Top 4 Outdoor Spots To Visit Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a place that about 12 million people visit in a year because there is so much to do. If you ask me though, I like spending my time outdoors in the mountains where it isn't so crowded. If you are looking for the same thing then see my top 4 spots to visit while in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park spans the area of 522,427 acres of land divided between North Carolina and Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park has 150 official hiking trails that offer waterfalls, streams and rivers along the way. You can enjoy beautiful woods with wildflowers and get to know the Appalachian Trail a little bit better. So it makes sense that all the places mentioned below are a part of the national park.

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2. Elkmont Ghost Town

Garrett and I found this place pretty much by chance. So we were doing some research and we read about this place but put it out of our minds because we weren't going anywhere near that area... we thought. We ended up driving around in the National Park and we went by a sign with an arrow that said Elkmont and we agreed to go. We drove around a couple of curves and we found ourselves in this little abandoned town of houses. Elkmont has been home to a pioneer Appalachian community, a logging community and a resort community. The leases for the land expired and the community abandon their homes. The park service purchased the land and as the building started to deteriorate it became known as "Elkmont Ghost Town". **Allow yourself 2 to 3 hours to walk through the houses.

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3. Cade's Cove

Cade's Cove is one of the most scenic and beautiful places I have ever been. Along with having a variety of mountainous viewpoints they also provide a history as you drive through. Stop by the little stand before going in and grab some pamphlets that will guide you through history related to all the little buildings you'll pass as you drive through. You'll see cabins, farms, and churches from the settlers that were there decades ago and learn about them all. **Allow yourself 2 to 4 hours to drive through.

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4. Clingman's Dome

Clingman's Dome is the highest point in Tennessee at 6,643 feet high and is located half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. When you arrive at Clingman's Dome you will take 0.5 mile paved trail to the top where the summit is. The views from the summit are magnificent and on clear, sunny days the views can stretch to 100 mile span. You will see the smoky mountains and views of the national and it really takes your breath away. There is a small gift shop along the trail in case you need a shirt or bumper sticker to say you braved the Dome. **The trail is steep and anyone with trouble walking/breathing/ or health conditions that might be affected might want to check their website. Allow 2 to 3 hours to walk around and up to the summit and take photos.

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Next time you are in or around Gatlinburg, take the time to visit at least one of these places to enjoy what makes Tennessee the place it is. The mountains are calling... and I must go.

Read more: Our Surprise Hike At Abrams Falls