Total lunar eclipse viewing at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Monday, August 21, 2017. Great Smoky Mountains is providing a unique ticketed event to view a total lunar eclipse at Clingmans Dome as well as informal viewing at Cades Cove and Oconlaluftee. The park has partnered with NASA, Southwestern Community College and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to provide a well rounded program of storytellers and speakers as visitors discover the scientific and cultural connections to this unique natural event.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 in elevation. This elevation will allow viewers to see the shadow of the moon approach across the mountains. The area will be closed to all but the lucky 1,300 ticket holders. The parking area will be converted into a special event site including a jumbotron for participating in a nation wide NASA TV broadcast, telescopes, educational exhibits, and a stage for the featured speakers.
March 1, 2017 tickets will be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis for $30.00 each at www.recreation.gov. No one will be admitted to Clingmans Dome without a valid ticket. Eclipse viewers will be shuttled to and from the site from Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC by a coach bus. The event will last approximately three hours in the afternoon when the sun will be briefly be obscured by the moon.
“We are thrilled that the park lies within the narrow viewing band of this spectacular, natural phenomena,” said Deputy Superintendent Clay Jordan. “I have great memories of the time I experienced a partial solar eclipse as a child and I am thrilled to view my first total eclipse from the top of the Smokies in the company of a passionate group of visitors.”
Newfound Gap Road, may close on the day of the event depending on traffic congestion. For more information about the solar eclipse events, please call the information line at 865-436-1585 or visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/2017-solar-eclipse.htm.
Hey 2017! To get this brand-new year started off in the right direction, HeySmokies has compiled a list of the 17 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains 2017 Winter Edition! There are some things that you can only enjoy in the Smokies during winter, so don’t let this wondrous season pass you by. On the list, you’ll find some of our tried and true favorites along with a few new places that we’re looking forward to exploring and hope you will too! Happy New Year! We’re so glad you’re here!
HeySmokies’ List of the 17 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains | 2017 Winter Edition:
#1 Newfound Gap Car Snowmen and Icicle Viewing
There’s nothing quite like the sight of little snowmen atop vehicles around Gatlinburg, especially when there’s no snow on the ground in the downtown valley. From where do these little snowmen come? A short 14 mile drive on U.S. Highwy 441 (Newfound Gap Road) takes you to the highlands of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and during the winter season there’s usually a good chance of snow on the ground. And if there’s no snow, you’ll still be amazed at the beautiful icicles that hang off the rockfaces alongside the road. Newfound Gap Road can be temporarily closed 15-20 times each winter, so check current driving conditions by calling 865-436-1200 or check GSMNP’s Twitter.
#2 Cross Country Ski on Clingmans Dome Road
Although Clingmans Dome Road is closed to vehicles in winter it is not closed to people. On any given day, you’ll find folks out and about with their cross-country skis and snowshoes enjoying the snow-covered road. Or, you could just grab your snow boots and enjoy a walk in the highlands of the Great Smoky Mountains. For more info, visit The Clingmans Dome Experience in the Smokies.
#3 Downhill Skiing and Snow Tubing at Ober Gatlinburg and Cataloochee Ski Areas
Cataloochee Ski Area, with a summit elevation of 5,400 ft., is located in Maggie Valley, NC. Cataloochee offers 18 slopes with 740 ft. vertical drop. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area, with a summit elevation of 3,300 ft., is located in Gatlinburg, TN. Ober offers 9 slopes with 600 ft. vertical drop. Both ski areas offer snow tubing and snowboard free-style terrain parks. Ober Gatlinburg also has an indoor ice skating rink! For more info on lift packages, rentals and lessons, visit Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area 800-251-9202 or Cataloochee Ski Area 800-768-0285.
#4 Alum Cave Trail Hike
Take a hike on the new and improved Alum Cave Trail. Be one of the first to check out the great works of the Trails Forever crew and volunteers who’ve spent the last two years rehabbing one of the Smokies’ most popular trails to Mt. LeConte Lodge. Wide and graceful native stone and timber stairs have replaced the rutted gulleys on the trail. Even if ice prevents a hike to the Bluffs, you can still enjoy a walk in the old-growth forest at the trail’s beginning off Newfound Gap Road. The ancient forest here boasts a thick under-story of 10-foot high, evergreen rosebay rhododendron, dog-hobble along with a variety of mosses and ferns.
#5 Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
If you need to take the chill off and you’re feeling lucky, head to Cherokee, NC to the beautiful Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort for live Blackjack and Roulette and, of course, rows and rows of the latest slots. However, if gaming isn’t your thing Harrah’s offers a spa and some great restaurants you can check out while attending an upcoming concert: Air Supply on January 13, Jamey Johnson on January 28, YES on February 3, Purple Reign – Prince Tribute Show on February 18, Michael Bolton on February 24, and Rodney Carrington on March 25, 2017. For more info and tickets, visit Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort or call 828-497-7777. Events at Harrah’s are for guests at least 21 years old.
#6 FACE Amusement Group’s Arcades in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
The under 21 set will love an afternoon of bright lights, great music and games at one of FACE Amusement Group’s arcades in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. They offer a squeaky-clean environment, friendly staff, and great prizes! Visit Arcade City and 7-D Dark Ride Adventure at The Island in Pigeon Forge. Also in Pigeon Forge is Rockin’ Raceway and Big Top Arcade on the Parkway. In Gatlinburg, you’ll find 7-D Dark Ride Adventure in the Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler on the downtown Parkway. For more info, check out our Top Five Favorite Arcades in Gatinburg and Pigeon Forge!
#7 Cades Cove
Everyone knows Cades Cove is beautiful anytime of the year, but there is a special quietness to be found there during wintertime. Fill your thermos with some hot cocoa, pack a picnic, and take a drive around the 11-mile loop, or if you’re looking for some extra adventure, plan a camping trip. Cades Cove Campground is open year round and reservations can be made by calling 877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. For more info, check out The Cades Cove Experience.
#8 The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant in Gatlinburg
When it’s chilly outside who doesn’t love a little heated pot of cheese or chocolate with your favorite dipping munchies. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, what better place to cozy up for a romantic meal. The Melting Pot on the downtown Parkway in Gatlinburg is a great place for a unique and delicious dining experience. For more info, visit The Melting Pot Gatlinburg or call 865-430-4430 for hours and reservations.
#9 Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge
More weird and wacky fun has arrived in Pigeon Forge in the form of the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. Open 365 days a year from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. this new attraction offers a unique glimpse into American crime history. Originally located in Washington DC, the museum features OJ Simpson’s famous white Ford Bronco among hundreds of other artifacts. Surprisingly, Alcatraz East is super kid-friendly and offers some great programs for children of all ages. For more info, visit Alacatraz East Crime Museum or call 865-453-3278.
#10 Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Tuckasegee River Excursion
Climb aboard one of the enclosed and heated train cars of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, NC. During the winter season, they offer an 11:00 a.m. trip on Saturdays. The Tuckasegee River Excursion is a 32-mile round-trip train ride that takes about 4 hours as you travel to the town of Dillsboro. You’ll have a 1 1/2 hour layover in historic Dillsboro to enjoy dining and shopping. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful western North Carolina countryside, you get to pass by the movie set of Harrison Ford’s The Fugitive. Choose from First Class, Crown Class and Coach Class seating. For prices and reservations, visit Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
#11 Score some Big Deals at Tanger Outlets Sevierville
Polls report that shopping is a top activity of visitors to the Smoky Mountains, and budget-minded shoppers know that now is the time to score some awesome bargains. Extra-savvy shoppers may even get their next Christmas’ shopping done now! And why not with all the huge discounts and great brands to be found at Tanger Outlets? For more info on winter hours, visit Tanger Outlets Sevierville.
#12 The Donut Friar in The Village, Gatlinburg
Early birds flock to The Donut Friar at 5:00 a.m. to gather up some of the warmest, tastiest donuts in the Smokies. The Donut Friar in The Village has been a fixture in Gatlinburg for generations. Just smell your way there and enjoy some time in the cozy, old-world atmosphere of The Village with 27 unique shops. For more info, visit The Village Shops.
#13 WonderWorks Pigeon Forge
When the weather outside is frightful and little natives are restless, we’ve got just the thing for you! WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge is 35,000 sq. ft. of lively “edu-tainment” and will delight the senses of kids of all ages. With interactive, learning fun WonderWorks offers an indoor ropes challenge course, laser tag arena, live magic show and more! For info on the 100+ hands-on exhibits and tickets, visit WonderWorks Pigeon Forge.
#14 Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge
Built to half-scale of the original luxury liner RMS Titanic, the museum’s collection contains over 400 personal artifacts from passengers and crew and is valued at more than $4.5 million. A unique self-guided tour tells the stories of people who were part of Titanic’s fate. Visitors can walk an exact replica of the $1 million Grand Staircase, put their hands in icy waters of 28 degrees, and learn the history of world as it was in 1912. Prepare to spend a few hours here if you want to take it all in and read everything. For more information and ticket prices, visit Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge.
#15 Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend
Learn all about east Tennessee’s Native American and Euro-American history at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, TN. With both indoor and outdoor exhibits on the center’s six-acre property, this is a great place to take a historic journey back in time from the early 1800’s to the establishment of the national park in 1934. For more info and tickets, visit Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center or call 865-448-0044.
#16 Horseback Riding in the Smokies
For those of you who just don’t like the heat of summer, perhaps a horseback ride in the brisk, winter air will suit you. With no flies out this time of year, it’s a great opportunity for a bug-free ride! Waldens Creek Stables in Pigeon Forge will be open beginning February 14, 2017. Davy Crockett Riding Stables in Townsend is open by appointment during the winter season. Five Oaks Riding Stables in Sevierville is open on weekends during winter.
#17 Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fishing is permitted year-round and in all streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, however, you must have a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license. Fishing licenses can be obtained at area fly shops and even at Walmart. The streams within the national park boundary protects one of the last wild trout populations in the eastern U.S. For more info, check out our Reel Fly Fishing Experience.
Synchronous Fireflies Great Smoky Mountains June 2018. It’s never to early to start making plans to see the Synchronous Fireflies (and the Blue Ghost Fireflies) that will light up the night sky in late May and early June 2018 in the Great Smoky Mountains. Firefly viewing in the Smokies has become such a popular event that there are now several venues available to enjoy the spectacular shows
The Synchronous Firefly (Photinus carolinus) and the Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) are two species that are found only in the Southern Appalachian Mountains which include the Great Smokies. And during the short mating season in late May and early June, both firefly species put on quite a show to behold! The male Synchronous Fireflies flash their little green-yellow bioluminescent lanterns in unison for about 6-8 blinks and then they go dark for a few seconds creating a sublime wave of light throughout the forest. The male Blue Ghost Fireflies don’t flash their blue-white lanterns, instead they glow continuously just a few inches above the ground. The ethereal experience of either nighttime show should be on everyone’s bucket list! National Park scientists mostly use air and soil temperatures to predict the timing of each year’s mating season.
Synchronous Fireflies with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
One of the most popular places to view the Synchronous Fireflies is in Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This event has become so popular that a free lottery system was instituted this year for the $1.50 parking passes for the eight-day shuttle period to Elkmont. During this time of peak viewing, Elkmont is closed at nighttime with the exception of shuttle users and campers in Elkmont Campground. Dates for the 2018 Lottery and Elkmont Shuttle will be announced sometime in April 2018. HeySmokies will keep you updated, so be sure to check back with us. We’ll provide you all the details of what you need to know to register for the lottery. For more information in the meantime, visit Recreation.gov.
Synchronous Fireflies with Discover Life in America in Gatlinburg, TN
For a few nights during peak firefly viewing time, Discover Life in America hosts a fundraising event featuring nightly presentations and field walks at the Norton Creek Sanctuary near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets for the event are $100 each and the event is geared toward persons ages 10 and older. For reservations for this exclusive event, call Discover Life in America at 865-430-4757 or email todd@dlia.org.
The Smokemont Experience in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one that features an abundance of spring and summer wildflowers, and the pristine waters of the Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River. Bradley Fork is known for its healthy population of rainbow trout; and in the fall, fishing the Fork is especially rewarding when large brown trout make their way upstream from the River. Smokemont offers year-round camping, hiking trails and equestrian activities.
Smokemont is nestled at 2,200′ above sea level near the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is flanked by Bradley Fork on its north and west side.
Year-Round Camping in Smokemont
With 142 campsites Smokemont Campground is large and great for families. The campground accommodates trailers up to 35′ and motor homes up to 40′. There are no water, sewer or electricity hook-ups and generator use is restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. A tent pad, picnic table, grill, and lantern pole are provided at each site. Restroom facilities provide flush toilets and cold water. Although there are no showers available at Smokemont, they are available at several campgrounds in Cherokee. Smokemont Campground reservations may be obtained at recreation.gov along with important information on firewood restrictions, etc. during season; otherwise, the campground is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to bring your bikes because the spacious campground is fun to bike, and that’s a good thing since bikes are off-limits on park trails.
Smokemont Campground is located 3.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC on Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) and 27 miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN.
Spring break at the beach? Yeah, been there done that! Find out why the Great Smoky Mountains are the hippest spring break destination in the country. Families and college kids love these mountains and with more things to do than ever, it’s the place to be!
We’ve compiled a list of the Top Activities for Spring Breakers in the Smokies! What will you do this year?
Hit the trail – the Appalachian Trail!
Sure hiking is great fun year round but springtime is a real treat. The views during spring are second to none in the Smokies’ high country with visibility over one hundred miles (weather dependent, of course!) We suggest driving to Newfound Gap and walking along the famous Appalachian Trail (AT). The leaves are off the trees which afford striking views of the National Park and nearby mountain ranges like the Stecoahs. The hike from Newfound Gap to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower puts you at the highest elevation on the entire Appalachian Trail! Clingmans Dome is the second highest peak in the Eastern United States at 6,643′ above sea level. The hike from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome is a rocky 7.9 miles one-way, so you’ll need to park an extra car at Clingmans Dome or arrange for a pick-up to take you back to Newfound Gap. The hike from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion is 8 miles round-trip and offers panoramic vistas along the way to one of the most spectacular bluffs in the Appalachian Mountains. Use caution when exploring the craggy cliffs of the Bunion. Be sure and prepare for the hike with our 10 Essentials for Hiking in the Smokies suggestions. A little nervous about hitting the trails alone? Hire an expert guide to lead the way and enjoy the journey. Our friends at The Wildland Trekking Company can help you out!
Hit the Rocky Top Wine Trail and More!
Almost every group of spring breakers has a party animal in the bunch who will love the diverse choice of wineries, breweries and moonshine distilleries that have exploded in the Smokies. The Rocky Top Wine Trail offers a tour of five wineries in a 12-mile area within the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville TN area. You can sample over 60 varieties of vino and tour the wine cellars and tank rooms of some of the wineries. Pick up your passport and wine glass at your first stop and receive a special free gift upon completing the trail.
Or perhaps you came to sample some good ol’ Mountain Dew – that’s hillbilly talk for moonshine! It’s legal now and with so many flavors to choose from you could spend all night at the sample bar but save room for some great locally-crafted brews at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg and Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler in Gatlinburg and Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn at The Island in Pigeon Forge offer live music concerts from popular performers. If you’re over on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, be sure to check out the Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City for the awesome Trail Magic Ale.
Grab a Paddle!
If you’re craving some waves this spring break, no worries! There’s waves of fun on a Big Pigeon River Whitewater Rafting adventure! You can choose a wild ride with Class III & IV rapids on the Upper Pigeon or take it slow and easy on your raft on the Lower Pigeon, either way our friends at Smoky Mountain Outdoors can hook you up with a Spring Break adventure you’ll never forget! Be sure to check out Hey Smokies Rafting for more info.
Grab a Rope! Jump on a Mountain Bike!
Your feet won’t touch the ground for 2 1/2 hours on a high-flying Zipline Tour with CLIMBWorks in Gatlinburg. And for a one-of-a-kind mountain bike experience, you don’t even have to bring your own bike! ClimbWorks has everything you need to explore the mountains in a whole new way!
Pitch a Tent!
Camping is always a great way to spend time with your friends and make memories that will last a lifetime. Smoky Mountain memories don’t make themselves they need your help. All you need is a tent, a campfire, s’mores, and a rushing mountain stream and you’re in heaven! It’s often said that camp life is where authentic Smoky Mountain memories are made, and it is so easy to do! Some favorite Campgrounds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Cades Cove, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, Abrams Creek, and Deep Creek. You can reserve your campsite on line at Recreation.gov. For campgrounds outside of the park, visit Hey Smokies Campgrounds.
If camping isn’t your thing, HeySmokies a great selection of recommendations for Cabins, Condos, and Hotels. Whatever you do this Spring Break…have fun, and remember to Spring Break Responsibly because Smokey is watching!
