Lesser Known Attractions in the Smokies

The Sinks

The Sinks is an unnatural waterfall on the Little River, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, United States. It is the most visited waterfall in the park due to the ease of access.

Cliff Jumping is a popular activity at the sinks, as well as family picnics and swimming. 

When you travel from Sugarlands Visitor Center west 12 miles on Little River Road you will see some spectacular scenery. When the river makes an S turn and flows over giant river boulders you will see one of the most picturesque spots along the way to Cades Cove. 

Sugarlands Visitor Center

Townsend Wye 

Another popular local swimming area and lesser known attractions, Townsend Wye, is located just inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance. 

The Wye (or Y) is where the Little River and Middle Prong of the Little River converge, joining in a Y shape. There’s a huge swimming area here. While there are many people in the summer, there’s plenty of room to spread out. It also a lovely place to picnic in the fall.

Just keep in mind there are no facilities like bathrooms here, you will need to go back a couple of miles into Townsend for them. 

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Townsend

Rich in history, and archaeologically dating back to 2000 B.C., Townsend is known as “peaceful valley”- the Cherokees named it long ago. The first English settlers arrived here in the 1700s. 

Townsend is known best for its pristine mountain views, as well as for its festivals throughout the year. Townsend is one of the smallest of the Smoky Mountain towns – a  tiny outpost with about 500 residents. It is frequently referred to as “The Quiet Side of the Smokies.” 

Visitors often use Townsend as a home base for hiking expeditions, making the town a popular spot for adventure seekers and lovers of the outdoors. Fly fishing, golf, bike riding, hiking – there is so much to do. 

The Lost Sea Adventure 

Craighead Caverns is an extensive cave system located in between Sweetwater and Madisonville, Tennessee. It is best known for containing the United States’ largest and the world’s second largest non-subglacial underground lake, The Lost Sea. 

Your Lost Sea adventure begins with a guided tour of the caverns. This involves a ¾ mile round-trip walk on wide sloping pathways. While touring the caverns and underground lake guides will tell of the cavern’s exciting and colorful history. They will also explain the fascinating geological development of the immense cavern rooms and rare formations. At the bottom of the cave, you will take a boat ride on The Lost Sea, America’s Largest Underground Lake. 

Arts and Crafts Community in Gatlinburg 

Get back to the roots of the people who have lived in The Great Smoky Mountains by going to Gatlinburg’s Arts & Crafts Community to watch artisans. 

“Carvers, weavers, watercolor artists, casters, soap makers, potters, wood workers, silversmiths and dozens of other artisans skillfully demonstrate their abilities before thousands of visitors,” the Community says. Everything from dulcimers to stuffed bears, ceramics and baskets are being made and sold here. 

Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community is the largest independent organization of artisans in the United States. As such it doesn’t disappoint in the diversity of crafts you can see when you visit. You’ll find a wide assortment of items from dulcimers to stuffed bears to ceramics. The artists often will talk with visitors and discuss the history of their craft. Each shop offers plenty of free parking. 

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail 

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a 5.5-mile long, one-way drive just outside of the heart of Gatlinburg, TN.  Feel like you’re driving through history while taking in historic buildings, a mountain vista or two, and listen to the babbling streams.  You’ll forget you’re only minutes away from town when you see wild turkey, grazing deer, and even the most famous Smokies resident – the American Black Bear. 

Rainbow Falls Trail is one of the best hikes on the Tennessee side of the park and part of the Cherokee Orchard/Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. 

Visit Cosby  

Cosby is located on the northeastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a pretty 30-minute drive to Cosby from Pigeon Forge. Worth the drive to Carver’s apple orchard, restaurant, and fruit stand. 

Named one of the top 100 thing to do in the Smoky Mountains, Carver’s Orchard & Applehouse Restaurant draws visitors from all over the area. It is an off the beaten path place to enjoy delicious offerings like chicken and dumplings, pot pie, country ham, apple fritters and more. There is also a produce store and candy shop from which you can browse and select treats. 

Mount Cammerer 

The most popular route to the Mount Cammerer lookout tower begins at Cosby Campground. Hikers take Low Gap Trail for 5.2 miles to get to the summit. Located at 4,928 feet, the summit has incredible views of the Smoky Mountains year-round, with especially stunning views during the fall months when the colors are peaking. 

Mount Cammerer Info

Anakeesta 

Located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg with mountain views and 70 forested acres of fun and relaxation, Anakeesta is a mountain playground for all ages. 

There is a zip line adventure, gem mining, a personal roller coaster, treehouses, garden walks and a new splash pad. Among the trees are wonderful spots for selfies, viewing the scenery, watching downtown Gatlinburg. And food – from barbecue to southern foods with a view from the top. 

Anakeesta is a Cherokee word referring to high ground, literally meaning “the place of the balsams.”  Balsam forests are found at our highest elevations in the Smoky Mountains. 

To start your day of fun, buy tickets online, then take the scenic open chairlift or the enclosed Chondola from Gatlinburg up the mountain to Anakeesta – you can’t drive yourself. 

If ziplining is on your mind, choose a time online and make sure to the zipline entry 30 minutes prior to your scheduled run. Anakeesta recommends zipline guests arrive at the Chondala 1.5 hours before the zip time. 

Visit Anakeesta!

Book a cabin – or treehouse – with American Patriot Getaways  

Whether it’s your first visit to the Smokies or your fiftieth, American Patriot Getaways has a cabin for you.  From studio-style economy cabins to 13-bedroom palatial chalets, any family or group can be accommodated in our cabins. There are movie theater cabins, cabins with swimming pools, secluded cabins, cabins with multiple kitchens and cabins with game rooms. 

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Choose a cabin close to the Parkway and you won’t miss any Gatlinburg fun.  Book online using our website, or give our friendly Reservation staff a call at 800-204-5169 to get started planning your trip to Anakeesta and the Great Smoky Mountains. 

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