Where Luxury Meets the Smokies: New Luxury Big Cabins in Gatlinburg
GATLINBURG – A new development in Gatlinburg bridges the gap between rustic hillside cabins and well-appointed downtown hotel rooms. Cherokee Orchard has four big luxury rental cabins and a pool house with indoor pool — so far. The development at 368 E. Holly Ridge Road is already available for rent, but four more cabins are […]
Weather in the GSMNP
Whenever somebody complains about the weather in the Smoky Mountains, a typical response from one of the locals will be: “Give it 15 minutes, it will change.” And, as a whole that is right. The weather in the Smokies is relatively temperate. During the summer it does get warm and during the winter it does […]
Kephart Prong Trail
2.0 miles in length Starting Points – 8.8 miles from Newfound Gap – headed toward North Carolina Points of Interest – CCC Camp, Fish Hatchery, Railroad Remains, Kephart Shelter Difficulty – 1-2 This is a great trail, especially if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary but still short enough to […]
Sugarlands
Sugarlands, of course, is the home of the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the headquarters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sugarlands is also an area of the National Park that stretches from the Grapeyard Ridge and the Roaring Fork area to Sugarland Mountain. The road out of Gatlinburg runs straight through Sugarlands and is […]
Rainbow Falls Trail
Summary: The Rainbow Falls Trail is fairly challenging if completed all the way to Mt LeConte. Allow an hour and a half to Rainbow Falls and four hours to Mt LeConte. Hikers will gain nearly 4,000 feet in elevation by the time they get to Mt. LeConte. Point of Departure: Cherokee Orchard Road – Turn at light […]
Bull Head Trail
For all you locals, the Bull Head Trail is probably one you’ve heard of before, and if you’ve been to Mount LeConte might have even hiked as you made your way back to civilization. In all, it’s a 5.9 downhill hike. We’re starting you off at the summit of Mount LeConte and traveling downward toward […]
Alum Cave Bluffs Trail
The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is one of the most traversed in the national park and for good reason. It’s by far the most popular route to Mount LeConte as you gain 2600 feet on the way to 6400 feet. To reach the trailhead via the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg, drive 8.6 miles along Newfound […]
A Bear Story
The last time I visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, my husband and I observed some curious human behavior. We were traveling the loop in Cades Cove when we saw a crowd of people getting out of their cars. Some among them were closely approaching a black bear to take photographs. Alan looked at […]
Baskins Creek Trail
Surely if you’re an avid hiker you’ve looked for those trails that everyone seems to skip over and has overgrown just enough to feel like you’re really in a remote wilderness. Trails like those still exist, a few in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Baskins Creek Trail falls under that classification if only […]
Kanati Fork Trail
The Kanati Fork Trail isn’t just a Smoky Mountain trail with a funny name. It’s a challenging uphill hike that with test even the most experienced of hikers and one where you can get some incredible shots of spring wildflowers. In all, it’s a 2.9 mile hike from its trailhead on Newfound Gap Road to […]