History, Heritage, Nature, and Scenery Await Exploration!
The Cades Cove Loop Road will be undergoing major improvements from March 1 to May 21, 2010. The road will not be open during that time. However, there are many other amazing places to be discovered during our Smoky Mountain springtime. Take this opportunity to strike out and experience the suggested tours, below. And be sure to contact the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6824, as you make your travel plans.
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 Great Blue Heron photo by Charles Wilder |
 Mountain Laurel in bloom along the Foothills Parkway |
- Open in the Cades Cove area:
--Laurel Creek Road from Townsend to Cades Cove, Cades Cove Campground, Picnic Area, Campground Store, Horseback Riding Stables, Pine-Oak Nature Trail (park at the Store lot and follow signs to Campground C), Rich Mountain Trail (across from the Orientation Shelter). - Explorations Nearby:
Check out these wonderful places that offer everything from mountain views, to steamside hikes, to wildlife and wildflowers, to historic structures!
Tremont Area:
--Logging History Tour, up the road from Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT). Pick up a guide booklet at the Townsend Visitors Center, the Institute office, or from the box by the road.
--Middle Prong Trail at the end of the Tremont Road.
--Lumber Ridge Trail and West Prong Trail at GSMIT.
Foothills Parkway:
--Spectacular mountain scenery from Walland 18 miles across Chilhowee Mountain to Highway 129 at Chilhowee Lake. Hike 1/2 mile to Look Rock Tower on the Parkway. At Look Rock there is a very nice National Park campground, but may not open until later in the Spring, since it is situated at about 2,400 feet elevation.
Little River Road:
--At the Townsend "Wye", park and take a stroll up Chestnut Top trail for a beautiful array of many early spring blossoms. Walk carefully and watch your step because there are steep sections, and the path is narrow.
--From the Townsend "Wye" heading toward Gatlinburg, enjoy displays of wildflowers along the roadside from March through May. Stop at the overlook to Meigs Falls and at the Sinks. There are places to pull off and enjoy the Little River for fishing, photography, or just sitting on a rock and putting your feet in the cold, clear water.
View of Townsend "Wye" from Chestnut Top Trail
Early Spring hike along Chestnut Top Trail
Metcalf Bottoms, Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse, and the Walker Sisters Homestead:
--Just about 5 miles from the Townsend "Wye" is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, a lovely place to relax.
--From Metcalf Bottoms, take a short hike, or a drive, to Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse, where young folks attended school in the mid 1800's to the time the Park was established. You might even meet an old-fashioned schoolmarm!
--Take a hike about 2 miles further and you will find a very special place, the Walker Sisters Homestead, where six sisters lived on their own and farmed, gardened, raised livestock, made their own clothes, and all in all led rich lives in the early 1900's.
Elkmont Historic District:
--Turn off Little River Road toward Elkmont Campground and explore the community of rustic vacation homes dating from the early 1900's. The Little River Trail leads up along the river, and you can do a 5 mile loop back by way of Cucumber Gap Trail to enjoy both the stream and many spring wildflowers.
Abrams Creek Area:
--Across the Foothills Parkway and then through Happy Valley is the Abrams Creek Campground and access to Abrams Falls and other trails.
Townsend Area:
--Just at the edge of the National Park entrance, Townsend offers lodging, restaurants, shops, as well as river recreation, horseback riding, a bicycle path (approximately 10 miles) with the accompanying "Shadows of the Past" brochure about historic places, Tuckaleechee Caverns, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Little River Railroad Museum, and many other activities. Find out more at the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6134, and elsewhere on www.smokymountains.org - Springtime Events:
Crafts Classes at the Townsend Visitors Center (January--March, 2010)
Arts and Crafts Exhibits and Demonstrations. Townsend Visitors Center Exhibit Room.
March 19-21: Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival: Townsend, TN.
Saturday, April 3: Herb and Wildflower Day: Townsend Visitors Center.
April 30 and May 1: Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day: Townsend Visitors Center
For more details about the Cades Cove Loop Road, see the National Park webpage: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cades-cove-road-improvement.htm
