Top Picnic Areas In The Smokies
There’s no question why many folks consider picnicking at the Chimneys one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Here you’ll experience breathtaking views while listening to the gentle roar of a nearby creek. Located near Cove Hardwood Nature Trail, the Chimneys Picnic Area is open until 8 p.m. during the summer months (May-August) and at dusk the rest of the year. Pack your picnic ready or cook on one of the grills provided here. Restroom facilities are available. ***When you’re picnicking in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s important to remember to respect the nature around you. Clean up after your picnic by disposing of all trash and cool charcoal ashes in the receptacles provided. Do not interact with or feed any wildlife you see during your picnic, especially bears. Feeding bears can cause them to become day active and teach them to leave the safety of the back country.
The Chimneys
There’s no question why many folks consider picnicking at the Chimneys one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Here you’ll experience breathtaking views while listening to the gentle roar of a nearby creek. Located near Cove Hardwood Nature Trail, the Chimneys Picnic Area is open until 8 p.m. during the summer months (May-August) and at dusk the rest of the year. Pack your picnic ready or cook on one of the grills provided here. Restroom facilities are available. ***When you’re picnicking in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s important to remember to respect the nature around you. Clean up after your picnic by disposing of all trash and cool charcoal ashes in the receptacles provided. Do not interact with or feed any wildlife you see during your picnic, especially bears. Feeding bears can cause them to become day active and teach them to leave the safety of the back country.
Nestled along the Little River, Metcalf Bottoms is another of the best picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains. Most of Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is open year round, so it’s perfect for taking advantage during the cooler months. Rent the pavilion here in advance from the National Park Service or take advantage of the provided tables. Metcalf Bottoms is located in the Wears Valley area off of Lyon Springs Road. All Picnic Areas In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Picnic Area
2019 Open/Close Dates
# of Sites
Pavillion
Big Creek
Gatlinburg, TN
Apr 19 - Oct 27
10
None
Cades Cove
Townsend, TN
Year Round
81
None
Chimneys
Gatlinburg, TN
Apr 19 - Nov 27
68
None
Collins Creek
Bryson City, NC
Apr 19 - Oct 27
182
Seats 70
Cosby
Cosby, TN
Apr 19 - Oct 27
35
Seats 55
Deep Creek
Bryson City, NC
Year Round
58
Seats 70
Greenbrier
Gatlinburg, TN
Year Round
12
Seats 70
Heintooga
Cherokee, NC
May 17 - Oct 10
41
None
Metcalf Bottoms
Gatlinburg, TN
Year Round
122
Seats 70
Twin Creeks
Gatlinburg, TN
March 29 - Oct 27
Pavilion Only
Seats 150
Call (877) 444-6777 to reserve pavilions. More information at NPS.gov.
Metcalf Bottoms Trail
Metcalf Bottoms TrailNestled along the Little River, Metcalf Bottoms is another of the best picnic areas in the Smoky Mountains. Most of Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is open year round, so it’s perfect for taking advantage during the cooler months. Rent the pavilion here in advance from the National Park Service or take advantage of the provided tables. Metcalf Bottoms is located in the Wears Valley area off of Lyon Springs Road. All Picnic Areas In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Picnic Area
2019 Open/Close Dates
# of Sites
Pavillion
Big Creek
Gatlinburg, TN
Apr 19 - Oct 27
10
None
Cades Cove
Townsend, TN
Year Round
81
None
Chimneys
Gatlinburg, TN
Apr 19 - Nov 27
68
None
Collins Creek
Bryson City, NC
Apr 19 - Oct 27
182
Seats 70
Cosby
Cosby, TN
Apr 19 - Oct 27
35
Seats 55
Deep Creek
Bryson City, NC
Year Round
58
Seats 70
Greenbrier
Gatlinburg, TN
Year Round
12
Seats 70
Heintooga
Cherokee, NC
May 17 - Oct 10
41
None
Metcalf Bottoms
Gatlinburg, TN
Year Round
122
Seats 70
Twin Creeks
Gatlinburg, TN
March 29 - Oct 27
Pavilion Only
Seats 150
Call (877) 444-6777 to reserve pavilions. More information at NPS.gov.
Located in one of the most scenic parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Greenbrier picnic area is one of the park’s greatest treasures. Here you’ll find a pavilion that seats 70 and can be reserved in advance for your next gathering. Situated along the Little Pigeon River, you’ll find beautiful views of wildflowers here all spring and summer. The Greenbrier picnic area is open year-round and is near the Porters Creek Trail and Ramsey Cascades Trail.
Greenbrier
Located in one of the most scenic parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Greenbrier picnic area is one of the park’s greatest treasures. Here you’ll find a pavilion that seats 70 and can be reserved in advance for your next gathering. Situated along the Little Pigeon River, you’ll find beautiful views of wildflowers here all spring and summer. The Greenbrier picnic area is open year-round and is near the Porters Creek Trail and Ramsey Cascades Trail.
The Big Creek Picnic Area is located just over the state line in North Carolina, but it’s well worth the drive. This cozy picnic area only features 10 sites, but it promises beautiful views and breathtaking scenery. Open April-October, the picnic area closes at dusk. Amenities include charcoal grills and restrooms with flush toilets and cold running water.
Big Creek Trail
The Big Creek Picnic Area is located just over the state line in North Carolina, but it’s well worth the drive. This cozy picnic area only features 10 sites, but it promises beautiful views and breathtaking scenery. Open April-October, the picnic area closes at dusk. Amenities include charcoal grills and restrooms with flush toilets and cold running water.
Cades Cove is one of our favorite areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here you’ll find breathtaking mountain views year-round. This picturesque valley features a picnic area right off the main loop where you can enjoy a picnic any time of the year. Cades Cove also offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. You might spot deer, groundhogs, turkeys, skunks or even a bear during your picnic in Cades Cove.
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Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of our favorite areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here you’ll find breathtaking mountain views year-round. This picturesque valley features a picnic area right off the main loop where you can enjoy a picnic any time of the year. Cades Cove also offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. You might spot deer, groundhogs, turkeys, skunks or even a bear during your picnic in Cades Cove.
Stroller Friendly Hiking Trails In The Smokies
This stroller friendly trail is actually the only hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be designated as completely accessible. The loop trail is only a half mile long and takes about 30-45 minutes. Along the way you'll learn about the structures that stood in the area more than a century ago. You can find the trailhead and parking lot just a few hundred yards south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center off highway 441.
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Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
Sugarland Valley Accessible TrailThis stroller friendly trail is actually the only hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be designated as completely accessible. The loop trail is only a half mile long and takes about 30-45 minutes. Along the way you'll learn about the structures that stood in the area more than a century ago. You can find the trailhead and parking lot just a few hundred yards south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center off highway 441.
This is a great option for anyone in a wheelchair. You can access the trail from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and take this partially paved "shortcut" through the employee parking lot for a quick 0.7 mile trip down to Cataract Falls, one of the many waterfalls in the area. This stroller friendly trail is great for all ages. If you're up for it, you can even head back to the visitor center and take the Gatlinburg Trail the opposite way as well.
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Cataract Falls
Cove Mountain TrailThis is a great option for anyone in a wheelchair. You can access the trail from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and take this partially paved "shortcut" through the employee parking lot for a quick 0.7 mile trip down to Cataract Falls, one of the many waterfalls in the area. This stroller friendly trail is great for all ages. If you're up for it, you can even head back to the visitor center and take the Gatlinburg Trail the opposite way as well.
One of only two dog friendly hiking trails in the national park, the Gatlinburg Trail also starts from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and travels east for nearly 2 miles. This stroller friendly trail includes one of the longest footbridges in the park and plenty of mountain stream along the way. The trail is not paved, however. The terrain is mostly dirt and gravel with a clear path suitable for accessibility at most parts of the year.
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Gatlinburg Trail
Gatlinburg TrailOne of only two dog friendly hiking trails in the national park, the Gatlinburg Trail also starts from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and travels east for nearly 2 miles. This stroller friendly trail includes one of the longest footbridges in the park and plenty of mountain stream along the way. The trail is not paved, however. The terrain is mostly dirt and gravel with a clear path suitable for accessibility at most parts of the year.
If you're up for some stunning views from the firetower off of Foothills Parkway, Look Rock is the place to go. The walk up to the tower is completely paved, however, it can be steep at times and is definitely an uphill incline. The trip is just under a mile and overall not too strenuous. The views are without a doubt worth it. Since this trail is not technically in the national park, you can also bring dogs as long as they are leashed.
Look Rock Crest
Look Rock CrestIf you're up for some stunning views from the firetower off of Foothills Parkway, Look Rock is the place to go. The walk up to the tower is completely paved, however, it can be steep at times and is definitely an uphill incline. The trip is just under a mile and overall not too strenuous. The views are without a doubt worth it. Since this trail is not technically in the national park, you can also bring dogs as long as they are leashed.
Located high above the border between Tennessee and North Carolina and along the Appalachian Trail is the very well known Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee. The 1.2 mile trip up and around the paved walkway to the observation tower brings stunning views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.
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Clingmans Dome
Located high above the border between Tennessee and North Carolina and along the Appalachian Trail is the very well known Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee. The 1.2 mile trip up and around the paved walkway to the observation tower brings stunning views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.
Located just outside Cherokee, North Carolina near the Oconaluftee visitor center, this stroller friendly trail is actually the other of the two dog friendly trails in the Smokies. The trail is also unpaved but remains fairly level the entire way through. You'll enjoy lots of opportunities to splash your feet in the water along the way. Many visitors report wildlife (specifically elk) sightings in the woody areas.
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Oconaluftee River Trail
Oconaluftee River TrailLocated just outside Cherokee, North Carolina near the Oconaluftee visitor center, this stroller friendly trail is actually the other of the two dog friendly trails in the Smokies. The trail is also unpaved but remains fairly level the entire way through. You'll enjoy lots of opportunities to splash your feet in the water along the way. Many visitors report wildlife (specifically elk) sightings in the woody areas.