Dabney's Guidebook to Gatlinburg
Food scene
Mama's Chicken Kitchen
1244 East PkwyThis is our go to place for delicious food without a wait!
Great place to eat for breakfast or lunch!
Open from 7am-4pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Winter closing hours may vary.
Breakfast menu served all day. Lunch menu served after 11:30am
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Pancake Pantry
628 ParkwayGreat place to eat for breakfast or lunch!
Open from 7am-4pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Winter closing hours may vary.
Breakfast menu served all day. Lunch menu served after 11:30am
This is our favorite place to get Saltwater Taffy!
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Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen at The Village
744 ParkwayThis is our favorite place to get Saltwater Taffy!
Activities
This mountainside amusement park features skiing, snow tubing, mini-golf, ice skating, bumper cars and more! Easy to access during off peak times via car or take the Aerial Tramway up the mountain if you are in downtown Gatlinburg.
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Ober Gatlinburg
1339 Ski Mountain RdThis mountainside amusement park features skiing, snow tubing, mini-golf, ice skating, bumper cars and more! Easy to access during off peak times via car or take the Aerial Tramway up the mountain if you are in downtown Gatlinburg.
Sightseeing
Easy hike to a waterfall!
Directions to Trailhead:
The hike to Grotto Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from the Trillium Gap Trailhead, located just outside of Gatlinburg. Starting from Light 8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. After driving 0.7 miles veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon which you'll enter into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. After driving another 2.2 miles you'll enter the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop Road. Drive another 0.9 miles on the loop before turning right onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The parking area for Grotto Falls will be on the left side of the road after driving roughly 1.6 miles along this one-way road. The trailhead is located just beyond the parking area on the opposite side of the road. Due to the popularity of this hiking trail, there are additional parking spaces further up the road. Your best bet is to arrive early during the peak visitor season.
Trail Description:
The hike to Grotto Falls begins from the Trillium Gap Trailhead. Hikers will be following the Trillium Gap Trail for most of the way as it meanders through a beautiful old-growth forest, which includes many large eastern hemlocks.
The first section of trail is technically an access trail. After hiking a very short distance, roughly 0.15 miles, you'll link up with the Trillium Gap Trail. Hikers should proceed straight ahead at this junction to continue towards the falls.
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Grotto foss
Trillium Gap TrailEasy hike to a waterfall!
Directions to Trailhead:
The hike to Grotto Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains begins from the Trillium Gap Trailhead, located just outside of Gatlinburg. Starting from Light 8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. After driving 0.7 miles veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon which you'll enter into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. After driving another 2.2 miles you'll enter the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop Road. Drive another 0.9 miles on the loop before turning right onto the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The parking area for Grotto Falls will be on the left side of the road after driving roughly 1.6 miles along this one-way road. The trailhead is located just beyond the parking area on the opposite side of the road. Due to the popularity of this hiking trail, there are additional parking spaces further up the road. Your best bet is to arrive early during the peak visitor season.
Trail Description:
The hike to Grotto Falls begins from the Trillium Gap Trailhead. Hikers will be following the Trillium Gap Trail for most of the way as it meanders through a beautiful old-growth forest, which includes many large eastern hemlocks.
The first section of trail is technically an access trail. After hiking a very short distance, roughly 0.15 miles, you'll link up with the Trillium Gap Trail. Hikers should proceed straight ahead at this junction to continue towards the falls.
A very short and very easy, family-friendly hike along Fighting Creek to a 25-foot cascade.
You will find the trailhead to this gravel path just to the left of the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The easy walk along Fighting Creek is scenic and tends not to be crowded, either.
At the end of the hike you will find a beautiful 25-foot waterfall.
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Cataract Falls
Cove Mountain TrailA very short and very easy, family-friendly hike along Fighting Creek to a 25-foot cascade.
You will find the trailhead to this gravel path just to the left of the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The easy walk along Fighting Creek is scenic and tends not to be crowded, either.
At the end of the hike you will find a beautiful 25-foot waterfall.
Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The waterfall and creek are named for a Cherokee chief whose village once stood several miles downstream.
The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The hike is 5 miles roundtrip and considered moderate in difficulty.
Due to strong currents and an undertow, swimming in the pool at the base of the falls is extremely dangerous. Swimmers have drown here! Don't be the next victim!
Trailhead: The turnoff for the trailhead is located past stop #10 on the Cades Cove Loop Road. The turnoff is signed.
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Abrams Falls Trailhead
Abrams Falls TrailAlthough Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The waterfall and creek are named for a Cherokee chief whose village once stood several miles downstream.
The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The hike is 5 miles roundtrip and considered moderate in difficulty.
Due to strong currents and an undertow, swimming in the pool at the base of the falls is extremely dangerous. Swimmers have drown here! Don't be the next victim!
Trailhead: The turnoff for the trailhead is located past stop #10 on the Cades Cove Loop Road. The turnoff is signed.
Trailhead: From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road.
Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.
45 íbúar mæla með
Laurel Falls Trailhead
Old State Highway 73 ScenicTrailhead: From Sugarlands Visitor Center, turn toward Cades Cove on Little River Road and drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead where there are parking areas on both sides of the road.
Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.
A rainbow produced by mist from this 80-foot high waterfall is visible on sunny afternoons. During extended winter cold spells, an impressive ice formation builds around the falls.
Between trailhead and falls, Rainbow Falls Trail gains about 1,500' in elevation. The 5.4 mile roundtrip hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The Rainbow Falls Trail continues for approximately 4 miles beyond the falls to the summit of Mount Le Conte.
Access Trail: Rainbow Falls Trail in the Roaring Fork area.
Trailhead: From the parkway in Gatlinburg, turn at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Continue past the Noah "Bud" Ogle homesite to the clearly signed Rainbow Falls parking area.
Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 5.4 miles and the hike is generally considered moderate in difficulty. However due to the length, elevation gain, and rocky terrain in sections of the trail, some visitors may rate the hike as difficult. It takes about 3-5 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.
Rainbow Falls
A rainbow produced by mist from this 80-foot high waterfall is visible on sunny afternoons. During extended winter cold spells, an impressive ice formation builds around the falls.
Between trailhead and falls, Rainbow Falls Trail gains about 1,500' in elevation. The 5.4 mile roundtrip hike is considered moderate in difficulty. The Rainbow Falls Trail continues for approximately 4 miles beyond the falls to the summit of Mount Le Conte.
Access Trail: Rainbow Falls Trail in the Roaring Fork area.
Trailhead: From the parkway in Gatlinburg, turn at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Continue past the Noah "Bud" Ogle homesite to the clearly signed Rainbow Falls parking area.
Trail Notes: The roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 5.4 miles and the hike is generally considered moderate in difficulty. However due to the length, elevation gain, and rocky terrain in sections of the trail, some visitors may rate the hike as difficult. It takes about 3-5 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.
Borgartillaga
Samgöngur
Gatlinburg Trolley
The Gatlinburg Trolley is one of the easiest ways to get around Gatlinburg without having the hassle of finding and paying for parking. Access their website for more information:
https://www.gatlinburgtrolley.org/routes
Siðir og menning
Black Bears!
The main reason a black bear in Gatlinburg would find their way to your cabin is if they smell food. Here are a few tips on how to keep them away:
1. If you spend time grilling outside or having a picnic lunch, make sure to pick up any garbage and scraps of food. It’s best to eliminate any scent of food from the area. Even on the porch!
2.Make sure the grill area is cleaned and free of any leftover scraps.
3. Be sure to use the designated garbage cans.
4. Lock your car doors! Bears know how to open doors and find food inside you car!