Fall has returned to the Smoky Mountains and brought with it the changing leaves and fall festivities. There are many ways to celebrate this beautiful time of year on the peaceful side of the smokies.
• Maple Lane Farms – The Maple Lane corn maze and pumpkin patch is wrapping up its 24th year this weekend through Halloween. The haunted maze takes place at the farm of Albert and Shirley Schmidt in Greenback, Tennessee. There are fun options for the whole family.
• Hyde Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze – In Greenback, Tennessee, Hyde Farms pumpkin patch and corn maze are open until Oct.
30. It will be open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. After picking pumpkins and getting lost in the maze, children can play around in a corn pit and play area.
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Spooktacular Extravaganza – This one-night event will take place in Downtown Maryville on Oct. 28 from 5-8 p.m. There are plenty of events for families and pets with trick or treating at downtown businesses, a dog costume contest, a dance party in the street, carnival games, and more. This event is free and will happen rain or shine.
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Wanted Dead or Alive, Halloween Costume Hike – Knoxville Hiking Meetup group is hosting a Halloween costume hike on Oct. 29 at Middle Prong Trail in Townsend. This eight-mile trek will go from Middle Prong Trail to Indian Flat Falls starting at 9:30 a.m. followed by an excursion into Townsend for food and drinks. A hike into the Peaceful side of the Smokies is a great way to see the changing foliage of the mountains.
Not only is Fall a great time for Halloween fun in the Smokies, but it is the perfect time to enjoy the changing leaves that the season brings to the Peaceful side of the Smokies. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best spots in the country to see brilliant fall colors. See why it’s the most visited national park in the country.
Peak foliage season- Peak fall foliage season depends on what elevation of the Smoky Mountains you are visiting. At the highest peaks, colors have mostly already changed. Mid to lower elevations reach peak season between now through early November. Visiting the Smokies for Halloween means wherever you go, you’ll see the beauty of the mountains all around you.
Best ways to take in the scenery:
• Fishing:
There are 750 miles of trout fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and you can cast a line 365 days a year. The Little River runs right through Townsend and meets up with the Tennessee River deep in the park. The river hosts several kinds of trout as well as bass and other fish. And you can’t beat the gorgeous scenery.
Note: you will need a permit to fish in the park, and there are limits to how many you can catch.
• Hiking:
The national park has more than 800 miles of trails ranging from leisurely strolls, to challenging adventures for advanced hikers. In the early fall months, the higher elevations will provide the most breathtaking views.
Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet. The steep climb up the 45 foot tower has big payoff. On a clear blue day, or when the clouds are high in the sky, it offers unparalleled views of the park’s majesty popping with fall colors. But plan to go early, as this is a hot spot for tourists and leaf peepers. The Anthony Creek trail to Spence Field is a quieter way to take in expansive views of the fall colors while avoiding the crowds. When the fall colors creep lower into the valley, Cades Cove is the perfect picturesque spot to take in the colors and wildlife of the season. The cove is surrounded by an 11-mile loop allowing you to take in the views, with several pull-offs for trails and site seeing. Hiking site AllTrails lists 34 moderate trails in Townsend ranging from 1.7 to 20 miles and from 1,135 to 5,036 feet above sea level. One trail in the cove, Abrams Falls is a popular hike because it’s well-maintained, and easily manageable for all levels of hikers with a powerful waterfall to greet you at the end.
Taking in the views from bicycle or motorcycle:
• Cades Cove Loop: 11 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a backdrop of mountain peaks and a lush valley, the Cades Cove Loop is one of the area’s most popular options for cyclists, hikers and bikers, especially for viewing fall colors. Visitors can enjoy the largest variety of historic buildings along the way in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The road is closed to vehicles in the mornings, allowing for a peaceful bike or hike. Restrooms are available and a visitor’s center provides supplies. Cades Cove also offers a campground for those who enjoy camping in the great outdoors. Trail visitors should keep an eye out for whitetail deer, coyotes, elk, and foxes, and in the evening hours, may spot black bears.
• Foothills Parkway: Advanced bicyclists and motorcyclists will love the breathtaking fall views of the Foothills Parkway. A low amount of traffic makes this hilly ride ideal for those looking for a long, scenic route to enjoy. Riders will meander through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains across the western side of Chilhowee Mountain for 16 1/2 miles.
• Little River Run: Nine miles one way, the Little River Run Bike Trail is great for cyclists of all skill levels. This trail starts at Coulter Bridge and winds down to the Townsend Bike Trail, passing Pee Wee Spring and the Foothills Parkway. This trail features views of historical sites such as Peery’s mill site and dam, Old Gamble family cemetery, the Walland community, and Sunshine Station.
• Vee Hollow: For mountain biking, the free-to-use 14-mile mountain trail is perfect for cyclists wanting to dive deep into the mountainous terrain the Smokies have to offer. With easy, intermediate, and advanced trails, Vee Hollow offers an adventure for every skill level.
• The Tail of the Dragon: Blount County is the origin of one of the most famous motorcycle rides in the world, The Tail of The Dragon. The Dragon has been voted the #1 motorcycle road in America and winds 11 miles along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line with 318 curves. This two-lane section of Highway 129 has no intersections and is carved into the mountains along the water’s edge, making it a destination for bikers year-round.
Quiet campgrounds and peaceful accommodations:
• Big Meadow Family Campground
• Cades Cove Campground
• Elkmont Campground
• RT Lodge
• Little River Campground & RV Resort
• Mountaineer Campground
• Townsend Great Smokies KOA
• Tremont Outdoor Resort
• Whispering River Resort
• Dancing Bear Lodge
• Tally Ho Inn
• Blackberry Farm
• Bearly Rustic Cabin Rentals
• Little Arrow
• Chilhowee Inn Bed and Breakfast
Convenience:
• Blount County, Tennessee is within a day's drive of 50 percent of the United States population, making it an easily accessible vacation location
• Close Proximity to an Airport: The McGhee Tyson Airport is located in Alcoa, Tennessee, less than 30 minutes from Townsend
• Convenient Highways: Townsend provides the serenity of the Smokies but is still convenient to major highways like I-40.
For more information or help planning your trip, visit smokymountains.org.