Plan a Father/Son Fishing Trip in the Great Smoky Mountains

There is nothing like a fishing trip to strengthen the bond between a father and a son. There are several places to fish in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Horseshoe located on the Abrams Falls Trail is known for its rainbow trout. Rainbow trout as well as brown trout can be found where the Little River meets the Fish Camp Prong in Elkmont. There are some regulations for fishing in the park which can be viewed at the National Park’s website.

Summer Specials on Cabins in the Smokies for Your Summer Vacation

In June and July there are two specials featured for the summer.

Stay 5 nights, get the 6th night free.
Valid on select cabins only.

Stay 6 nights, get the 7th night free.
Valid on all cabins.

On-Line Booking Available 24/7
Reservation Lines Open Daily – 800.473.3163
Monday thru Thursday – 8:30AM – 9PM EST
Friday thru Sunday – 8:30AM – 6PM EST

For more information visit our website.

Visitor Information for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Resources:
General Park information: (865) 436-1200
Backcountry information: (865) 436-1297
To order guides and maps: (865) 436-7318 x226

Emergencies:
Park Rangers: (865) 436-9171
Cherokee Police: (865) 497-4131
Gatlinburg Police: (865) 436-5181

Hospitals:
Blount Memorial: (865) 983-7211 U.S. 321, Maryville, TN
Sevier County: (865) 453-7111 Middle Creek Rd. Sevierville, TN

Accessibility:
Restrooms at all park visitor centers (Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Sugarlands) are fully accessible. The Sugarlands Valley all-access nature trail is located on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) near Sugarlands. Please ask at a visitor center for a free guide.

Click here for more information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Grotto Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Grotto Falls is located on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg, TN. Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the park that you can safely walk behind. The 1.5-mile hike to the falls is through a hemlock forest with large American beeches, maples, and silverbells. Round-trip the hike is 3 miles. The trail to the 30-foot waterfall is one of the most popular hikes in all of the Smokies. If you have a picnic lunch, the big rocks around the falls are a great place to set up with the family and get caught up in the serenity of the Park.
Directions: From Gatlinburg take Airport Road at traffic light 8 to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. During spring, summer, and fall, park in the Grotto Falls parking lot about 2 miles into the Nature Trail. Access road is closed in the winter. The Grotto Falls Trail begins at the parking area and soon joins the Trillium Gap Trail on its way to Grotto Falls.

Wildlife Viewing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has preserved the largest wilderness sanctuary in the Eastern United States. To increase your chances of seeing the most diverse wildlife, be sure to carry binoculars, and drive slow through the park around dawn or dusk. The best place to view elk is in the Cataloochee Valley, where they have been released as an experiment. Cades Cove is filled with white-tailed deer and black bears. Other wildlife throughout the park includes wild turkey, wild boar, mountain lions, fox, bobcats, mink, and exotic wild hogs. Just remember, the animals are pretty to look at, but do not feed them or get too close.

More Than Just An Amazing View: Amazing View Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The Amazing View Lodge offers more than just an amazing view. This 8 bedroom lodge sleeps 29 guests and has 7 full bathrooms. Other amenities include: 2 jetted tubs, 3 fireplaces, a pool table, wisher/dryer, 13 TVs (including two 50” plasma HDTVs in living room and game room, 42” Plasma HDTVs in living room and master suites, and 32” LCD HDTVs in bedrooms and game room), 2 home theater systems, 3 full body massage recliners, a wet bar, foosball and air hockey tables, and a hot tub.

For more information including booking and rates visit our website by clicking here.

Mountain Sage Gallery & Woodshop, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, Tennessee

The Mountain Sage Gallery & Woodshop features some of East Tennessee’s artisan’s finest collections. The Gallery features hand built crafts, and displays watercolors, oils, prints, and photography of features within the Smoky Mountains. The Woodshop artisans use both reclaimed and new wood for the custom-built pieces. You can have custom- made interior or exterior doors, tables, cabinets, hand railings made from trees, and mantels. All the wood is finished off smooth, perfect for a mountain cabin home. This is a great place to stop-in and see first-hand some of the culture and arts of East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Gallery is located on the main thoroughfare on the north edge of Townsend.

I’m in Gatlinburg, now how do I get to…

The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area has a lot to offer, but sometimes it is hard to find the one place you are looking for. Here are some directions of how to get to a few key places in the area from your cabin.

To Walmart:
Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [3.4 mi]

Turn right on US-441 North to Walmart on the left [11.7 mi]

To Gatlinburg Convention Center:
1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [3.4 mi]
2. Keep left on US-441 to Traffic Light #8 [.6 mi]
3. Turn left at Light #8 on Historic Motor Nature Trail Road [.1 mi]
4. Convention Center is on the right

To Food City Grocery and Pharmacy (Liquor and Wine store is across parking lot)
1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, left on US-321 to US-441 [1.4 mi]
2. Food City will be on your right

To McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville/ Alcoa)
1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-32 to US-441 [1.4 mi]
2. Turn Right on US-441 North, changes to Hwy-66 (To I-40) [13 mi]
3. Continue North on Hwy-66 to I-40 West [8.7 mi]
4. I-40 West to Alcoa Hwy (Airport Sign) [20.8 mi]
5. Alcoa Hwy to McGhee Tyson Airport on right [12.7 mi]

To Fort Sanders Hospital (Sevierville, TN)
1. Jackson Mtn. Homes, Left on US-321 to US-441 (Traffic Light #3) [1.4 mi]
2. Turn Right on US-441 North, changes to Dolly Parton Pky/Hwy-411 [12.9 mi]
3. Turn Right on Dolly Parton Pky/Hwy-411 [1 mi]
4. Turn Right on Middle Creek Rd. to Fort Sanders Hospital on right [.9 mi]

Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, Maddron Bald Trail to Albright Grove, Tennessee

The Maddron Bald Trail begins on an old logging trail and continues through an old virgin forest, streams, and historical homelands. The Baxter Cabin has been refurbished to exhibit what a typical home looked like in the 1800’s. The plant life on the trail is so diverse and old, there is a buckeye tree that is over seven feet around. After three miles on the trail, you will come to Albright Loop, which is a side trip through an open forest displaying huge trees. Albright Grove is one of the most secluded areas of the Smokies. Halfway through the grove will be a place with a remarkable 360 degree view of the forest. The loop is short, after only .7 miles it intersects with Maddron Bald Trail. If you want an extra challenge, continue on the Bald Trail for 15 miles and it will intersect with the Snake Den Trail. If you do not continue on the trail and return as you came after the loop, the hike is 7 miles.

Directions: From Gatlinburg on US 321, go 15.5 miles to Baxter Road 1/10 mile East of Yogi’s Campground. Follow the road and keep to the right to signaled trailhead. There is a small parking lot outside of the gate.

Water Rides at Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg is not just for winter sports. The amusement park at Ober offers several things to do during the summer including two water rides.

On Ober’s Lightnin’ Raft Ride you can experience the trill of a water ride without even getting wet! This ride has a 40ft vertical drop that is sure to trill.

The Blue Cyclone Rapids sends you on a air-inflated bob sled and sends you down from the 60 foot high starting point at 30mph. You will twist and turn through over 600 feet of water before your adventure comes to an end.