Adventure is out there, Volunteers.
Just an hour away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Knoxville and its surrounding areas provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
Understandably, not everyone enjoys nature-saturated trips, but one of the best perks of East Tennessee is its ability to cater to all.
For those who’d rather watch Animal Planet in bed:
The following suggestions are a short walk or even just a car ride to scenic views; they’re perfect for anyone that isn’t so sure about the wilderness.
Cades Cove Loop, Great Smoky Mountains:
This area is one of the most popular sections of the national park — and for good reason. The 11-mile loop features some of the best features the park has to offer. There are multiple historic structures, such as old churches and homesteads. Each structure has a parking lot outside, inviting visitors to get out and explore the preserved interiors. The loop also offers several pull-off spots for landscape views of the mountains. Each trip around the loop is different, with different weather, different crowds and the chance to see different kinds of wildlife across the fields that line the loop.
Fort Dickerson Quarry is a popular swimming hole in South Knoxville.
Fort Dickerson, 3000 Fort Dickerson Rd in Knoxville:
The Fort Dickerson quarry requires more walking than the Cades Cove Loop, but it’s a quick trip to a spectacular view. A short hike from the parking area opens up into a large quarry. Visitors come upon an overlook before reaching the base. This area provides visitors with many different perspectives of the view. Fort Dickerson is best during the warmer months when you can dip your toes — or your whole body — in the quarry.
For those who think climbing The Hill is easy:
These hikes aren’t for the faint-hearted — but if you don’t dread the trek to Ayres Hall, perhaps you’ll enjoy these, too.
Chimney Tops, Great Smoky Mountains:
A friend of mine once referred to this hike as “the worst ever,” but she hates the stairs that lead to the Hill. The Chimney Tops hike should take a little under four hours to complete, being four miles roundtrip. Hikers should beware the steep incline and rocky terrain of this hike but will be rewarded by the grand 360-degree view of the park from the top. Although the trail was badly damaged during the Gatlinburg fires of 2016, it provides a lush journey to a rewarding finish line.
Mount LeConte via Rainbow Falls, Great Smoky Mountains:
Mount LeConte isn’t the highest point in the Smoky Mountain range, which spans across the Tennessee-North Carolina border, but it does get credit as the highest mountain peak located completely in Tennessee. There are multiple ways to get to the peak. The only hike that will keep you from backtracking for what feels like a thousand miles is the Rainbow Falls trail.
The 14.6-mile loop should take six to eight hours to finish, so dedicate a full day if you decide to try this hike. It’s also important to prepare for colder temperatures at the end of your hike in comparison to the beginning of it. In the winter, it’s likely that you start in the fifties and end up in snow once you hit the top. The hike is considered one of the most difficult in the park, but once you see the view at Clifftops, you’ll be glad you made the trip.
For those who enjoy the journey:
These hikes are for those that care more about the experience than the reward.
Little Cataloochee, Great Smoky Mountains:
This journey offers historical and cultural experiences, such as restored cabins, cemeteries and old artifacts. The six-mile point-to-point hike rewards visitors because its history can only be explored via foot or horseback. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete the hike; the hike to and from your car will total 12 miles. A shuttle runs from one end of the trail to the other that can be caught if you don’t wish to walk back. On the other hand, backtracking would give you the opportunity to see everything twice, which might not be so bad.
Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Avenue in Knoxville:
Ijams is very popular among UT affiliates and is probably the first one you’ll hear about peers visiting. The center has a little more of educational side to it; it acts as a wildlife sanctuary to help the community to learn more about the natural world around it. Visitors can take multiple hikes around the center, including hikes to Ross Marble Quarry and Mead’s Quarry. Ross Marble Quarry is home to the Keyhole, an entrance to the quarry under a rock bridge, and Mead’s Quarry has some historic importance. At any rate, there is a lot to enjoy before you ever make it to either quarry, making this one of the best journeys in Knoxville.
For those who prefer the view:
These hikes are for those who don’t care what’s along the way as long as the ending is great. Each hike ends in a grand vista-type view that seems to stretch as far as you can see.
Sharp’s Ridge Veteran Memorial Park, 5930 Lyons View Pike in Knoxville:
A short drive downtown will give you a view that many in Knoxville call the best — not just in the city, but in all of the Smoky Mountains. A quick Google search of the park will pull up numerous pictures of the famous view. The park is also a popular destination for bird watching and quiet walking.
Charlie’s Bunion, Great Smoky Mountains:
Charlie’s Bunion is considered a classic hike in the national park and is often crowded. The hike typically takes around five hours and is about eight miles round trip. It is not particularly hard, with the only challenges coming at a few rocky stretches. Once reaching the top, visitors will see different aspects of the park, such as Mount LeConte and the Greenbrier Pinnacle. Just be wary of climbing the rocks near the top of Charlie’s Bunion: People often fall.
Max Patch at sunset in the spring.
Max Patch, Asheville, North Carolina:
This hike is on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and is one of the most popular destinations. Hikers will reach the top to find a bald mountain, typically covered in wildflowers, that boasts a 360-degree view. Guests can be seen enjoying the sunrise or sunset and the natural view. Traveling to this destination takes roughly an hour and a half, but once the top is reached, no one is disappointed.
