcome!

Jim

[Ed in GA]

Originally Posted by CycloneBandDad

Hi all. I am going to be in Pigeon Forge (or somewhere nearby) in late August for work meetings, and I was hoping for any local pointers to good spots for indulging in our hobby. I am staying the hell away from Dollywood, though... Looking more for local landscape views, waterfalls, things of that nature. I'll have only limited time, evenings and late afternoons, to go out and play. I'll have some access to a rental car, and I've already warned my partner-in-crime that he may get dragged off into the Great Smokies park to try and catch some sunsets during the week. Either that or he loses the car for one evening!

Suggestions welcome!

Jim

Of course, you'll want to go to Newfound Gap and Clingmans dome for some of those great afternoon sunset shots.

Here's a link to some Waterfalls that you can hike to if you have two to three hours of daylight.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Waterfalls (U.S. National Park Service)

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains are just about my favorite place to visit.

The waterfalls should be pretty good now since there has been quite a bit of rain in the mountains this year.

And, if you can, visit Cades Cove.

edit:

And, another good link.

http://www.gsmnp.com/pages/hiking.html

[CycloneBandDad]

Originally Posted by Ed in GA

Of course, you'll want to go to Newfound Gap and Clingmans dome for some of those great afternoon sunset shots.

Here's a link to some Waterfalls that you can hike to if you have two to three hours of daylight.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Waterfalls (U.S. National Park Service)

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains are just about my favorite place to visit.

The waterfalls should be pretty good now since there has been quite a bit of rain in the mountains this year.

And, if you can, visit Cades Cove.

edit:

And, another good link.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Hiking Trails - GSMNP

Thanks, Ed, good links. I probably won't be able to swing more than a half-hour or so of hiking time, but I'll look for ones close enough to the roads. Cades Cove does look interesting - am I correct in thinking a Cove is a secluded, almost-completely-surrounded little valley?

I drove thru the park one time back in 2001 on my way home from the Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia. It was a gorgeous chunk of country, I wish I'd had a better camera with me back then. I had forgotten about the scenic views from the summit there at Newfound Gap, I'll sure try to get up there... That would be a great sunset vantage point. Too bad my schedule doesn't allow me to take few days to play...

Thanks!

Jim

[Ed in GA]

Here's a link with a video about Cades Cove. And, yes, you are correct.

Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Too bad you don't have more time you can spend there on this trip.

It's a great place to vacation with your family if you have time in the future.

Ed

[CycloneBandDad]

Thanks for the link, I will try to get down there too :-)

Jim

[Damn Brit]

I was in that area for a wedding last year. There are a lot of lakes around there that may be worth you checking out, sorry I can't be more specific.

[monochrome]

Originally Posted by CycloneBandDad

Hi all. I am going to be in Pigeon Forge (or somewhere nearby) in late August for work meetings, and I was hoping for any local pointers to good spots for indulging in our hobby. I am staying the hell away from Dollywood, though... Looking more for local landscape views, waterfalls, things of that nature. I'll have only limited time, evenings and late afternoons, to go out and play. I'll have some access to a rental car, and I've already warned my partner-in-crime that he may get dragged off into the Great Smokies park to try and catch some sunsets during the week. Either that or he loses the car for one evening!

Suggestions welcome!

Jim

What's the matter with Dollywood?

800 kids go to college - who literally couldn't go otherwise - because Dolly Parton bought that amusement park and employs them.

It is HARD to get a job there. My daughter actually looked into it and decided she didn't need to take the place of someone else. I spend a few dollars there every time I go through.

Try to get into the park by one of the back roads if you rent a small SUV or Subaru-type vehicle. The traffic is a real challenge - you'll spend all day just getting into the park by the main highway.

Area and Park Maps here:

Region Map for your side trips (Map of Region pdf) and
Trail and secondary road map (Trail Map pdf) here:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Maps (U.S. National Park Service)

Might need a permit or to check if the roads are open, though.

Notices here:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Temporary Road and Facilities Closures (U.S. National Park Service)
Waterfalls:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Waterfalls (U.S. National Park Service)

[CycloneBandDad]

Originally Posted by monochrome

What's the matter with Dollywood?

It's crowded, and I prefer the opposite end of that spectrum when I'm out with camera!

Dollywood is fine - - for those who like such things...

Anyway, the trip was good, but we only had one day with decent weather to go up into the park after work. Got some nice sunsets and views, a successful venture by my standards

Jim