If you’re staying in the area for a long weekend, you might be interested in checking out the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are some suggested adventures curated by the bride. Be sure to take a look at the official trail map of the park as well.
Chestnut Top Trail
8.6 miles round trip / out and back / moderate difficulty
This is your classic walk in the woods hike, and it’s located right on the edge of the national park at the Townsend entrance. November is a wonderful time to enjoy it. It’s got just enough incline in the first half to make you work a little, but levels out just before the third mile and turns into a fairly level, easy walk. Don’t be intimidated by the initial climb.
To reach the trailhead, navigate to the Townsend Wye and look for the Middle Prong Little River Parking Lot A on the left. You’ll see it soon after the entrance sign to the national park. The trailhead is just across the street from the parking lot.
Little River Trail
4.8 miles round trip / out and back / easy
One of the easiest and most enjoyable hikes in the Smokies, Little River Trail is essentially stroller-friendly, it’s so flat. The entire trail is actually over 6 miles; my recommendation is to turn around at the intersection with Cucumber Gap Trail for the 4.8 mile round trip hike. Alternatively, you can turn here to go down Cucumber Gap (a lovely, fairly easy 2.4 miles trail) and Jake’s Creek Trail (about 0.7 of a mile, steep downhill) to make a loop hike and find your way back to the parking lot.
To reach the trailhead, head east on Little River Road at the Townsend Wye. For best results, navigate to Elkmont (also known as the Elkmont Ghost Town, an interesting place to explore on its own) just over 30 minutes from the park entrance. You’ll find the trailhead marked by a large vehicle blockade on the eastern side of Elkmont.
Meigs Creek Trail
7 miles round trip / out and back / moderate difficulty
For this hike, you need good waterproof boots and decent rock hopping ability! It has about 18 unbridged water crossings; do not do it if the week has been rainy. With that being said, this trail is an absolute delight if you enjoy hopping across streams and getting your ankles a little wet.
The trailhead is located at The Sinks, a photogenic location that makes for a nice visit if you’re just interested in some scenery. I also have a list of waterfalls you can drive to for anyone who would like to enjoy the vistas from the comfort of their vehicle.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A BEAR:
The old saying goes if it’s brown, lie down; if it’s black, attack. Black bears are native to the Smoky Mountains, and it is not unusual to come across them on your visit. They are scaredy cats by nature and will most often either a) acknowledge that you exist and ignore you or b) run away because they are afraid of you. Here’s the basic protocol for what to do if you encounter one:
- Stop and quietly observe from a distance until the bear moves on
- Shout “HEY BEAR!”, make yourself big, and clap your hands loudly to make the bear go away
- Throw rocks if the bear becomes interested or starts walking toward you
- Do not move closer to the bear
- Do not play dead (i.e. “lie down” – that’s for brown bears)
- DO NOT FEED THE BEARS
- If you see a bear from your car, don’t be an asshole and hold up traffic – just move along
- If you see a baby bear, assume that the mama bear is close by; you do not want to mess with her