Where are all the Tennessee members at?
A lady friend wants to go to Gatlinburg at the end of Oct or beginning of Nov. What is there to do there as far as shooting, hiking, off-roading, must see/do’s?
Gatlinburg is very tourist oriented, so everything that comes with that is there (high prices, crowds.) There is a lot of places in Smoky Mountain National Park to hike and there are some historical buildings that are pretty neat. If you are driving, stop a night or 3 in Nashville. That is the place to go in Tennessee
Not in Gatlinburg, but Sevierville, is Buds Guns with an indoor range. It is near Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
Buds Guns and Smoky Mountain Knife Works are both good stops. There’s a Bass Pro in Sevierville as well. The Smoky Mountain National Park has tons of outdoor recreation available. I’d recommend heading to Cade’s Cove and driving the loop. There’s a lot of history there. The views are also great, and there’s tons of wildlife to be seen. I’ll be there in a few weeks myself. We take a camping trip up to Cade’s Cove every year. The hike to Avery Creek Falls, which starts about halfway around the Cade’s Cove loop, is a nice out and back 5 mile hike. I haven’t driven it, but apparently driving along the Roaring Fork at Gatlinburg offers some great views.
Thanks. Are these off-road trails or on-road?
Cades Cove is paved, all the trails in the park on hiking only. There are some gravel roads in the park, but I wouldn’t consider them off roading by any means. Roaring Forks is at the edge of Gatlinburg and is also paved.
Abrams Creek/Falls is the trail at the back of Cade’s Cove.
The time that you are planning your trip is going to be very crowded. If you go to Cade’s Cove expect bumper to bumper traffic around the loop with long stops because everyone wants to see a deer or a bear and they don’t mind blocking traffic to do it. The Cove is a beautiful place and worth the hassle if you’ve never been there. (Take snacks and drinks)
Go to Clingmans Dome.
If you’re into outdoors, you will love Smoky Mountain National Park. The natural beauty is amazing. We saw bears just while driving through the park. Find some off the beaten path trail and have fun. Crowds are considerable during peak times of day and at the “main” attractions, but the smaller trails are much more isolated and equally beautiful. We fly fished when we visited but will not repeat that. Tons of work for things just a little bigger than guppies. Not a crowd pleaser, at least in our group. In other news, I think the Gatlinburg area has the highest pancake house per capita in the world! Have fun!
Went last year with my wife in early November…rented a cabin and stayed away from the touristy stuff. Mostly did some hiking and hit some of the vehicle loops. I think it was out of cases cove that we took a one lane directional dirt road that was one of the original access roads. If you look you can find some decent stuff like that to get away from the crouds but definitely was not off roading. Chimney tops was a pretty sweet hike, short but the views from on top were amazing. Get to that trail early though bc it gets packed!
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Thanks for all the input men.
Are there no off road trails around there?
In southern KY there is an offroad park around Wildcat Mountain. It is along I 75. There is a group in Pigeon Forge that provides offroad rides, but I think you ride with them. It never was appealing to me.
Not Gatlinburg, but very close.
Thanks for all the input. Went to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Smokey Mountain National Forest. Did some hiking, saw some of the touristy things around Gatlinburg and Forge, and I found an off-road compound not too far from there called Outdoors in the Smokies. Overall it was a blast, but I would have liked more than two days.
A few pics:
Glad you enjoyed the trip. That part of Tennessee is a nice little jewel in the South. We go there about 1-2 times per month…but we live in Knoxville.
How much has re opened after the fires? I was hoping to visit later in Jan.
Bass Pro is in Kodak, TN and named after the camera.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak,_Tennessee
Good that you made it down prior to the fire. We went summer 2017 and after seeing which hill sides got hit were surprised the house places and business off Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail didn’t get hit.
Really good food for breakfast and lunch and a nice environment including a few fish and game mounts upstairs.
The fire was in 2016 and they have rebounded from it. Supply issues and trying to to get people to work is an issue now. I live on the north side of Knoxville. Some restaurants shutdown early because folks won’t work. I thought the Covid money was being cutoff?? :mad:
My Dad was born and raised in Gatlinburg, TN. I rarely go there anymore because of crowds. We camp over in Townsend, TN. Have reservations for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
Your first time just try to see as much as possible then decide what you want to focus on next time. They have something for almost everyone.
My problem is I’m getting old and I remember when Gatlinburg would shut down in early November and reopen in the spring. Good times back then for a kid that just wanted to be in the woods.
I remember going to Gatlinburg in the very early 70’s…man there wasnt anything there!
The one thing I know was there back then, that I hope is still there…haavent been since early 2000’s…is the Taffy machine in the window.
One of only a few left, this thing has been twisting taffy about as long as Ive been alive.
But outside of that…I remember a guy had a little black bear on the side of the road at a pull-off, you could get your picture made for a dollar or so.
It was very remote, as I said few modern conveniences outside shady motels, and I dont recall many eatin joints either.
My last trip, was my last trip. Cant take the crowds in that small a place, and its just too touristy for me.
Im fortunate enough tho to live in a part on TN where I can drive 15 minutes and have scenery that to me & others rivals that of that whole area.
I too, remember when that area shut down for winter.
They are still making taffy. Probably got some newer machines. It’s a wonder I didn’t pull a tooth out when I was little.
My Grandmother lived on what’s called Ski Mtn Road. Yea the road went up to the ski lodge. I could walk out her door, cross the road heading east and in 100 yards I was in the G.S.M.N.P. A couple of times I got turned around for a few hours until I found my way out. Folks would have a fit today if a young kid wandered off like that.