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Message
Best place for a family picnic in the Smoky Mtn. NP
Posted on 6/18/19 at 8:20 am
Posted on 6/18/19 at 8:20 am
Taking the family to Gatlinburg in July and would like to have a good old fashioned picnic with the kids. Are there any short hikes to waterfalls? Kids are ages 6 - 12.
Thanks
Thanks
5
Posted on 6/18/19 at 8:58 am to WordOnThe Street25
Maybe Cades Cove? Abrams Falls wasn't too terribly difficult and we saw plenty of kids doing the hike.
Posted on 6/18/19 at 9:26 am to agreenway6
Second Cades Cove.
Posted on 6/18/19 at 9:40 am to WordOnThe Street25
Posted on 6/18/19 at 2:44 pm to WordOnThe Street25
Mynatt Park is near the entrance to Roaring Fork Nature Trail. There is a pavillion at the park for a picnic...then you can drive the Roaring Fork Nature Trail Loop to see lots of waterfalls. You can also choose to get out and hike...Rainbow Falls is probably a bit too long for kids that age (2.7 miles)...
You can also hike Clingman's Dome...plenty of places to picnic along the trail...but most fun to wait till you get to the top of the tower. It is a super easy hike, but no waterfalls.
You can also hike Clingman's Dome...plenty of places to picnic along the trail...but most fun to wait till you get to the top of the tower. It is a super easy hike, but no waterfalls.
This post was edited on 6/18/19 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 6/18/19 at 3:01 pm to DeltaTigerDelta
quote:
Second Cades Cove.
Thirded.
Great area
Posted on 6/18/19 at 10:02 pm to HailToTheChiz
Abrams Falls is a 2.5 mile hike. It’s pretty easy though.
Laurel Falls is probably the easiest falls hike in the park if you want something insanely easy.
Metcalf Bottoms is a picnic area not too far from Laurel Falls on the way to Townsend/Cades Cove. Good area to eat some food and play in the creek. Plenty of pull offs in that area to have more privacy and fish for brown trout through there on the Little too.
One of my favorite picnic areas as a kid was playing in the creek at the Chimneys Picnic Area. Just have a lot of good memories there as a little kid. Chimney Tops trail is one of the more popular trails in the park, but that is up the road from the picnic area. It’s a 2 mile hike at a pretty good grade up hill, not an easy hike for young ones.
Cades Cove is really nice, but I tend to ignore it during the summer months because it becomes infested with tourons who don’t understand pull over to let vehicles pass. It becomes fun when you bring a dual sport bike to ride Parsons Branch and they can’t stop you from passing them though.
If you want to take a long drive and see some of the best falls in this area, look in NC for highway 28 between Franklin and Highlands and escape G’burg hell.
Laurel Falls is probably the easiest falls hike in the park if you want something insanely easy.
Metcalf Bottoms is a picnic area not too far from Laurel Falls on the way to Townsend/Cades Cove. Good area to eat some food and play in the creek. Plenty of pull offs in that area to have more privacy and fish for brown trout through there on the Little too.
One of my favorite picnic areas as a kid was playing in the creek at the Chimneys Picnic Area. Just have a lot of good memories there as a little kid. Chimney Tops trail is one of the more popular trails in the park, but that is up the road from the picnic area. It’s a 2 mile hike at a pretty good grade up hill, not an easy hike for young ones.
Cades Cove is really nice, but I tend to ignore it during the summer months because it becomes infested with tourons who don’t understand pull over to let vehicles pass. It becomes fun when you bring a dual sport bike to ride Parsons Branch and they can’t stop you from passing them though.
If you want to take a long drive and see some of the best falls in this area, look in NC for highway 28 between Franklin and Highlands and escape G’burg hell.
This post was edited on 6/18/19 at 10:07 pm
Posted on 6/19/19 at 6:29 am to Dam Guide
Another vote for Cades Cove.
Posted on 6/19/19 at 7:23 am to Dam Guide
quote:Was that area impacted by the fires? I know the Chimney Tops trail had to be re-done afterwards, but I haven't seen anything about the picnic area. That picnic area is one of my wife's fav places from when she was a kid (grew up in Knoxville) and she is wanting to go up there sometime this summer.
One of my favorite picnic areas as a kid was playing in the creek at the Chimneys Picnic Area.
Posted on 6/19/19 at 7:53 am to PJinAtl
quote:
Was that area impacted by the fires? I know the Chimney Tops trail had to be re-done afterwards, but I haven't seen anything about the picnic area.
Picnic area was mostly spared. Not much damage and was open not long after. Tops trail had significant damage.
Posted on 6/19/19 at 10:45 am to WordOnThe Street25
Fontana Dam - Great little visitor center as well. I love Cades Cove but traffic in July is pretty bad. If you make the trip get there well before the gate opens so you can be one of the first through the loop. They also have the looped close to only cyclist on Sunday Mornings and Wednesdays?? double check on the days.. I could be mistaken about Wed.
It is just north of the Smokies but Max Patch is a super nice place for a picnic on a nice day as well.
It is just north of the Smokies but Max Patch is a super nice place for a picnic on a nice day as well.
Posted on 6/20/19 at 8:06 am to Dam Guide
I grew up with week long camping trips at Cades Cove. Large group of family 20+ members always. Such good memories.
That being said by far my favorite picnic spot was always the Chimneys. Creek is awesome and the massive rocks are so cool.
That being said by far my favorite picnic spot was always the Chimneys. Creek is awesome and the massive rocks are so cool.
Posted on 6/20/19 at 10:18 am to GatorReb
100% the chimneys picnic area loved it as a kid
Posted on 6/20/19 at 2:35 pm to WordOnThe Street25
Driving Newfound Gap Raod through to Mingo Falls is a good one.
Chimney Tops picnic area is good idea too.
There are several (at least two) waterfall trails on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, and several nice picnic spots.
Laurel Falls trail is probably the single most crowded trail in the park, and there's really not a great spot to picnic on it.
Abrams Falls is also a nice hike, but again there's not a great picnic spot on the actual trail, although there are many on the Cades Cove loop (from which the Abrams Falls trail begins). You could actually rent bicycles and ride the loop, if you so desired. Maybe kind of far for a 6-year-old.
Chimney Tops picnic area is good idea too.
There are several (at least two) waterfall trails on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, and several nice picnic spots.
Laurel Falls trail is probably the single most crowded trail in the park, and there's really not a great spot to picnic on it.
Abrams Falls is also a nice hike, but again there's not a great picnic spot on the actual trail, although there are many on the Cades Cove loop (from which the Abrams Falls trail begins). You could actually rent bicycles and ride the loop, if you so desired. Maybe kind of far for a 6-year-old.
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