The Top 6 Smoky Mountain Outdoor Activities

The Gatlinburg, TN area offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres, with over 800 miles of hiking trails and about 2,900 miles of beautiful streams. To help you make the most of your next vacation, we have put together a guide to 6 of the best Smoky Mountain outdoor activities:

1. Admire the Views from Clingmans Dome

For the most breathtaking views in the Smokies, you can’t beat Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 feet, this observation tower is the highest point in the state of Tennessee and along the entire Appalachian Trail. On a clear day, visitors can see for over 100 miles. The paved walkway to Clingmans Dome is quite steep, but the breathtaking mountain vistas are totally worth the effort!

2. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Pigeon River

The Pigeon River is the third most rafted river in the entire country! The Lower Pigeon River is popular with families, since it is relatively mild and features mostly Class 1 and Class 2 rapids, while the Upper Pigeon River is great for more adventurous rafters, as it includes mostly Class 3 and Class 4 rapids. Smoky Mountain Outdoors provides fun rafting tours of both the lower and upper sections of the river.

3. Take a Trail Ride

Horseback riding is another one of the best Smoky Mountain outdoor activities. Sugarlands Riding Stables offers scenic trail rides through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. No prior horseback riding experience is necessary, as all of the horses at Sugarlands are well trained and very familiar with the trails.

4. Explore Cades Cove

Cades Cove is quite possibly the most beautiful section of the national park. This gorgeous valley features spectacular mountain views, large open field fields, and numerous historic buildings from the 1800s. Cades Cove is famous for its wildlife viewing, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for black bears, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and other critters. The valley’s 11 mile one-way loop road makes it easy to see all of the landmarks in Cades Cove.

5. Hike to Grotto Falls

Located about 1.3 miles into the Trillium Gap Trail, Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the national park that you can walk behind. In addition to the stunning waterfall, the Trillium Gap Trail also offers hikers the chance to see a herd of llamas during their trek! These llamas deliver supplies to the top of Mt. LeConte and can be seen along the trail on most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.

6. Have a Picnic

Even if you’re not looking to do any exercise during your trip, you can still enjoy the region’s natural beauty with a scenic picnic. We recommend packing some lunch and heading to Metcalf Bottoms, Greenbrier, Cades Cove, or another one of the national park’s picnic areas.

Where to Stay

When you stay with Stony Brook Cabins, you will be able to take advantage of all these awesome Smoky Mountain outdoor activities. Our cabins come with your choice of relaxing amenities, including decks with mountain views, soothing hot tubs, fully furnished kitchens, BBQ grills, arcade games, and even more great features. With everything from 1 bedroom properties to 6 bedroom properties, we are sure to have the perfect accommodations for your next escape.

Now that you know about the top Smoky Mountain outdoor activities to try on your next vacation, you can start planning your trip. Looking for something a little different? Check out all the other fun things to do in the Smokies!