Ways to View the Fall Color in Sevierville

Besides getting in my car, what are some different ways to view the fall color in Sevierville?

Fall color is out there, what do we need to do, direct you on how to view it? We do? OK, here goes.

Strap on your boots, pull on a warm shirt and just go for a walk in the woods. That’s obviously one of the easiest ways to take in the beauty of the Smokies. If you weren’t aware, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is made up of over 800 miles of trails and most are well maintained. Whether it’s a quick jaunt over a few creeks and through a couple of fields, or a strenuous climb to the top of Mt. LeConte, the Smokies offer trails for all types of hikers from the hearty to the slow looker. Hike part of the Appalachian Trail if you feel like it – it’s a part of the national park. Visit http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hiking.htm for a more detailed description of the types of hikes you’ll encounter in the Smokies.

If it’s seeing a wide spectrum of color that’s more to your liking, how about taking one of those scenic Sevierville helicopter tours? You can take a trip over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, or Gatlinburg (all different rates) and get a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Smokies fall foliage.

Take a horseback ride through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Places like Douglas Lake View Stables provide horseback rides ranging from one half hour to four hours around beautiful Douglas Lake. It’s a great way to get back to nature and catch some of the fall colors you just don’t get to see from the road.

One of the newest ways to observe the fall colors is zipping down across the French Broad River and the new Wahoo Adrenaline Park in Sevierville. This zip line attraction offers a unique way to view fall foliage in Sevierville, which are really popping right now. Another local zip line adventure is located at Adventure Park at Five Oaks. Here, guests zip through the canopy of trees to the edge of the famed Parkway in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. The course is located directly across the street from Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall. As mentioned, Wahoo Adrenaline Park is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of fall and an opportunity you find find many places. Marvel at the French Broad River as you zoom across, ride the Jet Boats and step out onto the world’s largest Glass Bottom Sky Bridge with the backdrop of the beautiful Sevierville fall foliage.

Late October Leaf Report

In Sevierville, the leaves are at or slightly past peak at the mid elevations from 3,000-5,000 feet. Impressive they most certainly are. We’re talking about red leaves that haven’t shown this much color in years, especially the North Carolina portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Trees in the highest of elevations are now considered past peak and look accordingly.

In the Smoky Mountains’ lower elevations, the color is there and coming into its own. A week after seeing the first frost of the season usually gets those leaves changing color rather quickly and its done that here. Tree species like the black gum, dogwood, sumac, and sourwood are showing redder than trees. Meanwhile, the tuliptrees, black walnuts, birch, beech, spicebush, and hickories are taking on a more golden hue. Taking in the time of year, the current weather conditions, etc., expect color to stay in area through early November if the weather keeps up its current pace.

While fall colors have past their peak in the high elevations, and many trees have already shed their leaves, the mid-level species are continuing to radiate bright hues and show spectacular fall color. Oak trees are just beginning to come out of their shell, with maple, hickory, and other trees offering up their brightest sides. Green has all but disappeared in the middle elevations. We’re not saying there aren’t a few trees hanging on, but good luck finding many of them.

If you’re wanting to get out and see some of the best fall color in the Smoky Mountains, make sure a trip down Newfound Gap Road is in your travel itinerary, or try the Blue Ridge Parkway traveling east to Asheville, NC, the Foothills Parkway East & West in Blount County, and Heintooga Ridge Road to Balsam Mountain Campground. If hiking is more your flavor, get out to Cades Cove and try the Rich Mountain Road Loop, Chestnut Top Trail, Smokemont Loop, Kanati Fork, and Sutton Ridge Overlook on the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail.

Fall Weather in Sevierville

What’s the weather like in Sevierville during the popular fall months? Find out by clicking on any of our Sevierville forecast links.

It’s fall, the leaves are changing, the air is cooler and a bit crisper, hay rides and corn mazes are the flavor of the day, and people are pouring into the region to find out if everything they read and see in those beautiful Smoky Mountain pictures really do happen. To put it bluntly, this is THE time to be in the Smokies.

Fall in the Smoky Mountains and Sevierville means a lot of things from festivals to events to hiking and camping, and all those require a bit a of information on one singular aspect: weather.

On average, the temperature in Sevierville during the month of October is around 73 degrees, while in November it dips down a bit more to around 62 degrees. Those are some pretty ideal numbers for getting out and about and really enjoying some fall scenery. Meanwhile, lows during the overnight hours can dip to around 45 in October and 35 degrees in November. Just be sure to take that into account if part of your excursion includes camping.

October is also the least rainy month (2.46′) for Sevierville on average before creeping back up to around 3.5 inches for the month of November. Like the fall foliage, it’s a “catch me if you can” type of month for Sevierville.

Here are a few links to some helpful sites for Sevierville weather, especially if you’re planning an upcoming trip to the Smokies this fall or winter:

Check out the Weather Channel’s latest forecast for Sevierville, TN.

Accuweather’s up-to-date Sevierville forecast.

Looking for tips on the best time to catch the fall colors in Sevierville?

Yahoo! also gives viewers the Sevierville forecast and a weather radar map for the Southeast region.

Santa Hustle Smokies Half Marathon

Inaugural Santa Hustle Half-Marathon and 5K Run and Walk at Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Resort in Sevierville, TN. The race will take place on Sunday, December 9 at 8 am.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to compete in a marathon wearing a Santa hat and beard? This year, Adrenaline Sports Management presents the Inaugural Santa Hustle Half-Marathon and 5K Run and Walk at Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Resort in Sevierville, TN. The race will take place on Sunday, December 9 at 8 am.

This great, winter-themed Half-Marathon and 5K, will provide every participant with a FREE SANTA HAT, BEARD & CUSTOMIZED SHIRT to wear while running either 13.1 or 3.1 miles. Everyone will love the Holiday decorations, the Christmas music, and an After Party offering a buffet of food and plenty to drink.

Customized Long Sleeve Shirt & Goody Bag
All 5K Participants will receive a customized Santa Claus Long Sleeve Shirt & Special Goody Bag. All Half-Marathon Participants will recieve a customized Santa Claus Long Sleeve Dri-Fit Shirt and special Goody Bag.

Event Information

Entry Fees:
Half Marathon – $55.00 ($65.00 on 12/3)
5K – $35.00 ($40.00 on 12/3)

* All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable Continue reading “Santa Hustle Smokies Half Marathon”

Directions: Sevierville to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

How to get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Sevierville.

If you’re vacationing in Sevierville likely one of your chosen destinations is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And before you say it’s just too hard to find your way around a new place, the route from Sevierville to the national park is basically a straight line.

So, let’s say you’re in downtown Sevierville. The parkway run parallel to downtown, so if you head west from anywhere downtown, you’ll take a left onto the parkway. From there, it’s a 15 mile drive through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, keeping right at the fork for 0.7 miles as you leave town. Soon thereafter you’ll make a right onto Park Headquarters Road and travel another 0.4 miles to 107 Park Headquarters Road in Gatlinburg – the official entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Easy as that!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is still recognized as the most visited park system in the country with around 10 million people coming through the half-million acre nature preserve each year. Due partly to the popularity of the national park, towns like Sevierville have grown and developed. Each offer the full range of lodging choices, fine dining and exciting attractions for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville area. Continue reading “Directions: Sevierville to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park”

Rib Shack

Great Ribs… No Bones About It!

The Rib Shack is one of those off the beaten path, hidden secrets that the locals don’t want you to find out about. Located at the end of Upper Middle Creek Road, you can see the Rib Shack from the Parking Lot of Dunn’s Market. Boasting the best BBQ in the county, the rib shack has amazing food in a down home atmosphere.

The Rib Shack is not as hard to find as you might think. Let’s assume that you are headed down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge towards Gatlinburg. Take a left at traffic light number 8 and head up the hill as if you were going to Dollywood. When you get to the traffic light at the top of the hill, turn right onto Dollywood Lane. Follow Dollywood until it turns into Upper Middle Creek and then continue down this road until it dead ends. You are now at the intersection of Upper Middle Creek and Birds Creek. Dunn’s Market will be on your right. Turn left and take the first right turn that you can take, onto Pittman Center Road. The Rib Shack is just on your left.

A Few things you need to know about the Rib Shack. Number one, there is no inside dining room. You sit in a separate room from the kitchen. It is screened in with fans so it can get a little warm in the summer but the windows close and it is heated so it is nice and toasty in the winter months. Also, they do not take credit or debit cards so you will need to bring some cash. Now for the food.

They do have some of the best BBQ that you will run across on the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains. ALl the foood at the Rib Shack is fresh and wonderful but face it, you are going there for the BBQ and you are not going to be disappointed. Their menu is not huge and fancy: a chicken dinner, a pork dinner, a rib dinner and a pulled pork bbq sandwich. Ste to the window, choose your favorite meat and place your order. Wait on the porch for your food, pull all the smells into your nose – the smells at the Rib Shack are truly part of the eating experience. When your food hits the counter, take the time to walk to the dining room before you a start eating, you are going to have to struggle to keep from eating it right at the counter. When you sit down, you are ready for one of the best bbq meals ever. Tender, seasoned, and ready to covered with their signature sauce. Your mouth is going to be watering before your rear end hits the seat.

Get out of the ordinary. Try something a little different. Eat where the locals eat. Try the Rib Shack.

The Rib Shack
Pittman Center Road
Sevierville, TN
865-919-0649

Hiking the Smokies – Hen Wallow Falls

The hike to Hen Wallow Falls is moderate but very rewarding at the end. The falls descend 90 feet to a pool below.

Just a short trip east along Interstate 40 is Cosby, TN, where you’ll find the hike to Hen Wallow Falls. It’s a short day trip from Sevierville that takes about a hour to reach the trailhead which is found just past the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Cosby side. From there it’s a 4.4 mile roundtrip to the the falls but totally worth it if you’re a fan of the Smokies and its natural beauty.

The trail itself can be steep and rugged to start out with but you’ll eventually pass through a growth of hemlock and rhododendron. Rock Creek will eventually come up on your right, and you’ll pass signage for a trail that leads to the Cosby Campground before crossing over Rock Creek.

Continuing on from the trailhead about a mile you’ll reach Messer Gap. Expect you see various other offshoots along the trail but keep on as you’ll eventually come to what was an old rock wall on the left of the trail. Most likely this was at one time a homestead.

A signed side trail at 2.1 miles leads to the base of the 90-foot Hen Wallow Falls by way of steep switchbacks. Hen Wallow Creek, which was only two feet wide at the top of the falls, dramatically transforms into a 20 foot falls at the base. In all, Hen Wallow Falls descends 90 feet from its small creek beginnings.

*Just a note, for some great winter photographs visit the Hen Wallow Falls in January when it freezes into an icy cascade.

Access Trail: Gabes Mountain

Trailhead: Park at the Cosby Picnic Area – near the entrance to Cosby Campground. From there, walk back along the road to the Gabes Mountain Trail.

Etc.: The hike is generally considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 3-4 hours to hike to the waterfall and back. Hikers continuing on the Gabes Mountain Trail beyond the falls can enjoy an old-growth forest. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on the trail. Hikers are also prohibited from climbing on the rocks around the waterfall. Over the years, several people have died from falling off the rocks and numerous others have suffered serious injuries from climbing on the rocks near the waterfall. Due to mist and algae, the rocks aligning Hen Wallow Falls are extremely slippery. Children should be supervised closely at all times.

50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade

The 50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade is back this year with a number of favorites as well as new, unique entries.

The 50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade (Dec. 1) has it all this year – baton twirlers, marching bands, pageant winners and all kinds of floats. Of course, this is all leading up to the appearance of the parade’s Grand Marshal – Santa Claus!

This year, the parade will begin at 11 am. For those looking for a premium spot, the parade can best be viewed by finding a spot along Forks of the River Parkway and Court Avenue in historic downtown Sevierville.

Other entries include a 1949 Dodge wrecker that looks like “Tow Mater” from the Disney movie “Cars,” the General Lee showcar from the “Dukes of Hazzard,” Slugger & Diamond mascots from the Smokies, Bloomie the Pig, WIVK the Frog and U.S. Rep. Phil Roe.

The Sevierville Christmas Parade will wind through downtown Sevierville and feature a number of unique entries including the Lumberjack Feud – a float demonstrating the woodcutting skills of your everyday lumberjack. The Lumberjack Feud is a Smoky Mountain dinner show that pits two lumberjacking families against each other for the right to stay in the Smokies. Continue reading “50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade”

Easiest Way to get to Sevierville

Find out the best way to get to downtown Sevierville and the Smoky Mountains.

With so many attractions now opening in Sevierville like the Wilderness Waterpark, various zipline adventures and the like, it’s no wonder people are starting to ask how to get to Sevierville, rather than Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. That’s not to say people still don’t ask how to get to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, but it’s not uncommon to hear just as many people ask for directions to Sevierville.

Most visitors coming into Sevierville come one of three main ways – the first, Interstate 40, being the most used, easiest, and most well known. Coming from Knoxville east, or from Asheville, NC, west, travel along Interstate 40 until you reach exit 407 – Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Taking that exit, you’ll then travel south along Winfield Dunn Parkway (Hwy. 66) until you reach downtown Sevierville.

The next two routes are used pretty often but not nearly by vacationers coming to Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains. From downtown Knoxville, you’ll travel southeast along U.S. 441 – Chapman Highway through Seymour, Tn until it becomes U.S. 411 and you reach downtown Sevierville. This route eventually turns the driver all the way eastbound as it approaches Sevierville.

Traveling north through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Interstate 40 from North Carolina to Tennessee you’ll eventually reach Newport, TN. Take exit 423A to U.S. 411/Hwy 35 traveling west on the Newport Highway. This will eventually turn into the Dolly Parton Parkway once you reach Sevierville.

*Fun fact: Sevierville is located within a day’s drive of over half the United State’s population.

Hwy. 66 Construction – Highway 66 is currently undergoing construction to add additional lanes in order to improve traffic flow into the area. To lessen congestion due to construction, the main parts of the construction are taking place in the evening and overnight hours. Two lanes are also being kept open at all times. Traffic is less congested during the week, so arriving and departing on weekdays will lessen your chances of waiting through construction.

Additional information on Hwy 66 construction can be obtained by calling the Sevierville Visitor Center at 1-888-738-4378. More information about the Hwy 66 Improvement Project can be found at www.improving66.com. Follow the project on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Improving66.

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Eagle Springs Winery in Kodak

Eagle Springs Winery in Kodak specializes in honey wines and is now open just off of Interstate 40 at exit 407.

Having already profiled the area’s Rocky Top Wine Trail recently, you’d think we would have covered our tracks when it comes to the region’s wine offerings. Not so fast, said Eagle Springs Winery, which opened recently in Kodak, TN.

Eagle Spring’s motto: “Producing local wines from local vines!” is one many people can get behind as more and more businesses try to get more local. As for the winery itself, which is located just off Interstate 40 at Exit 407 – Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Eagle Springs has goals of partnering with numerous vineyards in East Tennessee and using their grapes to make wine at their (119) West Dumplin Valley Rd location.

If Eagle Spring’s place looks familiar, you’re not far off. They operate in what was the Heritage Log Homes log cabin. For Eagle Springs it’s the perfect location for a winery – woodsy with a rustic feel complete with stone accents. It’s a great setting to sip some of their delicious wine. Eagle Springs offers a selection of such traditional wines as Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz as well as some hard to find varieties of honey wine.

“Looking at the other wineries in our area, we saw that no one was making wine from a honey base. That is when we decided to bring a fresh, new product to the market” said Don Collier, owner. “This twist on traditional wine is great for the new wine drinker as well as the wine connoisseur; the world has been making wine out of honey for well over 2,000 years.”

Wildfire, a strawberry-kiwi honey wine, and Nectar, a delicious blend of honey wine and mango, aptly describe Eagle Springs’ honey wines and happen to be the names of each too.

Anyone 21 years of age and older are welcome to come and sample Eagle Spring’s wine selection. You can also enjoy free samples of local cheese from Sweetwater Valley Farms and local fudge, which will be available on the weekends, to go along with our wines. It’s a great way to spend part of a day or weekend. Just drop by and the staff will be happy to assist you and get you some fine samples.

If you’re coming from Knoxville on your way to Asheville or the tri-cities, the winery can be seen on the hillside just off the interstate to the right. Right beside the Eagle Springs log cabin is an eagle -shaped sign that reads “WINERY” in large bold letters.