great smoky mountains national park

tennessee travel

That didn’t take long, did it? I wasn’t going to stay gone too long because I had a dental appointment tomorrow. Had, past tense: the VA called and canceled it while I was somewhere without cell phone reception. Oh, well,...

wildlife

14 responses •

18 people

Another Fun Trip

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 16 May 22

tennessee travel

National parks also serve as wildlife preserves, and many people go to the parks in hopes of seeing animals ambling about. As I made my way back toward Pigeon Forge on Tuesday, after a lovely day in North Carolina, I was greeted...

11 responses •

10 people

And Now, the Star of Our Show....

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 27 Aug 20

wildlife

The furthest of the three waterfalls on my adventure today was Indian Creek Falls, located nearly a mile from the parking lot. Fortunately, the path to it, which passed Tom Branch Falls, was wide, relatively level (the elevation...

elk herd

11 responses •

11 people

Deep Creek Waterfall Hunting (Part 3)

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 25 Aug 20

After the hefty hike, which was as tall as it was long, the other two waterfalls on the three fall hike were relatively easy. The second waterfall was Tom Branch Falls, which was the only one I couldn’t get to “up close.” It...

indian creek falls

7 responses •

6 people

Deep Creek Waterfall Hunting (Part 2)

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 25 Aug 20

No, I won’t bore you with everything I did today. It was jam packed, I guarantee you that!! Lots of lovely scenery all around. As usual, I’ll highlight my highlight, which of course, was a waterfall. In this case, it...

tom branch falls

2 responses •

3 people

Deep Creek Waterfall Hunting (Part 1)

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 25 Aug 20

Donovan had a song called “There Is a Mountain,” which went, “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.” While I haven’t officially adopted that as my theme song for going to the Smoky Mountains, it...

juney whank falls

2 responses •

3 people

....And Looking Up At the Mountains

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 18 Jul 20

tennessee travel

Today I “sneaked” into the Smokies from the Townsend (“the peaceful side of the Smokies”) entrance. That was ideal, given that I haven’t been to Cades Cove (one of the destination spots in the Smokies) in a while, and the...

8 responses •

8 people

Ho Hum, Just Another Day in the Smokies

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 25 Oct 19

fall foliage

As I've said a few gazillion times, I'm a sucker for waterfalls. I'm also a sucker for majestic views. That's what I found when I stopped at Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The parking lot for Newfound...

8 responses •

7 people

Views, Views, and More Views

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 28 Sep 19

Many places with natural attractions have areas that are, for want of a better term, touristy. That's pretty much what Gatlinburg, Tennessee has become: wall-to-wall hotels, restaurants, mini-golf courses, museums, and other...

newfound gap

10 responses •

9 people

Strolling Around Gatlinburg

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 28 Sep 19

gatlinburg

The signs warn you at the beginning of the path to Clingmans Dome. It is NOT ADA accessible. The half-mile walk (a misnomer if ever there was one) has a 13% elevation gain, taking you 332 feet UP. Worth it? You bet your...

fall foliage

12 responses •

12 people

The Gimp Conquers the Dome!!!

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 28 Sep 19

The Smoky Mountains appeal to a variety of individuals, for a multitude of different reasons. Some people come for the hiking. Some people come for the fall foliage. Some people come for the waterfalls (gee, who would...

clingmans dome

7 responses •

7 people

The Bear Necessities

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 27 Sep 19

black bears

bear sighting

One of my favorite stops in the Smokies is the stroll behind the Sugarlands Visitors Center to Cataract Falls. It’s hardly a “hike.” In fact, except for one flight of steps it’s level, with very few obstacles (despite being a...

10 responses •

8 people

A Favorite Smokies Stop (Warning! Waterfall!)

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 27 Sep 19

cataract falls

Since I was in the neighborhood (translated: the southern United States), I made a day trip to the Smoky Mountains. Amazingly, I was able to get in and out without any problem, despite the fact that a Jeep owners convention was...

10 responses •

10 people

Visiting an Old Favorite

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 25 Aug 18

the sinks

I'm having lunch in Pigeon Forge, near the Great Smoky Mountains. I had a lovely morning hiking (well, it's more like a walk) to Cataract Falls, located behind the welcome center. Here's what I don't understand, though. You...

6 responses •

5 people

Okay, Hillbilly's Missing Something Again

Four Walls @FourWalls (86993) • United States 14 Jun 16

nature

national parks