Our first adventure out from Charlottesville! We have really caught the hiking/camping bug again. Over the last couple weeks, driving to work through the rolling Virginia countryside has made us yearn to be one with nature. The first free weekend here had finally arrived, and we had our eyes set on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Now, from where we are it’s a good 6-hour excursion southwest to the park on highway 81, so we made some impromptu stops along the way.
Parkway Brewing
About two hours into our journey we stopped in the small town of Salem to check out one of their top-rated breweries. Getting to Parkway Brewing was interesting because our GPS had us travel right through what appeared to be a neighborhood- and out of nowhere popped up a sprawling warehouse-like taproom. It’s complete with couches and picnic benches to sit on while listening to some currently unknown folk/blues band. It has a large patio area split into smoking and non-smoking with a food truck present right outside. You definitely get the small-town southern vibe here. Check out the Get Bent Mountain IPA and other varieties to fill up your log flight.
Parkway Brewing in Salem, VA
The best part was the logs they had for flight holders!
Parkway Brewing in Salem, VA
The best part was the logs they had for flight holders!
Eastern Divide Brewing
A food truck didn’t sound all that appetizing, so off we went ~30 minutes down the highway to Blacksburg, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. On the outskirts of the town sits one of their newer breweries, Eastern Divide, and it does not disappoint. They have a huge barn with a ton of modern wooden tables to choose from inside. And then outside they have some patio chairs surrounding large wooden barrels to view the never-ending hills of Virginia. Here we snagged their confit chicken and poutine, and both were quite delicious. In our opinion, their beers were all around better too. We especially enjoyed sipping on the Stony Creek Cream Ale while enjoying the view.
Great view from Eastern Divide Brewing!
Inside Eastern Divide Brewing
And some tasty food right on site!
Great view from Eastern Divide Brewing!
Inside Eastern Divide Brewing
And some tasty food right on site!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The most visited park in the US is all you have to say. One of the only parks that does not charge an entrance fee. Obviously, there is something drawing a ton of people here every day. We just did not know what. Until we came in on highway 441 through Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and saw it on full display- essentially a mini version of Vegas without the large casinos. Literally the amount of light pollution there was burning my eyes. Just outside this beautiful, protected land sits as many candy shops, ice cream shops, mini putt courses, amusement parks, and tacky tourist traps that one can imagine. We were in shock. And in just 15 short minutes, we drove past the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance and suddenly entered the vast darkness of a thick forest on a one-way road to our campsite.
Elkmont
Probably the most crowded/sought after campground in the park, Elkmont sits smack dab in the middle. It is an easy jump off point for those who want to go south, north, or east through the park to explore. We arrived a little too early in the year, so we didn’t get to experience this, but for two weeks at the end of May/beginning of June, thousands of synchronizing fireflies appear near this campground and it’s supposedly spectacular. The only way you’re seeing them is if you’re staying at Elkmont during this small window or if you’re lucky enough to win a lottery ticket to bus into the park at night for this unique spectacle.
Elkmont Campground
Breakfast, camp-style!
Elkmont Campground
Breakfast, camp-style!
HIKES:
Mount LeConte Summit via Alum Cave Trail
Mount LeConte Summit via Alum Cave Trail
One of the top-rated hikes in the park, Alum Cave Trail is very popular and gets packed by 9:00-10:00 a.m. It is an out and back trail nearly 11 miles long with ~3,000 feet elevation. Honestly, we enjoyed the initial part of this hike the most, as it has a great stream you walk by and cross over on logs. As you get closer to the summit, you come across signs for Mount LeConte cabins and a lodge you can eat lunch at, but if you stay to the right you’ll find a sign or two leading you up to the summit lookout where a bunch of other people are hanging out.
The start of the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte.
Cool tunnel on this trail.
View from Alum Cave
Mount LeConte Lodge near the summit.
Hiking past the lodge to find…
…awesome views!
More beautiful views from Mount LeConte!
The start of the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte.
Cool tunnel on this trail.
View from Alum Cave
Mount LeConte Lodge near the summit.
Hiking past the lodge to find…
…awesome views!
More beautiful views from Mount LeConte!
Charlies Bunion via the AT (Appalachian Trail)
Charlies Bunion via the AT (Appalachian Trail)
Roughly a 10-minute drive further south on 441, you wind your way up to the Newfound Gap parking lot, which is the highest point you can get to via car. It is also the state dividing line between Tennessee and North Carolina. You will find the start of this trail by the semi-circular rotunda looking area and you just keep going straight for ~2.5 miles until you run into signage that points you off to the right for Charlies Bunion. It is an 8.5-mile jaunt with almost 2,000 feet elevation, but well worth it. This path is much less busy, and when you actually get to the bunion, there are way less people and probably better views than Mount LeConte.
Gotta love walking the line!
My happy place!
Charlies Bunion!
Gotta love walking the line!
My happy place!
Charlies Bunion!
Clingmans Dome
Just 15-20 minutes further south-southwest of Newfound Gap is Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. This is the tallest point in Tennessee. You drive up to the parking lot area and then have an easy one mile stroll up to the tower. Unfortunately, we only made it to the parking area, as it started to downpour as we were just getting out of the car.
View of the storm rolling in from Clingmans Dome.
View of the storm rolling in from Clingmans Dome.
Downtown Gatlinburg
After seeing what we drove past to get into the park, we thought we’d get the whole Smoky Mountains experience if we participated in the Wisconsin-Dells-like environment of Gatlinburg. On one little strip of main road you can find almost anything you would ever want to do. Here is where you find out just how many people are currently visiting.
Downtown Gatlinburg, TN
Smoky Mountain Brewery
We grabbed a late dinner at Smoky Mountain Brewery and it was well worth it- a solid spinach-artichoke dip followed up by awesome chicken alfredo pizza, all while trying out a flight of their beers. You can’t get much better than that. If you like a clean lager, check out their Helles. They also have live music that starts around 9:30 p.m. on weekends.
Great Smoky Brewery
Ole Smoky Moonshine
After walking the main drag for a bit to see what else we could find (not so shockingly we found a soft serve ice cream shop), we popped into the Ole Smoky Moonshine area which is located just below the Mellow Mushroom pizza joint. This is honestly one of the more happening areas for those 21+, as they offer walk up $5 tastings of 10 of their moonshines at each of their rectangle bars. Our favorites were the margarita and butter pecan flavors. Just outside there is a large theater area where some great southern classics are being rattled off as you people watch for hours.
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Moonshine sampling for $5!
Live southern music with rocking chairs on the Ole Smoky Moonshine patio!
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Moonshine sampling for $5!
Live southern music with rocking chairs on the Ole Smoky Moonshine patio!
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
With Sunday morning came a short drive north up to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a very scenic loop with multiple turn offs for viewing nature and for a few trails. This was actually the only place where we saw a bear in the woods (from the safety of our car), so it was worth it.
HIKES:
Grotto Falls Trail
One of the trails off Roaring Fork is the popular Grotto Falls Trail, coming in at 2.5 miles long and 500 feet of elevation. This has to be one of the best small falls we’ve ever been to- it had ample places to sit down and put your feet (or whole body) in the water at the base of the fall, and you could go back behind the falls for some cool picture opportunities. We dunked our sore feet into the ice-cold pool and couldn’t have been happier.
This trail definitely put the ankles to work!
Hiking to Grotto Falls!
Gotta love hanging out behind a waterfall!
A cold water dip for the feet after over 20 miles of hiking!
This trail definitely put the ankles to work!
Hiking to Grotto Falls!
Gotta love hanging out behind a waterfall!
A cold water dip for the feet after over 20 miles of hiking!
Bull and Bones Brewhaus
Due to our sore feet and time constraints, we called off any more hikes Sunday and decided to start the trek back home. But first- more beer! We stopped back in Blacksburg at Bull and Bones Brewhaus and found a very different atmosphere than the one just two days prior. We asked our waitress why we were the only ones in the restaurant and learned that Virginia Tech’s graduation had just happened and now everyone had left or was leaving for the summer. They have a massive menu here so you’ll likely find something you can enjoy, and our favorite beer of theirs was the Maroon Effect Ale.
Bull & Bones
Rising Silo Farm Brewery
For our last destination this weekend we took a 15-minute tour through the rest of downtown Blacksburg, seeing Virginia Tech’s football stadium and an overview of their campus, before reaching Rising Silo. This is an awesome farm space turned taproom with plenty of seating that comes complete with their own craft beers and a wood fired oven. You get almost as good of a view as Eastern Divide Brewing, and get to drink up some wilder beer choices, such as the Biere De Glade.
Rising Silo Farm Brewery
Blacksburg’s first farm brewery.
Rising Silo Farm Brewery
Blacksburg’s first farm brewery.
Another fantastic hiking and exploring weekend down! We would also check out Abrams Falls, the Cosby area, and/or the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for even more adventure if we had the time. But we thought 22 miles of hiking was a great start! Seriously though, make some time to do the gawdy-touristy trap things as well because it is indeed part of the experience.