Beginning Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 a.m. on both Wednesday and Saturday mornings to allow bicyclists, runners, and walkers time to enjoy the cove without having to worry about heavy traffic. This special experience on the 11-mile paved loop road will last until late September.
Enjoy Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 10:00 am. (photo credit: Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority)
During the season, bicycles can be rented at the Cades Cove Campground Store. For pricing info, give them a call at 865.448.9034. Of course, you can bring your own bikes and helmets to enjoy the scenic ride through this historic landscape. Be mindful that Tennessee law requires cyclists under the age of 16 to wear a helmet. HeySmokies and the GSMNP recommend anyone of any age wear protective head gear…just sayin’!
You won’t find any mountain biking trails within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are only 3 trails in the National Park that allow bicycles:
Gatlinburg Trail
Begins at Sugarlands Visitor Center and travels 1.9 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Gatlinburg along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.
Oconaluftee River Trail
Begins at Oconaluftee Visitor Center and travels 1.5 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Cherokee along the Oconaluftee River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.
Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails
From the Deep Creek Campground, cyclists can access both Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails. Bicycles are allowed on both trails until the point where the old roadbed ends and the hiking trails begin. Pets are not allowed on this trail.
Bicycles are allowed on most roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so drivers need to be alert of cyclists when driving through the park.
For more information on bicycling in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and adjacent National Forests, please visit NPS.gov.
Make plans for the 66th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 19-23, 2016. Tickets are now available online and there are some great free programs too! The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is held at one of the most incredible times of the year to be in the Smokies. Be sure to put this pilgrimage on your 2016 Bucket List!
Pink Lady’s SIipper; one the the 20 Orchid Species found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a fabulous five-day event celebrating springtime in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As an International Biosphere Reserve, the Smokies’ lush, one-of-a-kind forest really springs to life in April!
Most of the programs for the pilgrimage are held out on the trails with expertly guided hikes exploring the park’s gorgeous display of wildflowers, abundant wildlife, cultural curiosities and natural history. Hikes are available for all skill levels.
All programs will be held rain or shine; worry not, there are plenty of motorcade trips with short walks and lots of outstanding indoor programs and workshops available at Mills Conference Center in downtown Gatlinburg and nearby Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room.
Some of the free events that are open to the public with no registration required are:
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist-of-the-Year Reception @ Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts Wednesday, April 20, 2016 @ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Nelson Zieglar’s painting “Roaring Fork” was selected for this year’s pilgrimage brochure and commorative t-shirt. His artwork will be exhibited in the Wolpert Gallery on Arrowmont’s campus until April 24, 2016.
While wildflowers begin to explode with the joys of springtime over mountains and into valleys, the heart of the Smokies is bustling and alive with activity. Over every hill and dale, nearly, a team of event planners is getting someone’s special day ready. Let yours be next!
Have your fantasy spring or summer wedding in the heart of the Smokies! A Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or surrounding area wedding will bring together the elements of scenery, style and fun in an event you and your guests will remember for a lifetime. The astonishing array of venues and diverse and talented community of wedding professionals up in these hills means that you can spend as much or as little as you choose and still have a one-of-a-kind wedding in a very special place.
The Lodge at Brother’s Cove in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is one of the most popular spots year round. In the spring and summer, this venue offers stunning vistas of the lush, green springtime glory of the Smoky Mountains. Most weddings celebrated there take place outdoors, making full use of a gazebo site with sweeping mountain views, something the lodge, which is located on a mountain ridge, is legendary for. If you are imagining wedding photos with a heavenly backdrop, you are correct! Most brides opt to move the party into the lodge after the ceremony, which can accommodate up to 300 guests (depending on set-up) after the ceremony. The lodge itself has panoramic views and provides a very nice rain option for the ceremony as well. The resort offers two options; a “Consulting Package,” which means that the bride simply rents the facilities and plans and carries out her own wedding, with an event team member on hand to offer professional suggestions, and a “Full Service Turn Key Package,” which delivers a dream wedding planned and delivered by the event team at the Lodge.
Spring break at the beach? Yeah, been there done that! Find out why the Great Smoky Mountains are the hippest spring break destination in the country. Families and college kids love these mountains and with more things to do than ever, it’s the place to be!
The view from Charlies Bunion on the Appalachian Trail (photo: Andrew Eames/Independent)
We’ve compiled a list of the Top Activities for Spring Breakers in the Smokies! What will you do this year?
Hit the trail – the Appalachian Trail!
Sure hiking is great fun year round but springtime is a real treat. The views during spring are second to none in the Smokies’ high country with visibility over one hundred miles (weather dependent, of course!) We suggest driving to Newfound Gap and walking along the famous Appalachian Trail (AT). The leaves are off the trees which afford striking views of the National Park and nearby mountain ranges like the Stecoahs. The hike from Newfound Gap to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower puts you at the highest elevation on the entire Appalachian Trail! Clingmans Dome is the second highest peak in the Eastern United States at 6,643′ above sea level. The hike from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome is a rocky 7.9 miles one-way, so you’ll need to park an extra car at Clingmans Dome or arrange for a pick-up to take you back to Newfound Gap. The hike from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion is 8 miles round-trip and offers panoramic vistas along the way to one of the most spectacular bluffs in the Appalachian Mountains. Use caution when exploring the craggy cliffs of the Bunion. Be sure and prepare for the hike with our 10 Essentials for Hiking in the Smokies suggestions. A little nervous about hitting the trails alone? Hire an expert guide to lead the way and enjoy the journey. Our friends at The Wildland Trekking Company can help you out!
Hit the Rocky Top Wine Trail and More!
Almost every group of spring breakers has a party animal in the bunch who will love the diverse choice of wineries, breweries and moonshine distilleries that have exploded in the Smokies. The Rocky Top Wine Trail offers a tour of five wineries in a 12-mile area within the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville TN area. You can sample over 60 varieties of vino and tour the wine cellars and tank rooms of some of the wineries. Pick up your passport and wine glass at your first stop and receive a special free gift upon completing the trail.
Or perhaps you came to sample some good ol’ Mountain Dew – that’s hillbilly talk for moonshine! It’s legal now and with so many flavors to choose from you could spend all night at the sample bar but save room for some great locally-crafted brews at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg and Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler in Gatlinburg and Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn at The Island in Pigeon Forge offer live music concerts from popular performers. If you’re over on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, be sure to check out the Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City for the awesome Trail Magic Ale.
Grab a Paddle!
If you’re craving some waves this spring break, no worries! There’s waves of fun on a Big Pigeon River Whitewater Rafting adventure! You can choose a wild ride with Class III & IV rapids on the Upper Pigeon or take it slow and easy on your raft on the Lower Pigeon, either way our friends at Smoky Mountain Outdoors can hook you up with a Spring Break adventure you’ll never forget! Be sure to check out Hey Smokies Rafting for more info.
Biking in the Mountains! (photo: CLIMBWorks Gatlinburg)
Grab a Rope! Jump on a Mountain Bike!
Your feet won’t touch the ground for 2 1/2 hours on a high-flying Zipline Tour with CLIMBWorks in Gatlinburg. And for a one-of-a-kind mountain bike experience, you don’t even have to bring your own bike! ClimbWorks has everything you need to explore the mountains in a whole new way!
Pitch a Tent!
Camping is always a great way to spend time with your friends and make memories that will last a lifetime. Smoky Mountain memories don’t make themselves they need your help. All you need is a tent, a campfire, s’mores, and a rushing mountain stream and you’re in heaven! It’s often said that camp life is where authentic Smoky Mountain memories are made, and it is so easy to do! Some favorite Campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Cades Cove, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, Abrams Creek, and Deep Creek. You can reserve your campsite on line at Recreation.gov. For campgrounds outside of the park, visit Hey Smokies Campgrounds.
If camping isn’t your thing, HeySmokies a great selection of recommendations for Cabins, Condos, and Hotels. Whatever you do this Spring Break…have fun, and remember to Spring Break Responsibly because Smokey is watching!
On August 25, 2016 the National Park Service will celebrate its 100th birthday! You can celebrate the big event in the Great Smoky Mountains by taking part in the Smokies Centennial Challenge: Hike 100!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers their “Hike the Smokies Challenge” for both individuals and families. And this year the challenge takes on special significance as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial.
The challenge is to record the mileage from your hikes (even if you hike the same trail over and over) in the Official Hike 100 Mileage Log to receive a special, commemorative “Smokies Centennial Challenge: Hike 100” pin and be invited to a park celebration hosted by Superintendent Cassius Cash on December 8, 2016. Hikes taken between January 1 – December 6, 2016 qualify for the challenge.
Families who take on the regular “Hike the Smokies Challenge” are rewarded with special stickers and pins after they’ve hiked 10 miles, 25 miles, 40 miles and 50 miles. Family mileage booklets are also available at the visitor centers for $1.00. A family can include grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, so gather them up and have some great fun outdoors this year! Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitor Centers are located at Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, Clingmans Dome and Cades Cove.
Check back often at HeySmokies.com for more information on upcoming special events for the National Parks Service Centennial Celebration in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016!
