lcray

My husband I have a cabin booked for five nights in Townsend beginning October 19th.
We are well aware that this is a very busy time to visit this area, but are hoping that by getting up early, etc we can avoid some of the crowds at least. Can anyone advise on day-hikes, and other activities in the area that are more off the beaten path?
Thanks for any suggestions!

OO

Vermont?

iceeu2

Icray...go over to the visitors center and talk to them and get maps. You can also call them and they are very helpful.

Are you or your husband into fly fishing? If so, there is a great place there called Little River Outfitters. The people are super, the store is great and they have wonderful guided tours.

If I find the website for the vistors center I will link it here for you.

Hopefully, you will be there right at peak season.

hunterblu

If you are talking Townsend, TN in the Great Smoky Mountains, then Cades Cove is a wonderful place to visit in the early morning. You can drive through or rent bikes and bike through.

Bob_KY

Ditto on Cades Cove. If you are feeling adventurous, and trust your car, there is a dirt road on the western end of Cades Cove that goes to Townsend (one way from the Cove to Townsend). It has some spectacular views from the top, but is very windy, rutty, and goes straight over the mountain.
Check out this website for hiking and other info:
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/gosmokies

Photodog

For list of hiking trails, waterfalls, roads, etc check out www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit.htm.

A great time to visit Cades Cove is just after they open the gate near sunrise. The deer are usually still in the fields and is more peacefully as well as far less crowded then later in day. If you go late be prepared to send a couple hours at least to make the entire loop. There are not many pulloffs (which most folks don't use anyways) so the traffic backs up sometimes for a mile or more anytime a deer or bear is sighted. If you take the loop to near the halfway point take spur road to trailhead for the 3 mile roundtrip hike to Grotto Falls (you can walk behind it).

Visit Laurel Falls early in day as well as there is limited parking. Same goes for hikes to Chimney Tops and Alum Cave Bluff. If you want an out of the way hike try Ramsey Cascade in the Greenbrier section of the park or park at Newfound Gap and take the Appalachian Trail (AT) to Ice Water Springs and then on to Charlie's Bunion or the opposite direction and walk up the AT to Clingman's Dome observation tower. Can also drive up here and walk back down.

If don't mind driving gravel roads in the dark visit Cataloochee area near sunset to possibly see the elk which were released in park several years ago.

If want to visit Mt LeConte and don't want to hike with the hordes via Alum Cave trail take the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail outside of Gatlingburg and take trail to Rainbow Falls which continues on to LeConte. If you go on a Wednesday may see the llama train which supplies LeConte Lodge.

If fall color happens to be good when you arrive, Elkmont and Tremont areas are quite colorful due to the variety of hardwoods.

If drive past the Ocoluftee Visitor Center (near Cherokee) can pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway, but do this mid-week as is very crowded on weekend.

Be prepared for crowds where ever you go, Oct 21 is Tenn vs Ala football weekend and is always a mad house.

lcray

Thanks for the helpful information, especially appreciate the detailed response from "photodog". Just about all of the responses to my inquiry will come in handy for planning our stay in the Townsend area.

iceeu2

Icray, here's a website for the park that someone posted on another thread

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

lcray

We recently returned from our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. I was concerned about visiting at such a busy time of year, when we were there the Fall colors were just about at their peak. The advice some of you gave helped us have a wonderful time in the mountains. We took several hikes, and by starting out early in the morning we were either all alone on the trail, or saw three or four people at the most. Our favorite walk was along the "Middle Prong Trail" in the Tremont area. We saw plenty of wildlife this time of day, deer, turkey, and several bears!
We visited Cades Cove on a weekday, and got there just before daylight. There was a line of cars waiting for the gates to open, but once they did the vehicles spread out, so there too, there were times we did not see anyone else on the loop road. If anyone is considering visiting the Smoky Mountains during the Autumn season, Townsend is an great place to stay, and a good base for exploring the surrounding area. The Visitor Center in Townsend is very helpful for brochures, maps, and information.