Discover the best things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains, including a few off-the-beaten path gems!
Looking for fun things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains? For starters, there’s the national park – the most visited one in the U.S.! But what exactly can you do at the park and in the surrounding area?
If you search for ideas on what to do in the Smokies, I guarantee you’ll find a bunch of tacky tourist traps.
Highway 441 just north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park runs through a town called Pigeon Forge, the mecca of cheesy things to do. There’s a wax museum, a Titanic museum, an Alcatraz museum, a haunted castle, miniature golf, go-karts, arcades, Dollywood theme park and more. If that’s your jam, cool. Live. It. Up.
But there’s more to the Smoky Mountains than kitschy attractions and amusement parks.
On our family trip, we didn’t go to a single one of those places and we had a great time. If want to plan a perfect weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains, here are some awesome activities you can do there.
Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains
#1: Ride a Horse
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the size of Los Angeles and New York City combined. You can see a lot of its beauty from the road along the park’s three scenic driving loops.
But the most relaxing way to explore it is on horseback.
Saddle up and spend an hour or two meandering through the woods. You can also go for a carriage, wagon or hay ride – a good option if you have young kids or older family members in your group.
On our trip we opted for the carriage ride so my mother-in-law could do it too. But the next time around, I’d choose a regular trail ride.
There are three park-approved horseback riding stables in or near the park. Two are on the Tennessee section of the park and one is on the North Carolina side.
#2: Hike to Waterfalls
Hikes are great when there’s a big payoff, like a 360-degree view or a waterfall. You’ll find both on Great Smoky Mountains National Park trails.
One of the most popular (and easy) hikes in the park takes you to Laurel Falls, which spills down some 80 feet. Laurel Falls Trail is a paved, uphill path. It took us about two hours roundtrip (with little kids) to walk to the waterfall and back.
The best part of hiking to Laurel Falls was spotting a black bear cub in a tree.
At first, I was a little worried because…where’s mama? But a large crowd had gathered to the side of the trail to watch the bear cub. I figured there was strength in numbers. Later, I found out it’s common to see black bears along this trail.
Other trails that lead to pretty waterfalls include:
- Trillium Gap Trail, where you can walk behind Grotto Falls.
- Big Creek Trail, where you can see the multi-tiered Mouse Creek Falls.
- Pigeon Creek Trail, which is actually on an adjacent Cherokee Indian Reservation and reaches Mingo Falls in less than half a mile.
#3: Sip Moonshine
You can’t go to the Smokies and not try moonshine. Originally a spirit that people illegally made at home, moonshine is now mass-produced at distilleries. Like whiskey, it’s made from corn but isn’t aged.
Several distilleries offer samples where you can slam back teeny-tiny shot glasses of moonshine.
Brace yourself: This stuff is STRONG.
Flavors range from apple pie to butter pecan to dill pickle. They even have jars of moonshine-soaked maraschino cherries that are 100-proof (50% alcohol).
#4: Spot Black Bears
There’s a huge black bear population in the Smoky Mountains. That’s why all the trash cans are locked down and the park has a whole page on what to do if you see a black bear.
So naturally, spotting a black bear was at the TOP of my Smoky Mountains bucket list.
I was over the moon when we spotted a bear while hiking to Laurel Falls and another while driving back to our cabin rental on the mountainside.
Check out the furry dumpster-diver that we saw:
For the best chance of spotting a bear: Visit the park in the spring and summer. Bears are most active in the morning and around dusk. They often hang out around Laurel Falls Trail and Mount LeConte (the 5.5-mile round trip Alum Cave Bluffs Trail goes through this area).
#5: Hunt for Salamanders
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known as the “Salamander Capital of the World.” So as you can imagine, it’s loaded with these weird-looking amphibians who love hanging out in shady spots by creeks and waterfalls.
The park is home to 30 different species, including the black-chinned red salamander (it’s bright red!) and hellbenders that grow almost three feet long.
On our trip, we played around in the Oconaluftee River at Chimney Picnic area, but didn’t spot a salamander. I regret not spending more time searching for them.
If you want to find a salamander, turn over logs and stones in wet spots along the edges of rivers, creeks and near waterfalls.
#6: See a Natural Phenomenon
The Great Smokies are one of only a handful of places in the world that you can see synchronized fireflies – that’s right, they all light up at the same time.
Can you imagine seeing a dark forest pulsating with neon yellow light? It would be AMAZING!
The thing is, it only takes place once a year in May or June and lasts for about two weeks. The park announces the dates in late April.
This spectacular “show” isn’t a secret either – everyone and their mama want to see it. But they only allow a certain number of people into that area of the park each night. So, if you want to see it, you have to apply to the park’s lottery system for a chance to win a ticket.
#7: Bike Ride Through Cades Cove
Cades Cove is a lovely green valley in the park, surrounded by mountains and dotted with the remnants of an old European settlement. It’s also said to be a great place to spot wildlife – though I saw nada when we were there.
Most people drive the Cades Cove scenic loop road, but it gets PACKED.
Like, no fun bumper-to-bumper busy. I didn’t find out until afterwards that we could have biked the 11-mile loop instead.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the scenic loop is closed to vehicles until 10 a.m. People can bike and walk the route without worrying about cars on the road.
I definitely recommend going early one of those days and renting bikes at the park. Then feel free to pat yourself on the back for not wasting hours in national park traffic.
#8: Explore Mountain Farm
Let’s be real: History lessons can be a bore. But not when you can touch, smell and see what life was like hundreds of years ago.
At the park’s Mountain Farm Museum, it’s easy to imagine life on a 19th-century farm. You can peek into several structures that were common in the 1800’s, such as a:
- Smokehouse
- Hen house
- Corn crib (where they stored corn)
- Meat room
- Beekeeping area
- Spring room (cool storage area)
- Log home
Stroll the open-air museum and be sure to stop by the blacksmith shop. They often have demonstrations and sometimes kids can make dinner bells to take home.
Note: This is the perfect place to see elk, too. We were there in the late afternoon and spotted one right in front of the “elk crossing” sign by the road. Evidently, they like to graze on the grass around Mountain Farm Museum, so keep your eyes open!
#9: Check out the local arts and crafts scene
If you’re looking for a souvenir, go shopping on the Arts & Crafts Loop in Gatlinburg. More than 100 shops and studios line the 8-mile loop through the town’s backroads.
The route started in 1937 when craftsmen decided to sell handmade items out of their homes. Today, mountain craftspeople still make yesteryear items:
- Wood whittled statues
- Intricate quilts
- Handmade soaps and brooms
- Baskets
- Pottery
- Stained glass
Shops that are official members of the Arts & Crafts Community often have demonstrations (think: glassblowing and pottery). They also offer workshops where you can make your own souvenir.
#10: Rent a cabin
There’s no better place for renting a cabin than in the Smoky Mountains. A sweeping view, a feeling of seclusion and peace, and a huge amount of coziness are all yours for a little while.
If you’re like me, sipping a cup of coffee on a porch rocking chair sounds like heaven. Even better? Watching the sun go down over the mountains while drinking vino in a hot tub.
Take your pick of cabin rentals – from rustic to luxurious.
Get the Great Smoky Mountains Guide
Ready to go to the Smokies? I don’t blame you – it’s a great getaway! But don’t spend hours researching this trip. I’ve already done the work for you.
Check out my Great Smoky Mountains Weekend Itinerary Guide.
It has all the details you need to quickly book your trip. Day-by-day itineraries make what to do and where to go a no-brainer.
You’re going to see and do all of the best things!
Happy travels,
P.S. Have you thought about hitting up some of the incredible national parks in the Southwest? If so, you should definitely check out my Epic Las Vegas to Zion National Park Road Trip write-up.
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