Smoky Mountain Solitude

Secluded Vacation Getaways in the Smokies

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Secluded Smoky Mountain Vacations

Getaway to the Smokies for a Relaxing Smoky Mountain Vacation

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our national treasures. With over 100,000 acres of virgin timber -- the Smokies are one of the most ancient and pristine parcels of real estate -- on the planet.

Although it's impossible to capture the all the beauty and grandeur of the Smokies, we can offer a unique glimpse.

A unique glimpse of the Smoky Mountains?   You bet!

We'll reveal where to find some ...

  • fabulous picnic sites,
  • quiet walks and hikes, and
  • some hidden spots to see some Smoky Mountain wildlife.
So sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the quiet wonders of the Smoky Mountains ...


Sugarlands Visitor Center

Sugarlands is the prime place to get brochures on every attraction of the National Park. If you're not sure how to get there, the Sugarlands Visitor Center is just inside the park from the Gatlinburg Park bypass.

At Sugarlands, you can ...
  • explore a nature museum,
  • see a 20 minute film,
  • browse through our excellent bookstore, and
  • and talk to the helpful park personnel.

Once you've decided and you leave the Sugarlands Visitor Center, it's time to make your first choice --

Turn right if you're going to Metcalf Bottoms, the Sinks, Tremont or Cades Cove, or

Turn left, return to Highway 441, then turn right, if you've decided to see the Chimneys, Alum Cave, Morton Overlook, Newfound Gap or sites in North Carolina.

If you turned right from the visitor center, you'll be on Little River Road and you won't see another building for more than 20 miles.

Along with some gorgeous scenery, here's what else to look for ...


Laurel Falls Trail

About 5 miles from Sugarlands, you'll see the trailhead on your right. The trail is paved, only one mile long, and level.

The falls are very lovely and the trail passes directly across them.



Metcalf Bottoms

This picnic area is 4 miles up the road. It stretches about a half-mile along the Little River. There are plenty of tables and grills.

This is also a popular tubing and swimming spot. From Metcalf Bottoms, Little River runs along the road for a couple of miles, so it's easy to keep your tubers in sight.


Meigs Creek

Another mile up the road, Meigs Creek joins the Little River and on your left you'll see Meigs Falls -- it's truly one of the prettiest waterfalls in the park.

After a few more miles you'll come to highway 73 which takes you to Townsend, TN. If you need some gas, or a quick meal, go ahead and turn right.

Otherwise, if you keep on Little River Road, you'll come to the Tremont Institute.


The Tremont Institute

The nature institute at Tremont offers a series of programs and hands-on training for nature lovers of all ages. A wide variety of three and five day courses are offered to groups of elementary and high school students.

Tremont Institute has ...

  • a dormitory which houses 125
  • a dining hall
  • several indoor classrooms and of course ...
  • a beautiful outdoor laboratory.
During the summer week long camp, kids can have a wilderness experience they'll never forget.

The kids programs include ...

  • hiking,
  • swimming, and
  • camp fire gatherings.

But Tremont also has classes for adults. These include ...

  • hiking adventures
  • wilderness first - aid and
  • photography.

Costs are remarkably low and discounts are available by registering early.

The Tremont Nature Institute is run by the National Park Service and the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

If you'd like more info, give-em a call ( 865 ) 448 - 6709 or just browse their web site --
The Great Smoky Mountain Nature Institute at Tremont.


Cades Cove

Continuing down Little River Road for 5 more miles will bring you to Cades Cove. The Cove driving tour is an 11 mile loop and figure on a minimum of two hours. But do yourself a favor -- buy the self-guiding brochure It's a great guide.

But be forewarned: At times there can be a lot of traffic and there's no other way out. Animal sightings along the road can bring traffic to a halt.

Whatever your Smoky Mountain destination, please note that you'll return over the same road. If it's late afternoon, traffic on Little Road will be busy, especially near highway 441, so please consider taking the bypass towards Pigeon forge. Taking the bypass then doubling back on the Parkway towards Gatlinburg just might be faster.


Newfound Gap Road

After leaving Sugarlands Visitor Center, if you turn left, return to Highway 441, then turn right you'll be on Newfound Gap Road. The drive is uphill for the next 16 miles. The are also many curves so ... please be careful.

In general there are several nature trails and quiet walks on Newfound Gap Road. These quiet walkways are no more than a quarter-mile and they's a nice way to stretch your legs.


Chimneys Picnic Area

About 5 miles up the road you'll see the picnic area on the right. Chimney's is a local favorite and daylong parties are quite common.

At Chimney's you're bound to see some wildlife. At dusk a few bears may appear looking for supper. Remember, don't feed 'em. Just yell and scream, wave your arms and run 'em off.


Alum Cave

A few miles further up the road, on your left you'll see the trailhead for Alum Cave. Alum Cave is a very popular site. It's where the Confederate army mined alum to make gun powder during the Civil War.

The trail to the cave is a five mile round trip with a 1,400 foot elevation gain -- rated moderately strenuous.


LeConte Lodge

The Alum Cave trail also take you to Le Conte Lodge. Le Conte Lodge is a mountain retreat atop the third - highest peak in the Smoky Mountain Range, 6,500 feet.

What's Le Conte Lodge? It's an overnight stop for ambitious hikers looking for a

  • warm meal,
  • rustic accommodations,
  • friendly company, and
  • a world-class view.

There's only one way to the lodge -- and that's on foot. Several hiking trails lead to the lodge, from several points in the national park.

On Newfound Gap Road the trail that lead to LeConte Lodge are:

  • Alum Cave Trail -- 4.9 miles
  • Boulevard Trail -- 8 miles
From the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, the trail are
  • Trillium Gap Trail -- 8 miles
  • Bull Head Trail -- 6.4 miles
  • Rainbow Falls Trail -- 6 miles.

Le Conte Lodge is the highest - elevated guest lodge in the eastern United States.

  • It was built in 1924,
  • It can accommodate up to 50 nightly guests, and
  • it's open from March to mid-November.

Advanced reservations are required and should be make one year in advance.

But please remember -- Le Conte Lodge is rustic and what you get is pure -- quiet simplicity.

There's no running water, electricity or phone service. Light is provided by kerosene lamp and hear is from wood burning stoves.

Because there is no road, each spring supplies are airlifted and during tourist season, llamas bring up food and clean linens.

The layout of the lodge is like a small village -- a group of rustic cabins with a dining hall and common bathrooms. The cabins range in size, sleeping from two to six people.

So what about the meals? Guests get two meals each day:

Dinner is traditionally

  • roast beef,
  • mashed potatoes,
  • green beans,
  • corn bread,
  • and wine.

Breakfast includes

  • eggs,
  • Canadian bacon,
  • pancakes,
  • grits,
  • biscuits,
  • plus coffee.

Newfound Gap

After a few tight hair-pin turns and a steep grade, you'll see the Newfound Gap parking area.

Newfound Gap, elevation 5,048 feet, is the spot where President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the national park in 1940.


Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

Continuing south, you'll come to the North Carolina border and Clingmans Dome Road.

The tower parking lot is 7 miles away and the steep hike from the parking lot is a half-mile.


Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Continuing your drive down Newfound Gap Road, in 17 miles you'll come to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. It's near the park's southern boundary.

Mingus Mill

Next comes Mingus Mill -- a working gristmill. Products from the mill are for sale along with other merchandise, but it's an unusual site -- worth seeing.

Pioneer Farmstead at Oconaluftee

This is a real - life exhibit of how the settlers of Appalachia lived.

Smoky Mountain Solitude.com

Getaway to the Smokies for a Secluded Smoky Mountain Vacation