Fall season on the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies” might lead one to think that gorgeous views and vistas of fall foliage may be all that Townsend, Tn has to offer during the autumn months. Well, that’s as far from the truth as saying Cades Cove is a “so-so” place to take pictures. From the town’s Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day to the numerous chances to catch local musicians and artisans throughout the area, Townsend, Tn is a hive for fall activity and family fun of all kinds.
So you’re in Townsend for a few days, or a long weekend this fall, well let’s start out with the reason most people come the Smokies each fall – the gorgeous fall colors. Townsend is the perfect place to catch fall in all its splendor whether you’re taking a quick trip around Cades Cove loop road or a longer drive down Rich Mountain Road. Both routes give you a good chance at taking in some picturesque fall scenery. And you can do everything in a day, probably even half a day then get back to town to do something else. If you’re wanting to get a bit further away from town, try driving the Foothills Parkway or the Cherohala Skyway. Both have plenty of magnificent overlooks and historic destinations located along the way.
You’ve got to at least set aside one day just to try the offerings from a few good Townsend restaurants. We suggest a different meal from a different restaurant for each meal. Try camp cooking for at least one meal, or going on a picnic. Some of the area’s best BBQ can be found at such events as the Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Days (Sept. 28 & 29), as well as all kinds of specialty sandwiches, homemade ice cream and desserts, and any other kind local festival-type food you could think of.
Now, while there does seem to be quite a few things to do around town, don’t forget to stray a bit into nature. As mentioned, take a picnic and explore the byways of the Smoky Mountains. Pack a backpack and hike to a beautiful, quiet area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are numerous hikes around Townsend, and especially the Cades Cove area. Find out about biking Townsend, or just stroll over to a nearby stream and throw a line in.
There aremusicians and crafts people around town too numerous to even list. The arts and crafts of Townsend come alive in Townsend’s Artisan Guild. Most artists are in their stores daily and love for people to come by and talk with them about their craft…. And purchase a few things too. Whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to make memories that will last a lifetime. So come to Townsend, TN this fall and spend a day or two and get back to the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies”.
If you are a yearly visitor to the Smokies, you probably spend part of one of your days in idyllic Cades Cove. If you want to change up your trip the next time you head around the loop, try taking Rich Mountain Road. This rugged journey, that starts almost halfway around the Cades Cove Loop Road, is not for everyone but it does offer a different view of the mountains and the valley that is Townsend, TN. The road is gravel and dirt from start to finish but on a clear day, the views are worth it.
Scenes like this one are prevalent along Rich Mountain Road during the fall.
While there is only one way into Cades Cove, there are three ways out. Either you can follow Cades Cove Loop road out of Cades Cove, or you can take Rich Mountain Road or Parsons Branch Road. Rich Mountain Road is the more popular of the two alternative routes as it drops you out in Townsend. If you have gotten one of the self-guided tour maps you will see the turn off for Rich Mountain Road across from the Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church. You will turn to the right before you get to the church and follow the road out of Cades Cove.
The road you find yourself on is gravel and dirt the whole way. Make sure that you are prepared for this because once you start down the road, you will not be able to turn around. Rich Mountain Road is a one way road that allows you to leave Cades Cove and take an alternate route to Townsend. During the winter, this road is closed due to bad road conditions. Keep that in mind when you decide to take this alternate route. Also remember that the road is closed to RVs and campers. In fact anything bigger than a truck will make some of the turns a little difficult to simply impossible.
Looking down into Cades Cove from Rich Mountain Road.
But though the road is twisting and mountainous, you get to see some amazing scenery as you climb your way out of Cades Cove. One of the highlights is always the view of the Primitive Baptist Church. The setting is incredible and it is perfectly set against the mountainside for a vacation photograph that you will love to see and take home. Also, as you creep along the mountain you can watch wildlife that is not as viewed nearly as often as the wildlife in Cades Cove proper. The animals tend to climb the mountains to get away from the tourist traffic and the possibility to see not only bears but smaller mammals is greater here. Along the way, you will come across small waterfalls and some old growth forest along the ridge lines as well.
All in all, you need to add Rich Mountain Road to your bucket list. Make sure at one point while you are on vacation in the Smoky Mountains that you make the trip from Cades Cove down Rich Mountain Road. Follow this gravel road from the middle of Cades Cove and see a different side of the Smokies as you work your way to the “Peaceful Side” of the Smokies: Townsend, TN.
Townsend, TN is known for truly having all 4 seasons, it is on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after all. With each season comes even more incredible changes to the landscape than the previous season as spring brings out the area’s natural colors, smells, awakening wildlife, and warming temperatures while summer’s sunny days are perfect for taking a dip in the pool, lake, or one of the many mountain streams.
The most popular season is Fall, to us at least, with the bursting red, orange, and yellow colors; local festivals, and that hint of coolness in the air. The winter season often covers the mountains with a white layer of snow, especially in the higher elevations, making cabins with fireplaces an attractive vacation for locals and visitors to the area as well! There simply isn’t a “bad” time to come to Townsend, TN. There is always something to do on the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies” no matter if the sun’s out or the snow is falling!
Well, for all those planners out there, we’ve made a list of the average daily temperatures below as well as links to find the forecast and current weather conditions in Townsend, TN. Townsend’s weather conditions are a work in progress every year, much like the rest of the Smokies so don’t let a little rain in forecast discourage you from enjoying the ever-changing and natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains!
Much is the same for Cades Cove, which is located just outside of Townsend in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades cove receives around 50+ inches of rainfall each year, a good potion of it during the spring and fall. Cades Cove has a pretty dry summer climate, but as always, be prepared for rain if you decide to some hiking or anything else outdoors. In other words, keep a poncho handy. Afternoon showers are fairly common due to in Cades Cove.
Insider tip:
Get weather and road condition information in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN by calling:
Using your cell phone in TN: 511
Nationally: 1-877-244-0065
Locally in Townsend: (865)436-1200
Spring in Townsend, Tn might just be the perfect time to be in the Smokies for some, though you’re sure to hear the exact opposite from those fall foliage lovers, but that’s neither here nor there. In actuality, both seasons offer ample opportunities geared at getting visitors back to nature – something Townsend excels at, no matter the season. From popular festivals to numerous hikes and bicycle tours around the Smokies and Cades Cove, we’ve compiled a list of Spring “to-do’s” in Townsend. Be prepared to spend a few days if you plan on getting to everything, or just use it as a daily reminder if you plan on coming back a few time this spring.
Strap on your hiking boots and pack something warm just in case as the first jaunt on the Townsend Spring Itinerary gets you off the beaten path and onto the trails of the Smoky Mountains –
Take one of the numerous wildflower walks and hikes offfered in the Smoky Mountains; rent a bike from the Cades Cove Campground store and bike the Cades Cove Loop Road or rent from one of the many locales in town and ride the Townsend bike path. One of the most popular day hikes in the area is the Abrams Falls hike by way of Cades Cove – an easy 5-miler that will cool you off halfway through with a quick dip in the pool below Abrams Falls. Definitely worth the hike.
Our next itinerary suggestion lets the traveler enjoy the best of what Townsend and the Smokies has to offer – Cades Cove –
Beat the crowds and tour the Cades Cove loop in morning. Take in an evening tour if you’re interested in the Cove’s wildlife and history. Guided tours are now available through Cades Cove Heritage Tours. Be sure to stop by the Cades Cove Campground Store for some of their fabulous ice cream.
So, you’re ready to get back and sample some of Townsend’s offerings, etc? Not only does Townsend offer a handful of great locally-themed stores, there are also a number of historical stops around town to introduce visitors to the history of Townsend and the Smoky Mountains.
Check out the arts and crafts of Townsend at some of its many galleries and craft boutiques. From Apple Valley Farms to Nawger Nob to Southern Fried Gallery, Townsend is ripe with local artistic flavor. During the spring there are numerous festivals including the Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day, as well as the Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival. For you history buffs, check out the Little River Railroad Company. It was there that the region got its start as loggers roamed the area before it was designated part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Did you miss anything while you were exploring? Use your final day to just mill around town, or ask the locals what some of their favorite haunts are –
Many people come to Townsend to fish. If so, stop by an Little River Outfitters and find out where the fishing is best to be had and pick up some of the latest gear too, eat a great meal at a distinctive local Townsend restaurant, or tour a Tennessee farm. Whatever it is, you’re sure to be back in town in no time. Townsend sort of has that effect on people – they drive through just looking for a way to get to the national park and end up staying for a few days. There’s sure to be even more to add to your list next time you’re in town, hopefully this is a good start.
These days, if you’re planning a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a handy piece of technology to have in hand is a Global Positioning System or GPS. For nature lovers, it may even be one of the greatest inventions in the last 20 years.
By just affixing one of these small computers to the windshield of any car, you are afforded turn by turn navigation. Since its introduction just a few years ago, it has become an integral part of the way many people travel. Still, a paper map or atlas can come in handy and still have their place among travelers. A number of Smoky Mountain roads won’t come up on a GPS.
Here’s one example: During a recent January trip to Valle Crucis and Blowing Rock, North Carolina there was snow on the sides of the road but it had been warm enough to keep the roads from being icy. What the GPS won’t tell you is that Hwy 321 has a detour. This detour is well-marked on the way up affording fort a nice scenic drive to Valle Crucis on Hwy 421. All the work was done by the GPS and its recalculations. On the trip back from Blowing Rock, the detour’s signage was not as visible and the GPS took Hwy 421 all the way back to East Tennessee. This route also takes you through the Cherokee National Forest.
Take advantage of this quick excursion through the Cherokee National Forest – it’s a beautiful area of the country! It can be a bit more hazardous during the winter though, especially if you are not expecting a mountain drive on a small road through the Cherokee National Forest. Once you start, don’t turn around, it’s just as hazardous backtracking as it is forging ahead. Rest assured that these roads are salted regularly when there is the forecast of a winter storm.
As previously mentioned, one would think that being 2012, every road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – one of the most visited natural areas in the country, would be on your global positioning system. Not so in this case. Just try getting to one of those cabins on top of some ridge overlooking the Smokies. Another question, why don’t cabin rental companies just give out the address of the cabin they are staying in? The answer is simply that most of the time the address you’re seeking is not going to get you to the cabin you have rented. As fast as the Smokies have grown the past two decades, its wishful thinking that during that time every road has been added to even the most recent GPS maps. To that end, follow the directions that the check in office provides for you. Naturally, they’ve chosen the easiest path to get you to your cabin. They know the area, you may not.
Additional tips for getting around the Great Smoky Mountains:
Pick up a map at one of the numerous rest areas.
Store the map in your car.
Save the location you are staying at in your GPS –then you will always be able to get back.
Don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path, but remember how you got there so you can retrace your steps on your next trip.
Take these tips to heart. Don’t be afraid to use your GPS, but realize that you may need a traditional map along your journey as well. Save one for the area you are visiting for future use. If you are on a detour you may want to consult the map before entering navigation points into your GPS. And instead of asking for an address to your cabin, follow the directions that they give you with your check-in packet. Your family will thank you.
The Townsend Winter Heritage Festival is a seasonal celebration of the natural beauty, heritage, and cultural traditions of Townsend, TN; Cades Cove; and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The event combines a number of the areas most renowned businesses and community groups in one large get-together. It’s a FREE event, with the exception of lunches and dinners, where there are reservations required, with a charge for each meal. Music workshops also require pre-registration.
So, whether it’s music and live performances that you like, or southern cuisine like some of the area’s best BBQ, or getting more familiar with nature and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend’s Winter Heritage Festival really answers the call to the Smokies-lover in all of us. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, Townsend, and spend some time with the family.
Some of this year’s festival highlights include:
Festival Kick Off at the Blount Co. Historical Museum: Hear storyteller Charles Maynard, listen to live music with Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, view the various Civil War exhibits, and get refreshments at the kick-off celebration. Thursday, Feb. 2, 6-8pm.
Special musical guest:Wayne Erbsen
Come listen to the sounds of Wayne Erbson on Saturday evening, Feb. 4. He will also be presenting an Appalachian music workshop that afternoon. Call 865-448-6134 to sign up.
Mountain Dulcimer Workshop with Sarah Morgan: If you’ve ever had an interest in the dulcimer and its beginnings sign up for Sarah Morgan’s workshop Friday afternoon, Feb. 3. Call 865-448-6134 for details and to sign up. Limit 20.
Sarah Morgan holds her annual Mountain Dulcimer workshop.
Music of the Civil War: We know that there are always a number of Civil War enthusiasts among our visitors. It’s not always you get to hear the songs and music they went to battle to. This presentation includes tunes and songs with Conny Ottway at the Chocolate B’ar, Friday, Feb. 3.
Listen to a great Young Fiddler – Carson PetersCarson will be fiddlin’ up a storm with his family at the Mountain Music Showcase on Saturday. It’s a performance not to be missed!
Cast Iron Cooking by members of the Blount County Fire Protection District will take place Saturday, Feb. 4. Come by and taste some delicious cobblers, biscuits, beans and more!
Lunchtime Programs: at the Chocolate B’ar Cafe, with good food, talks, and music, both days. Friday: Conny Ottway, sponsored by Rocky Branch Community Club Saturday: Tommy and Tammi McCarroll with Bobby Fulcher, sponsored by The Chocolate B’ar. Call for lunch reservations, 865-448-9432.
Friday evening at Dancing Bear Lodge, with supper and entertainment by flute player Randy McGinnis. Reservations required. 865-448-6000.
Book-signing: Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures, Bill Landry; Noon to 3:00pm both days at the Townsend Visitors Center.
“Precious Memories” Homecoming with the Cades Cove Preservation Association on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 5. Location to be announced.
Full Winter Heritage Festival Schedule Day by Day:
Schedule subject to changes and for updates call 865-448-6134.
(Events with a * require pre-registration and those with meals have a charge.)
Thursday, Feb. 2:
At Blount County Historical Museum and Cades Cove/Thompson Brown Museum:
– 6-8pm: “Festival Kick-Off”, Blount County Historical Museum and Cades Cove/Thompson Brown Museum. Civil War Exhibit, refreshments, and 6:30pm storytelling by Charles Maynard, plus music by Pistol Creek Catch of the Day.
Friday, February 3: Events take place at several locations.
At Townsend Visitors Center:
– 9-9:45am: “Cora’s Story”, Cherel Henderson, East Tennessee Historical Society.
– 10-10:45am: “Preserving our Heritage-The Foothills Land Conservancy”, Elise Eustace, Foothills Land Conservancy.
– 11-11:45am: “Thomas Sumter”, Charlie Rhodarmer, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.
– Noon-3pm: Book-signing by Bill Landry, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures.
– 2-3pm: “Mountain Dulcimer Workshop” * with Sarah Morgan. To register, call 865-448-6134. (Free) Limit 20. Sponsored by Friends of the Smokies.
– 3:15-4:15pm: “Music of the Mountains”, Lisa Free.
– 4:30-5:15pm: “Black Leaders of Blount Co. during Reconstruction”, Robert Glenn Slater, University of Tennessee.
At Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center:
Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9am-5pm: Cades Cove Preservation Association talks and Families of Cades Cove exhibits.
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– 9-9:45am: “Bear Creek Tales”, Lonnie McMillan
– 10-10:45am: “A Cades Cove Long Rifle”, Stephen Weber
– 11-11:45am: “Horace Kephart-The Back of Beyond”, Butch McDade
– Noon (Lunch break)
– 1-1:45pm: “Living in the Cove”, Bernard Myers
– 2-2:45pm: “Sacred Places of the Smokies”, Gail Palmer
– 3pm: Panel Discussion, Cades Cove Preservation Association
At Little River Railroad Museum:
– 3-4pm: “Walking Tour of Townsend”, Don Headrick.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Cades Cove:
– 1-3pm: “Hike to Gourley Pond” *, Ranger Mike Maslona. Meet at the Lequire family cemetery on the far side of the Cades Cove Loop Rd. *Call 865-448-6134 to sign up.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Tremont:
– 9-11am: “Waterfall Hike”, Dawn Dextraze. Meet at the Tremont Visitors Center (office).
At The Chocolate B’ar:
– 11am-12pm: “Music of the Civil War”, Conny Ottway. Sponsored by Rocky Branch Community Club. Followed by lunch.
Call for lunch reservations * : 865-448-9433 or 865-448-9895.
At Townsend Artisan Gallery:
– 4-6pm: “Open House and Artist Reception”
At Dancing Bear Lodge:
– 6:30-8:30pm: Dinner and entertainment by Native American flute player Randy McGinnis. * Reservations needed: 865-448-6000.
Saturday, February 4: Events take place at several locations
At Townsend Visitors Center:
Mountain Craft Showcase:
– 9-9:45am: “Dollmaking”, Carolyn Gregory.
– 9:45-10:30am: “Pottery”, Carol Ware.
(Break)
– 11-11:45am: “The Forgotten Baskets of the Mountains”, Bill Alexander.
– 11:45am-12:30pm: “Blacksmithing”, Hugh Bowie.
Mountain Music Showcase:
– 1:30-2:30pm: “Appalachian Music Workshop”, Wayne Erbsen. * Call 865-448-6134 to sign up (free)
– 2:45-3:45pm: “Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band”, Carson Peters and family
– 4-5pm: “The Mountain Dulcimer”, Sarah Morgan
The Mountain Craft and Mountain Music Showcases are funded by an Arts Build Communities Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and a sponsorship from Great Smoky Mountains Association for Wayne Erbsen.
– 11am for White Oak Sinks Hike, Butch Mcdade. 11am-3PM. Meet on Townsend Visitors Center front porch and carpool to trailhead.
– Noon-3pm: Book-signing by Bill Landry, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures.
– 11am-5pm: Cast Iron Cooking Demonstration with members of the Blount County Fire Protection District.
– 10am-5pm: Cherokee Finger Weaving by Charaity Hubbard and Historic Weapons Display with David Hubbard.
At Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center:
Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9am-5pm: Cades Cove Preservation Association talks and Families of Cades Cove exhibits.
Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9-9:45am: “Smoky Mountain Bears, Bucks, and Wildflowers-A Video Presentation”, Kate Marshall
– 10-10:45am: “Bloomery Forge in Cades Cove”, David Ledbetter
– 11-11:45am: “A Park by Any Other Name”, Kent Cave and Raymond Palmer
– 12:00 (Lunch break)
– 1-1:45pm: “Noah and Sarah Brown Burchfield of Cades Cove”, Larry Sparks
– 2-2:45pm “Photographers and Photos of Cades Cove”, Missy Green
– 3pm: Panel Discussion, Cades Cove Preservation Association
At Little River Railroad Museum:
– 10am-12pm: “Tremont Walking Tour”, Ron Briggs.
– 3-4pm: “Logging Railroads of the Smokies” Rick Turner.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Tremont:
– 10:30am-12:30pm: “Winter Tree ID Hike”, Ken Voorhis. Meet at the Tremont Visitors Center (office).
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-White Oak Sinks Hike:
– 11am-3pm: “Hike to White Oak Sinks”, Butch McDade. Meet on the front porch of the Townsend Visitors Center and carpool to trailhead.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Little Greenbrier/Walker Sisters:
– 11am-2:30pm: “Hike to the Walker Sisters Family and Friends Homesites”, Mark and Janet Snyder. Bring a sack lunch, drink, raingear, and good hiking shoes. There will be off-trail walking. Meet at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
At The Chocolate B’ar:
– 11am-12pm: “Old Time Mountain Music”, Tommy and Tammy McCarroll and Bob Fulcher. Sponsored by The Chocolate B’ar. Followed by lunch.
Call for lunch reservations *: 865-448-9433 or 865-448-9895.
At Townsend Artisan Gallery:
– 9am-4pm: “Open House and Demonstrations by Artists”