Blue Ridge Parkway/Great Smoky Mountains

Old Sep 25th, 2017, 05:46 PM
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Blue Ridge Parkway/Great Smoky Mountains

Can anyone give me an idea of how much time to allow for site seeing on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smokies? I'm contemplating beginning at Front Royal, VA, but not sure if the scenery will be quite the same or worth the miles. I fly into and depart from Alcoa, TN, Oct. 14-21. Would like to do some short hikes to waterfalls, etc., Any insight would be appreciated! thank you!
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 02:10 AM
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You are arriving in knoxville which is a few hours to the entrance to the GSMNP. Lots of hikes there to start.
So I guess your plan is to drive to Front Royal and work back toward Tennessee which is a really "fer piece" as we say.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php

Have you looked at a map?
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 07:09 AM
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Yes, I've been studying the maps, but maps don't tell everything.
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 11:41 AM
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But it
should tell you that Front Royal is not the place to start this trip unless all you want to do is be in your car. It is 400 miles from Knoxville to Front Royal on the interstate.
For a week (and by the way, it is the peak of leaf season and hotels will be very booked up already), you could start in the Smokies and go up the Blue Ridge Parkway to say,Roaring Gap. And then go back to Knoxville to go home.
Look along that space of the Parkway and see what the hikes are like.
There is Crabtree Falls up near Asheville. There is Looking Glass Falls in the Pisgah along about Brevard.
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 01:08 PM
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I wouldn't start or even go to Front Royal. It's really far and unremarkable IMO.

Plan your trip to stay around the Smokey Mountains. You can research the "quiet side of the Smokies" Townsend, TN. There are many interesting hikes and ranger programs in the park itself. If you're interested, a drive to Asheville, NC is also a good idea. The Biltmore is an historic house that is interesting to tour. Buy tickets ahead. Cherokee, NC is also in that vicinity. A little kitchy, it offers some history of the Native Americans from that area.

Watch your dates. If there is a home football game at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, hotel rooms and rental cars may be scarce.

Enjoy your trip!
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 01:33 PM
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If this OP is not from the US (or maybe even so), don't discount Cherokee totally. They have a nice exhibit/museum there to counteract the relentless kitsch of the gambling, etc. The Cherokee Indians should demand our respect 'cause it's "us" who did them out of their land in the first place.
Cherokee is a 3 hour drive across the Park from the entrance on the Knoxville side, and it's a pleasant drive.
You can pick up the BRP in Cherokee and head north or south.
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Old Sep 28th, 2017, 08:13 AM
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Some things to consider -
If you plan on going to Front Royal by taking the parkways you will have to drive 451 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway from its southern terminus at the Great Smoky Mts Natl Park to its northern end at Rockfish Gap, VA then start another 105 miles along the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah Natl Park to its northern terminus at Front Royal. Near the southern end (GSMNP) you have high mountain peaks and as you pass from NC into VA the land loses the high peaks and becomes more rolling farm country. The speed limit is 45 and with all the color watchers you may not even do that.

10/14 & 21 are home dates for Tenn football so would not even try to visit Gatlinburg, Cherokee or Cades Cove unless you go mid-week and then be prepared for traffic. Cades Cove loop road is only 11 miles but it may take 3-4 hrs or longer especially if you go on a weekend. Abrams Falls is off a side road and leads 2 1/2 miles to the falls where you might spot river otters. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/abrams-falls.htm

Unfortunately due to the 2016 fires, a number of trails are still closed or undergoing maintenance. You can access two falls - Grotto and Rainbow falls off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail which can be accessed off the main drag in Gatlinburg at red light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance of the park. Just beyond the Rainbow Falls trailhead you have the option of taking the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail or returning to Gatlinburg but you do this will miss Grotto Falls (which you can walk behind) Rainbow falls trail is closed Mon-Thurs however due to trail maintenance. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/roaringfork.htm. The motor nature trail is through a very scenic area with streams and moss covered boulders. It is however one way with scattered pullouts with steep sections where you will be riding the brake. You will pass several cemeteries, a mill, houses and barns.

A detached portion of the park, Greenbrier is 6 miles east of Gatlinburg on Hwy 321. Road to Ramsey Cascade trailhead follows a boulder strewn stream https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvis...y-cascades.htm

At the midway point on the Newfound Gap Road (US441) is Newfound Gap. You can pickup the Appalachian Trail (between the dedication monument and restrooms) and go to Charlies Bunion (4 miles) for wonderful view of interior of the park.https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvis...ies-bunion.htm. Just past Newfound Gap (back on 441) is a 7 mile spur road leading up to a parking lot for Clingman's Dome trail. The tower at the top is closed for renovations but the trails around it are open. Is an excellent place to view the sunset or sunrise especially if have clouds.

A nice but somewhat steep hike is the recently renovated Chimney Top Trail https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/chimney-tops.htm Nearby is trailhead to Alum Bluff Cave and beyond to Mt LeConte. This trail also closed for maintenance Mon-Thurs https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvis...osure-faqs.htm Both of these trails will have lots of visitors so get there early to get a parking place

A waterfall just outside the park near Cherokee you might want to check out is Mingo Falls https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/mingo-falls.htm
Keep in mind all these falls are much better following a good rain.

Have a great trip!
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Old Sep 30th, 2017, 01:39 PM
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Thank you for taking the time to put together great information for me! Very much appreciated!
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