Unplugging in Townsend and Wears Valley

Where to stay

It's nearly all rental cabins and chalets, most with a hot tub and a view. Stay in Townsend if you want to be close to Cades Cove and the river, and in Wears Valley if you want a bit more room and don't mind the drive into the park.

What to do

Cades Cove

An 11-mile, one-way loop road around a valley with old cabins, churches and a mill. Go early in the morning or late in the day to see wildlife and skip the worst of the traffic. On some days in the warmer months the loop is closed to cars and open to walkers and bikes, so check the park's schedule.

Abrams Falls

A hike of about five miles round trip from the back of Cades Cove to a short, wide waterfall with a big pool below it. Don't swim there. The currents are strong.

Tremont and the Middle Prong

A quiet road off the main park road near Townsend leads to the Middle Prong Trail, an old railroad grade that follows the river past a string of cascades. Easy walking and hardly any climbing.

The Little River

In summer people tube and swim the Little River right through Townsend. The spot where it enters the park, called the Townsend Y, is the local swimming hole.

Foothills Parkway

A ridge road with long views over the mountains on one side and the valley on the other. One section runs between Wears Valley and Walland and makes a good drive at sunset.

Tuckaleechee Caverns

A cave in Townsend with guided tours. Good for a rainy day.

The towns

Townsend is small and strung out along the highway, with a few places to eat, outfitters that rent tubes, and the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, a small museum about the people who lived in these mountains before the park.

Wears Valley isn't much of a town at all. It's a long valley road with churches, a few stores and cabins up every side road. Pigeon Forge is at the east end if you need groceries or a crowd.

Before you go

• Buy a park parking tag before you go. You need one to park in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes.
• Cabin driveways here can be steep and narrow. If you're coming in winter, check the weather and ask the host about the road.
• Stock up on groceries in Maryville or Pigeon Forge on the way in. The stores in the valleys are small.