re: How to salvage my trip: Gatlinburg

What’s your hiking level? The NC side area Of the park has some awesome less traveled trails because it doesn’t have a “gateway” like Gatlinburg. Another trail which is Moderate difficult is Bote Mountain Or Chestnut Top. It’s elevation gains that make these harder so they aren’t as busy. The park is stuffed with people these days so hiking will require getting up and out before 8:00 AM.

Stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center and talk to VIPs there and they will guide you to any and all areas of the park.

You cannot access Cade’s Cove until 8:00 AM if you get there earlier and wait for it to open and drive through there is a hike to Gregory’s Bald you can access just past the CC Visitor's Center. Get a map or trail book before going. Abrams Falls will be nuts although 50% of people heading there should not go or it takes them 6 hours.