Travels with our Trachie Blog
Schwieterman Summer Adventures 2024 – Part Four – Return to the Smokies
The final leg of our summer adventures was a return to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We opted to take a scenic detour off interstate as we traveled back to Gatlinburg from Hilton Head Island to travel on the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. The views are spectacular, but the plentiful short tunnels were the real star of the show. There is no lighting in the tunnels, and our girls thought it was so cool to drive in and out of the darkness. We pulled over at a few of the access areas to snap some pictures of the hazy, blue-colored mountains but our favorite spot was the Buck Springs Gap Overlook in North Carolina, an elevation of 4980 feet. To the left of the parking lot is a set of steep steps that bring you to a narrow pathway on the cliff’s edge boasting peak-a-boo views of the lush mountain ranges. The trailhead is a famous one, the 1175-mile Mountains-to-Sea trail which starts in the Smokies and ends on the Outer Banks. That one is a bit out of our league, so we just did a quick out and back.
On the right side of the parking lot is a wider trail which takes you to a cleared overlook which use to be the location of the Buck Spring Lodge, a mountain retreat for the Vanderbilt family. There is still an area on the grounds with some stairs which lead down to the remnants of a foundation. The girls wanted to keep hiking, but we still had some driving ahead of us to return to our camper at the Adventure Bound campground.
We were treated to some good ole’ southern hospitality the following day as we attended Mass in Cosby, Tennessee followed by lunch at a local’s favorite, Janice’s Diner.
The following day we entered the ranks of super tourists as we embarked on a 10-hour day of traveling through the Great Smoky Mountains. Our adventures began with hiking Porters Creek Trail within Greenbrier Cove. As you pull onto Greenbrier Rd, you’ll see the Little Pigeon River on your left. The road follows the river for a few miles before branching off along Porters Creek. We had heard from locals that the area had been dry all summer, but that was not the weather we experienced. It rained every day that we were in the Smokies, which meant the waters were really flowing! The sounds of the rushing water were invigorating and provided incentive for our family to keep hiking up to the point where the trailhead crossed over the creek with a large footbridge. It was a 1.5-mile trek uphill to our destination, but the payoff was worth the effort. It truly was a magnificent sight to sit on the bridge and watch the pounding waters gush below.
After our 3-mile out and back trail, we cooled off at one of the pull-off spots along Greenbrier Rd. A trail led from the parking lot down to the banks of Little Pigeon River which boasted a host of giant rocks for the girls to climb on while they splashed about in the cold river. It was a unanimous vote that it was our favorite place in the Smokies! Not only is it a gorgeous spot, but it also isn’t crowded (which gives it major bonus points!).
Next stop was a quick drive by Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge. It was a short visit since our stomachs were demanding more than just the cashews I had packed for our hike. Lunch time! We found a sub shop in Gatlinburg then made our way through the dreadfully crowded main street as we made our way to our next stop, Chimneys picnic area on Newfound Gap Road. It was a nice area, but the crowds were much heavier, and we felt the views were better in Greenbrier Cove, so it still gets our recommendation.
We continued to travel south to the Newfound Gap rest area located at the state line. The kids loved climbing to the top of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, but this Mommy was over the moon to set my feet on the Appalachian Trail! It was an amazing stop with gorgeous views, it is a must-see!
Next up was the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, which serves as the southern gateway to the Smokies. It was after 5 when we arrived so the indoor museum was closed, but we were able to walk along the Oconaluftee River Trail and visit the outdoor mountain farm museum with its vintage log buildings. The rangers at the park were busy corralling the wondering herd of elk, two of which had migrated too close to the visitor center. We were thrilled to see the elk at such a close range.
Just a few miles down the road was the start or end, however you choose to view it, of the Blue Ridge Parkway. So once again we took the iconic road up into the mountain range of the Smoky Mountains for some amazing views and more tunnels. The girls were completely exhausted from our very full day of travels by the time we made it back to the campground. It was time for a down day! We filled our day at the pool and alpine water slide, even Mommy made the 60-step climb to the top of the slide for the thrilling ride. Later that afternoon, we went on a souvenir hunt for our family’s tradition to buy a destination magnet for our camper’s outdoor fridge. We resolved that we would not return to the craziness of downtown Gatlinburg, so we searched around Cosby, finally finding Our Place, where we not only found a Smoky Mountains magnet but also a couple of shirts. They evidently make a good cup of Joe as well, but it was too late in the day for coffee.
Next on the adventure itinerary was white water rafting for Daddy and our oldest daughter on the Upper Pigeon River with SMO Rafting. They had a blast while the rest of us continued with another lazy day at the campground. It was our last day in the Smokies, so we opted to return to our favorite spot in Greenbrier Cove. After the heavy rains that had gone through the previous night, the Little Pigeon River looked like a white-water rafting adventure. It was a beautiful backdrop for a gorgeous, frame-worthy shot of the girls.
We would absolutely return to the Smoky Mountains and would recommend staying near Cosby if you like to avoid heavy crowds. When we return in the future, our plan is to stay near Townsend to explore the western side of Gatlinburg. Happy trails to all who followed along as we Traveled with our Trachie in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Add comment
Comments