Bike Through Cades Cove

The most popular thing to do around Gatlinburg is a visit to Cades Cove. This beautiful little mountain valley is tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and was once a thriving community. Several rustic log cabins, cantilever barns, and grist mills are still preserved, giving Cades Cove a quaint air of times past.

An 11-mile one-way loop runs through Cades Cove, allowing you to tour it by car, bicycle, or on foot. Because Cades Cove is so popular, you can expect there to be lots of traffic during the summer and in the fall when the leaves change color around Gatlinburg.

The best way to see Cades Cove is, without a doubt, by bicycle. The Cades Cove loop road allows only bicycles (and foot traffic) before 10:00 am on Saturday mornings and Wednesday mornings from May to September.

Drive to Newfound Gap

Another popular activity in Gatlinburg is driving through the national park to Newfound Gap, which is split between Tennessee and North Carolina. While there, you can stand with one foot on each side of the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The mountain pass sits at an elevation of 5,046 feet, so you'll have fabulous views of the foothills below. The Appalachian Trail also runs right through Newfound Gap, so if you have ever dreamed of hiking part of the AT, now is your opportunity. If you start hiking northeast on the Appalachian Trail, you'll reach Charles Bunion in ~4 miles. Or, if you head southwest on the AT for 7.5 miles, you'll reach Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the state of Tennessee.

See the View from Clingman's Dome

You can continue heading up the windy mountain road to Clingman's Dome from Newfound Gap. At 6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. From the Clingman's Dome parking lot, it's a half-mile walk on a paved trail to the top of the mountain, where a long spiraling concrete ramp leads up to an observation deck from which you can enjoy the spectacular views. On a clear day, you can enjoy up to 100 miles of visibility from the top of Clingman's Dome.

The 23-mile drive to Clingman's Dome from downtown Gatlinburg can take over an hour with traffic, so plan accordingly. There is also limited parking at the top. It's best to arrive early in the day so you're not stuck waiting for a parking spot.

Clingman's Dome Winter Road Closure:

The final 7-mile stretch of the road to Clingman's Dome is closed from December 1st until March 31st. It may also be closed if there has been recent snowfall or cold temperatures. There is significantly more snow at this elevation in the winter than there is in Gatlinburg.

Take a Hike

Our favorite thing to do in Gatlinburg is to get out in nature and take a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies have over 600 miles of trails offering sweeping panoramic views, cascading waterfalls, and more. Some of the best day hikes in the Smoky Mountains include:

Laurel Falls (2.6 miles roundtrip): The hike to Laurel Falls is one of the most popular in the park. The entire trail is paved, so you'll find it's possible even for those with limited mobility. This hike gets crowded, and it's best to do it early in the morning or before sunset.

Grotto Falls (2.8 miles roundtrip): Grotto Falls is a popular hike that is relatively short and easy and is also on a well-maintained trail. This beautiful hike takes you directly behind a waterfall for a breathtaking experience.

Chimney Tops (3.3 miles roundtrip): The Chimney Tops trail is one of the Smokies' most iconic hikes. It's a short hike and offers impressive views at the top, but don't be fooled by the relatively short distance this hike covers. The last mile has an elevation of over 800 feet, making it a strenuous climb to the top. The Chimney Tops themselves were closed after the huge Gatlinburg fire of 2016, but a new viewing platform has been built where the trail currently ends.

Alum Cave (4.4 miles roundtrip): One of our favorite hikes in the Smokies, the Alum Cave trail starts on Newfound Gap Road and follows Alum Cave Creek before heading towards Mount LeConte. You'll hike through a rock tunnel known as Arch Rock, and at the end of your hike, you'll reach Alum Cave, an 80-foot tall concaved bluff you can rest under before heading back down.

Charles Bunion (8 miles roundtrip): This hike starts at the Newfound Gap parking lot. From there, it follows the Appalachian Trail east for 4 miles to a rocky outcrop known as Charles Bunion. This strenuous hike is worth the reward of the spectacular views at Charles Bunion as well as at several other points along your hike.

Drive the Roaring Fork Motor Trail

The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is one of the most famous drives through the national park. This one-way loop is only 5.5 miles long, but it is a narrow winding road with lots of places you'll want to stop to explore and take pictures. Most people take around 2 hours to drive through the entire trail.

For the best experience, it's best to stop at one of the park's visitor centers beforehand to pick up the National Park Service's guidebook to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. It's only $1 and contains information on the flora and fauna of this area and the history of the community that existed here before it was displaced by the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Towards the second half of the drive, you'll encounter log cabins, grist mills, and a church that are all remarkably well-preserved and quite interesting to visit. You'll also drive past the Place of a Thousand Drips, which is one of only two national park waterfalls you can visit.

See the Fireflies

Once a relatively unknown natural phenomenon, seeing the Smoky Mountain's synchronous fireflies has now become a major bucket list item for many visitors to Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountains just happen to be home to the Western Hemisphere's largest population of synchronous fireflies (Photinus Carolinus).

It's hard to do this unique experience justice with words, but you can imagine thousands of tiny lightning bugs all lighting up simultaneously in a visually stunning mating ritual. You can only see them for about 2-3 weeks each summer, typically at the end of May to the beginning of June.

The best way to see them is to book a campsite at Elkmont Campground, just a 25-minute drive from downtown Gatlinburg. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. It's impossible to predict the exact time that the fireflies will put on their show but planning on the first day of June will be your best bet.

If the Elkmont campground is already fully booked or you don't want to bother with camping, you can also attempt to purchase a parking pass for the event. There are only 225 parking passes available each night, and parking passes are awarded via a lottery system.

Go Whitewater Rafting on the Pigeon River

How about a little whitewater rafting if you're looking to get an adrenaline fix during your trip to Gatlinburg? Rafting at the nearby Pigeon River is considered one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Most rafting outfitters in town offer two different trips on the Pigeon River.

The Upper Pigeon River is the more exciting of the two trips. Over the course of ~5.5 miles, you'll raft through 60+ rapids, including twelve class III rapids and three heart-pounding class IV rapids. Kids generally need to be at least 8 years old and weigh over 70 lbs. to raft this section of the Pigeon River.

The Lower Pigeon River is a much more mellow 5.5-mile float geared towards families with young children or anyone who prefers taking in the beautiful mountain scenery over navigating class IV rapids.

The best whitewater rafting companies in Gatlinburg are Smoky Mountain Outdoors, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), and Rafting in the Smokies. Rafting trips start in Hartford, which is about a 40-minute drive from Gatlinburg.

Go Fishin'

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has almost 2,900 miles of rivers and streams and is home to one of the USA's last wild trout populations. Fishing is permitted year-round in all the national park's waterways. You'll need a fishing license for either Tennessee or North Carolina; both are valid in the national park. Fishing licenses are not available at the park headquarters, but you can purchase a Tennessee fishing license at lots of stores around Gatlinburg. You can also buy one online at https://www.gooutdoorstennessee.com/ and have it emailed to you in a matter of minutes.

If you didn't bring your fishing tackle with you on your trip to East Tennessee, or if you just prefer to have a local guide, several shops offer fishing tours in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler or Fly Fishing the Smokies are a couple of good options.

Go Trail Riding

Located right at the Smoky Mountains National Park entrance, Sugarlands Riding Stables is just 2 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. They have trail rides ranging from 4 miles to 15 miles (1-4 hours in duration) through the national park.

Smoky Mountain Riding Stables is located about ~4 miles east of Gatlinburg. They offer a 45-minute horseback ride over 3 miles of wooded trails and mountain streams. Even if you have never ridden a horse before, you can participate in the Smokies trail ride. Both stables have gentle horses that require almost no guidance, so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery.

Drink a Super Mug at the Smoky Mountain Brewery

The Smoky Mountain Brewery is a Gatlinburg mainstay. It is the oldest craft brewery in East Tennesee, and it used to be one of the only places you could get a decent beer in Gatlinburg. Luckily, times have changed, and now you'll find craft beer all over Gatlinburg, but the beers from "The Brewery" (as it is affectionately known) are still local favorites. The Cherokee Red Ale and Black Bear Ale are both quite popular. Or, if you want something lighter, try the Velas Hellas, an easy-drinking German-style lager.

The Smoky Mountain Brewery is located just a few blocks from the entrance to the national park and is the perfect place to stop for a beer after a long hike. And if you really need to unwind, you can get a "super mug" – 33.8 ounces of beer (almost the equivalent of half a six-pack) – for just $6.75. The Smoky Mountain Brewery also hosts live music, trivia nights, and karaoke, so something is always going on. That's one of the reasons why it's always been my favorite bar in Gatlinburg.

Sample Moonshine

As you walk around Gatlinburg, you'll no doubt start to notice several establishments selling moonshine. You'll probably be thinking to yourself, "isn't moonshine illegal? Has the town of Gatlinburg totally forsaken the rule of law for a quick tourist dollar?"

Well, the only thing that ever really made moonshine illegal was that no one paid taxes on it to the federal government. There is actually nothing illegal about distilling grain alcohol, known as "white dog", which is then aged in oak barrels to make whiskey. In fact, the generic grain alcohol is often sold to college students as "Everclear." All of these "Moonshine" distilleries are essentially just selling Everclear in mason jars – very clever marketing! Gatlinburg's moonshine distilleries are fun to visit and typically offer free samples of their hooch. Plus, you can see the distilling process and pick up a unique boozy gift for your friends back home.

The 'shine is infused with dozens of different flavors you can choose from, ranging from the ever-popular apple pie to stranger choices like maple bacon or peanut butter and jelly. The moonshine is when it has been soaked into fruit, so be sure to try the moonshine cherries or moonshine peaches.

The 3 moonshine distilleries in Gatlinburg are Sugerlands Distilling Co., Ole Smoky Moonshine, and Doc Collier Moonshine.

Walk Across the SkyBridge

Gatlinburg is now home to North America's longest pedestrian suspension bridge. The Gatlinburg Skybridge spans 680 feet and is 140 feet high at its highest point. From here, you'll have unparalleled views of the Smoky Mountains and of Gatlinburg far below. There is also a glass panel at the highest point along the Skybridge so you can look straight down 140 feet and scare yourself silly.

The suspension bridge is part of the SkyLift Park, and to reach it you'll need to first ride the SkyLift from downtown Gatlinburg to the SkyDeck 500 feet above the town. This chairlift was first opened in 1954, making it one of Gatlinburg's oldest attractions. Still, it got a major revamp after the Gatlinburg fire in 2016. Both the SkyDeck and SkyBridge are new additions.

Be Skeptical at Ripley's Believe it or Not

Probably the quirkiest thing you can do in Gatlinburg is to visit Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium. Cartoonist and anthropologist LeRoy Robert Ripley worked with the fact researcher Norbert Pearlroth to create the famous cartoon panel, Ripley's Believe it or Not. This grew into a media empire that included books, radio, television, and an ever-growing chain of museums and attractions.

Thanks to the extensive fact-checking by Norbert Pearlroth, most of Ripley's outlandish claims are actually trustworthy. But I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you believe them… or not!

See the Sea Life at the Aquarium

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies has been voted the best aquarium in the USA. It is home to ~10,000 exotic sea creatures spread over 10 themed exhibits. Crowd favorites include the penguin encounter, the touch-a-ray stingray bay, and the underwater shark tunnel.

Make sure you check the schedule for the live dive shows before planning your visit to the Aquarium of the Smokies so you can see the penguins or stingrays being fed. And if you're traveling with young kids, you won't want to miss seeing one of the aquarium's mermaid shows.

Get an Old-Timey Photo

One of Gatlinburg's most iconic and entertaining activities is taking an "old-timey photo." You can find dozens of old-timey photo studios lining the main strip of Gatlinburg. Your group will get to dress up in hoop skirts, waistcoats, trench coats, gun belts, garter belts, feather boas, and anything else you can find in the costume closet. You'll then have your photos taken with a period-appropriate backdrop and developed in sepia for that old-timey look! It's great fun for the whole family and makes for a great souvenir from your trip to Gatlinburg!

A word of warning: Make sure you are very clear on the pricing ahead of time as the options are often confusing. Clarify whether the sitting fee is for the whole group, or per person, how many different poses you can choose, how many prints you'll get, and whether you receive digital copies of the photos.

See Artwork at Arrowmont

The historic Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts has been educating artists and artisans for over 70 years. Here you will find classes and workshops on jewelry making, weaving, woodworking, ceramics, and more! If you really want to get a feel for the Appalachia, taking a class at Arrowmont is a great start. Of course, if you don't have time for a workshop, seeing their art collection is reason enough to visit Arrowmont. The school runs five art galleries that are open to the public with pieces from local and international artists. Arrowmont has a permanent collection of over 1,000 works of art as well as rotating exhibits. You can also visit the studio of the current artist in residence.

Arrowmont's Art Galleries are open from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday and from 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.

Play Putt-Putt Golf

There are seven miniature golf courses in Gatlinburg. The most unique of them is definitely Hillbilly Golf as it was built onto the side of a steep hill and has been open for almost 50 years! Before beginning your game of putt-putt, you'll head 300 vertical feet straight up the hillside on Hillbilly Golf's inclined railcar. Then you'll play a true Appalachian-themed game of miniature golf by putting your way down the mountain through tractors, moonshine stills, and outhouses.

If you are trying to figure out what to do on a rainy day in Gatlinburg, miniature golf is still an option! Head to Blindshot Barnaby's Circus Golf or Gatlin's which both offer indoor blacklight golf courses.

Other options for a round of putt-putt golf include Davy Crockett Mini-Golf, Cooter's Place (if you're a fan of The Duke's of Hazard), Treasure Quest (another indoor minigolf course), and a small miniature golf course at Ober Gatlinburg.

Ride the Tram to Ober Gatlinburg

Another long-standing institution of Gatlinburg is the Aerial Tramway. Carrying up to 120 passengers at a time, the Gatlinburg Tram departs downtown and travels 2.1-miles to the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort high in the Smokies.

You'll have great views of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains both during your tram ride and when you arrive at the top. There are also lots of fun things to do at Ober Gatlinburg all year round! You can go Skiing in the winter, ride the Mountain Coaster or Alpine Slide in the summer, and go ice skating regardless of what season you're visiting Gatlinburg.

Go Skiing

Ober Gatlinburg is Tennessee's only ski resort, and if you are visiting in the winter, Skiing or snowboarding is one of the best things to do in Gatlinburg. The ski area at Ober Gatlinburg is relatively small, especially compared to many proper ski resorts in the Western part of the USA or Canada. Lift tickets are significantly cheaper on weekdays than on weekends. So, if you'll be visiting Gatlinburg for several days you should plan your Skiing for a weekday as the slopes will also be much less crowded midweek. Ober also offers both ski rentals and lessons. They also have snow tubing which is quite popular with families visiting Gatlinburg in the winter.

Ober's ski season generally lasts from mid-December until early March. Still, it is dependent on the weather so there is no way of saying for sure. If you plan to ski during your trip to Gatlinburg, you should visit in January or February.

Go Ice Skating

Another popular activity for visitors to Gatlinburg in the Winter is ice skating at Ober. The skating rink is open year-round, so if you're visiting in the summer, it's also a great way to beat the heat in Tennessee. It's quite cold in the ice-skating rink, so if you're heading to Ober Gatlinburg in the summer and want to go ice skating, make sure you bring a jacket or sweater.

Ober Gatlinburg's ice-skating rink has been around for as long as I can remember and is home to Tennessee's annual Special Olympics ice-skating competition. At only $8 per person (including ice skate rentals) it is also one of the most affordable things to do in Gatlinburg,

Ride the Mountain Coaster

If you're visiting Gatlinburg in the summer, you will miss out on the Skiing, but luckily you can ride one of Ober Gatlinburg's newest attractions, the Mountain Coaster! You'll sail down 2,750-feet of winding track, reaching top speeds of 25MPH. You control the speed of your car with a hand brake so you can choose whether to make your descent a leisurely ride or an all-out adrenaline rush!

I also recommend the Alpine Slide which is similar to the Mountain Coaster. On the slide, you descend a steep winding track down the mountain in a small vehicle that you control with a hand brake. The biggest difference is that your car is not attached to the track.

Be Terrified at the Mysterious Mansion

The Mysterious Mansion looks like a very creepy Victorian-era mansion from the outside, and through the windows you'll spot shadowy figures moving around in the interior. The Mysterious Mansion has been a Gatlinburg mainstay for quite some time, but it went through a significant renovation in 2012 which made it scarier and more realistic than ever. You can expect three floors of secret passageways, creepy special effects, and a legitimately scary haunted house. No refunds are given if you get too scared and leave early so make sure your whole group knows what they're getting themselves into!

If you really love haunted houses, then make sure to also check out Ripley's Haunted Adventure just a few blocks away on Gatlinburg's main strip.

Visit the Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum

If you're looking for something weird to do in Gatlinburg, then look no further than the world's only salt and pepper shaker museum! Here you'll find an utterly overwhelming collection of over 20,000 salt and pepper shakers plus an equally impressive assortment of 1,500 pepper mills.

This eclectic museum is the brainchild of Andrea Ludden, a Belgian archaeologist who wanted to showcase the variety and creativity of everyday items as mundane as salt and pepper shakers. You'll find her ever-growing collection of salt and pepper shakers stacked 3-4 rows deep on dozens of wooden shelves and in glass cases.

The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers is open daily from 10:00am-2:00pm, though you may want to check their Facebook page for current hours before heading over. Admission is $3 per adult, and if you purchase something in the gift shop, your cost of admission will be refunded!

See the View from the Space Needle

If you're looking down on Gatlinburg from the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook or from the SkyLift Park, you'll quickly spot the Space Needle towering high over everything else in town. At 407-feet tall, the Space Needle is the tallest structure in Gatlinburg, and when it was built in 1969, it was the second tallest building in Tennessee.

* PLEASE NOTE: RATES AND PARK SCHEDULES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.