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Fall Colors in Smokies = Traffic
Jams Galore
(no
worries -- below you'll read how to avoid them)
I've just reviewed one of
my hiking journals from October 2006 (Autumn Glory--Hiking Down Welch Ridge & Bear Creek) where I described the 2 hour bumper-to-bumper, stop & go drive from Clingman's Dome down to the
Sugarland Visitor center. 2 hours to drive only 18 miles. That was a Sunday afternoon, October 21st. On
that day the traffic was snarled in both directions all the way from Newfound Gap to Pigeon Forge. You can avoid
the madness and still have fun. Check out my tips and trip ideas in the list below.
Tips & options to enjoy fall colors in and around the Smokies without the
crowds....
- Avoid Newfound Gap Road completely--especially on weekends (Newfound Gap Road is US 441 between
Gatlinburg, TN & Cherokee, NC). If you must drive that road then try to do so on some day other than a
weekend and, even then, try to make your trip before 9 am.
- Don't go to Cades Cove. Don't even think about it. No way. That's final.
- Visit Cataloochee Valley in the Smokies. Read my journals "Cataloochee Divide" or "Bugling Elk" for more info. Try to avoid weekends--especially after the noon hour.
- Hike to Mt. Sterling. While you're there, continue your drive onward into Cataloochee Valley.
Check out my journal Mt. Sterling Overlooks Little Cataloochee Treasures.
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and Asheville, NC.
- Note: Be sure to check the website for the Blue Ridge before driving to update yourself on any road closures. As of October 2008, there were some major
closures along the parkway north of Asheville, NC..
- Drive the primitive, mostly one-way, Balsam Mtn-Heintooga Ridge-Straight Fork road thru the Smokies'
high country from the Blue Ridge down into the valley at Cherokee. See my journal about The Many Faces of Hemphill Bald Trail for directions.
- Hike Balsam Mtn Trail (trailhead at Pin Oak Gap along Heintooga Ridge road). There are a
few loop options for this hike or just enjoy an out 'n back.
- Hike Hemphill Bald trail (The Many Faces of Hemphill Bald Trail).
- Drive to Fontana Dam and hike up to Shuckstack Fire Tower along the AT in the Smokies.
- Drive to Bryson City, NC and hike up & back along the Noland Divide trail out of the Deep
Creek campground area of the Smokies. There are fabulous views from overlooks on that trail! It is somewhat
steep, but worth it.
- Hike to Mt. LeConte via the Rainbow Falls + Bullhead trail loop. See my journal LeConte Creek--Up One Side and Down the Other.
- Hike Cove Mtn Trail out of either Gatlinburg (Sugarlands Visitor Center) or from the Metcalf Bottoms/Walker
Sisters Cabin area. A two car shuttle is best or you can exit at Laurel Falls and ride the Gatlinburg shuttle trolley back to Sugarlands (small fee required).
- Drive the 44 mile long Cherohala Skyway between Tellico Plains, TN and Robbinsville, NC. Wanna hike too? Check out the many trails that join this lovely
road. My pick? Sections of the Benton MacKaye trail in and around the Beech Gap area of the Skyway. There are some nice drives along unpaved Forest Service roads
in this area too where you'll find even more trails!
- Go to Frozen Head State Park and hike to the fire tower.
- Go to Big South Fork National Recreation Area and hike.
Last Update: 10/19/2008
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