I left off on my last article "Smoky Mountains Metcalf Bottoms" as Eddie and I were getting ready to leave for Townsend and Tremont. That is where I pick up on this article.

First, I will recap how we got to Metcalf Bottoms. From Gatlinburg and entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We came to a fork in the road.

The left (or straight ahead) fork (Newfound Gap Road) goes over the Mountain toward Cherokee Indian reservation

The right fork is the Little River Road and goes to Sugarland’s Visitor Center, Townsend and Cades Cove.

Townsend is 18 miles from Sugarland’s Visitor Center. Metcalf Bottoms is on the right and about half way on The Little River Road.

Leaving Metcalf Bottoms and driving down the road, we come to a swift water area with huge rocks and boulders. The road takes a right on a bridge over the water. However, before crossing the bridge there is a parking area on the left where you will find a great place for a picnic next to the roaring water.

Continuing on the Little River Road there are many pulloffs for folks to enjoy the scenery.

We come to an intersection where we can drive straight to Cades Cove or right (west) to Townsend and toward the foothills parkway and State Route 73 TN. This intersection is a popular place for swimming and tubing, with a convenient pull over. There are no picnic tables.

We took the right fork into Townsend TN here. Townsend is 2 miles, Foot Hills Parkway 12, and Maryville is 22 miles. Walland, where we use to stay at a bed and breakfast is just on the other side of Townsend.

Townsend TN. is the centrally located town between Cades Cove and Gatlinburg. When we entered Townsend, one familiar place was the River Stone Lodge where we stayed on our first visit. Also we see the Texaco Station and Little River Village with Broasted chicken, homemade cream and butter fudge. There is inside and outside seating and of course souvenirs. We’ve often purchased the chicken here and took it with us to Cades Cove picnic area.

Here also is the River stone Family Restaurant, at one time a good country place to eat with great service and food that even Barbie could enjoy. It has changed hands several times since then. There is also a KOA approved Campground behind the restaurant.

We are now ready to take our Smoky Mountains Trail hike. We returned to the National Park intersection for Gatlinburg, Townsend and Cades Cove. We took a right turn away from Gatlinburg toward Cades Cove which is 7 miles away.

Immediately, we come to a bridge with the beautiful little river to the right. There is a pull off and parking space on the left side prior to this bridge. Immediately after crossing this bridge we took an immediate left turn onto Tremont road. Today we are going to Tremont for a hike before going to Cades Cove.

At this turn the sign says; Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont – 2 miles. Many use this trail for horseback riding. It was an old logging camp. They sent the logs down the river and the horses walked the trail beside the water. Later, the train and track took the place of the trail. Mother also mentioned living here with granddad as well as Elkmont. Eddie’s granddad was a supervisor in the logging industry at one time according to mother. We are not certain if that was at the Smoky Mountains or somewhere else.

This road is paved for two miles to the Institute on the left. We are not stopping here today. At this point there were brochures on the right and beautiful waterway on the left. There was also a gate and the road turns to gravel – watch for potholes in road.

I was reminiscing with Eddie of when we were here in May. There were beautiful flowers, Bluebells, Sweet Williams, and Daffodils etc. Today the water on the left side is dancing sparkling and weaving through the huge rocks. It is very soothing.

This road and Elkmont both have beautiful views of the waterway. The Tennessee side the mountains are much sharper and steeper as compared to the Cherokee, North Carolina side which seems to stretch out further and are rolling in appearance. They remind Eddie of the westerns with the cowboys and Indians.

We arrived at the Middle Prong Trail at 12:37 PM. Panther creek trail is 2.3 miles, Greenbrier Ridge trail is 4.1 miles and Appalachian Trail 8.3 miles. The sign says; “danger, bears are active in this area, do not approach them. Attacks on humans have occurred inflicting serious injuries and death.”

Security is important. Lock valuables in trunk at another location before parking the car at the trail, there are thieves who watch for careless hikers. Also restrooms and restaurants ARE NOT easily found on these trails. We’ve not found one McDonalds on any of these trails.

On the trail, Eddie took a picture of me sitting on a bench made out of a split log with a beautiful falls behind me. We took two pictures, one of me taken from lower side and one of Eddie taken from upper side of falls.

I took Eddie’s picture walking through an arch rock next to the waterway.

I had walked 2550 steps when trail turned away from water prior to getting to the Middle Prong Trail intersection. Based on the sign at the trail head, we must have walked 2 miles although we are not sure. We have another 400 steps to the trail intersection about 2 tenths of a mile.

At the Middle Prong Trail Intersection we saw two signs reading:

• Panther Creek trail and Jake’s Creek trail are 2.3 miles to the left.
• Greenbrier Ridge trail is 1.8 miles straight ahead.
• Appalachian Trail is 6 miles straight ahead.
• Tremont road is 2.3 miles back down the trail.

Here are some quick facts about our hike on this trail:

• We started the walk at 12.37 PM.

• We returned to the trail head at 3.06 PM.

• Total time up was 1hr and 27 min.

• We left the trail intersections at 2.04 PM

• Total time down was 1 hr and 2 min.

• 7627 total steps calculate.

After leaving the Tremont trail, we returned to Townsend to eat before going to Cades Cove. The best time to visit Cades Cove is morning or evening.

A. J. ‘s Hearth and Kettle, Eddie ate open faced roast beef and Barbie ate a hamburger platter (very unhealthy). Food and service was very good. Last May we ate here with a friend who bought our meal and Eddie had a delicious Cat Fish dinner that was way more than he could eat.

Townsend TN Little River and Lumber Company Museum. Eddie took pictures while I spoke with the tour guide. The locomotive on display was built in Lima, Ohio in 1903 and brought here for the loggers in the Smoky Mountains. To repair the locomotive to running condition, it would cost over one million dollars because there are parts missing. Due to the age, the train parts could no longer be obtained. Over 300 of these trains were built to run all over the United States and there are only about 30 of them left. They used sand above the brakes to stop the train. If there would have an accident it would be because they failed to put enough sand above the brakes.

A couple years ago Eddie was looking for a book titled “Whistle Over The Mountain” written by Ronald G. Schmidt and William S. Hooks. One of the two authors was at this museum and spoke with Eddie at length prior to Eddie knowing that he was one of the two authors of the book Eddie was looking for. ISBN number 0-9641734-0-9 Library of Congress Catalog Number 94-076724

Eddie and I will move on to Cades Cove with our next article.

My Passion is Health and Wellness through Nutrition. I have successfully put cancer into remission without Chemotherapy, Radiation or Surgery.  

Thank you. ~ Barbie