Hartford, Tennessee
Top Spots in and near Hartford
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Hartford, Tennessee
Whitewater Rafting the Pigeon River
5.0The Pigeon River is a dam controlled river that winds its way through North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river provides beautiful views as one paddles along via raft or kayak. Cutting through portions of the Pisgah and Cherokee National For...Read more -
Newport, Tennessee
Explore Halls Top Fire Tower
4.01 mi / 200 ft gainHalls Top Fire Tower is a special untouched spot in the Cherokee National Forest. The road that leads you into the CNF is known as Halls Top Road just a few miles off of Interstate I-40. This road will take you 4.4 miles to the next turn onto Stone Mountain Road this road is 2.1 miles to the gat...Read more -
Newport, North Carolina
Mouse Creek Falls
5.04.04 mi / 551 ft gainFollow Big Creek Trail on a moderate climb to this 45-foot waterfall. Around 1.3 miles in, you will begin to hike alongside Big Creek, and shortly afterwards you will pass Midnight Hole, a particularly deep pool. There are a number of other small falls en route. In spring you should see a number ...Read more -
Newport, North Carolina
Hike to Mt. Sterling's Fire Tower
4.012 mi / 4200 ft gainOn your way in, stop at the ranger station parking lot to use the outhouses and grab a map for $1. Once at the Baxter Creek trailhead you have two options: 1. The Out and Back (12.2 miles) 2. The Loop (17 miles)Out and Back: Start on the Baxter Creek Trail and continue up for 6.1 miles until you...Read more -
Cosby, Tennessee
Hen Wallow Falls
5.04.57 mi / 988 ft gainStart your adventure by parking in the Cosby Picnic Area Parking Lot near the entrance of the Cosby Campground. (127 Cosby Picnic Area Rd, Cosby, TN 37722.) Then backtrack through the parking lot about 100 yards until you see the sign marking the start of Gabes Mountain Trail. The trek to Hen W...Read more -
Cosby, Tennessee
Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower
4.510.99 mi / 2877 ft gainMost visitors have a vision of how they'd like to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it typically involves climbing to the top of a mountain like 4,928-foot Mount Cammerer. This is a very strenuous hike involving a breathtaking amount of elevation gain along the rugged Low Gap and Appal...Read more -
Clyde, North Carolina
Photograph the Smokies from Buzzards Roost
This is an awesome place to check out if you are driving Interstate 40 or if you are visiting the area for awhile. The access point for Buzzards Roost is located on the same exit as the well known Max Patch Mountain, just in the other direction. Once off the exit, you will travel down a gravel Fo...Read more -
Cosby, Tennessee
Maddron Bald - Albright Grove Loop
6.72 mi / 1670 ft gainHidden in the eastern reaches of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cosby region receives a fraction of the visitation of Gatlinburg or Cherokee. This section of the park preserves some of the best deciduous old-growth forest in the eastern United States. Individual tulip trees and eastern ...Read more -
Del Rio, Tennessee
Max Patch Mountain
5.01.51 mi / 315 ft gainMax Patch Mountain was once cleared for pasture land, leaving an expansive flat summit that now serves as the ideal location for a picnic hike, flying a kite, or laying in the sun surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. With little elevation gain and a short distance it is also very family (and ...Read more -
Clyde, North Carolina
Hike to Little Fall Branch falls
0.3 mi / 300 ft gainThe trailhead to this hike is easy to find but the gps is hard to match so it might try to take you through the middle of the trees but its easy to follow the road. The best way to get here is to go off of I-40 at the Harmon Den exit and then go up the road towards Max Patch. To get to the trailh...Read more -
Del Rio, Tennessee
Max Patch to Hot Springs, N.C. via Appalachian Trail
3.014.06 mi / 2966 ft gainMake a weekend trip from Max Patch to Hot Springs N.C., and be sure to soak in the natural hot springs at the old inn after your hike! This is an incredible, relatively easy hike with the reward at the end being hot springs on the French Broad River. You can break this up however you like, this i...Read more -
Waynesville, North Carolina
Explore Cataloochee Valley
5.0History, solitude and wildlife abound in this quiet corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but getting here is not easy. Take the scenic route via Cove Creek Road from Cosby, TN. Drive 40 miles along the twisting, gravel road to Cataloochee, NC. The scenery along the way is outstanding, b...Read more -
Sevierville, Tennessee
Spelunking in Forbidden Caverns
5.0When exploring all that Tennessee has to offer, it’s hard to ignore the fact it is home to more caves than any other state in America. So when picking one, of more than 10,000, to explore it is hard to go wrong. Forbidden Caverns happens to be one of the most popular spots and is only a few minut...Read more -
Del Rio, Tennessee
Meadow Creek Fire Tower
5.0Meadow Creek Fire Tower is a great place to spend an afternoon watching the sunset or spend the night gazing at the stars. You can bring a blanket then lay out on the top of the tower and view the entire sky. The tower itself was made back in the early 1920's. Over the years it changed appearance...Read more -
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Hike to the Ramsey Cascades
4.97.83 mi / 2254 ft gainThis multi-tiered waterfall is known as the tallest in the park – a worthwhile reward for the steep and sometimes tricky terrain you'll face on the way up. The popular route to the falls also passes through an impressive old-growth forest, which apparently boasts some of the tallest trees in the...Read more -
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Fern Branch Falls
5.03.7 mi / 794 ft gainTake Porters Creek Trail, a gravel road alongside Porters Creek. You will pass by an old farmstead and cemetery, as well as lots of wildflowers if you're out during the spring. In a mile, keep left, then in another half mile or so you should cross over a small (and somewhat harrowing) footbridge...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Hartford
Newport, North Carolina
Big Creek Horse Camp
Overview
Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, ap...
Newport, North Carolina
Big Creek Campground (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Overview
Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The beautiful flowing waters of Big...
Newport, North Carolina
Big Creek Group Camp
Overview
Big Creek Group Camp is located in the far northeastern corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the Tennessee-No...
Cosby, Tennessee
Cosby Picnic Pavilion
Overview
Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visit...
Cocke County, Tennessee
Cosby Group Camp
Overview
Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this group campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visi...
Cosby, Tennessee
Cosby Campground
Overview
Back country camping in a developed front country campground.
Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campgr...
