Kentucky /Tenessee Vacation

[Rambo]

I'm hoping for some input on hiking and wildlife / elk viewing and historic destinations within driving distance of Lexington, Kentucky and then the same (probably bear instead of elk) near Gatlinburg, Tenesee. I hate crowds (I know, Gatlinburg is a crowded mess) but my wife convinced me we should visit the Smokies for the first time instead of our annual trip to the Rockies.

Any tips from locals or well travelled members would be appreciated. We don't spend much money on touristy type things and usually just hike, sight see, and view wildlife. My boys are trying to convince me to let them fish so any tips there were be great as well.

If you would rather message me, that would be great as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Austink47]

Indian camp creek in the smokies was one of my favorites when I lived in the area. Lots of small native trout, old growth forest, relatively few people. Sorry to everyone that still lives there, probably should not have posted this.

 

[rtaylor]

When you're in the Smokies set aside at least half a day and visit Cade's Cove. It is an entire valley of really old homesteads and more animals than you can shake a stick at. There tons of good hiking areas around Cades' Cove as well. There are elk viewing areas in the Smokies also.

 

[Yellowhammer]

Second cades cove, loop itself can be really crowded and pretty miserable but most trails are not crowded at all and you'll likely see more wildlife. If you bring a bike, get there at daylight on Saturday as they close the loop to cars until 10a.m. i believe. It's a really nice ride and you can see a lot of deer and a few bears without fighting the crowds. Cataloochee in north Carolina is not too far away and is a nice area to watch elk.

 

[juan trueno]

Elkmont is pretty decent camping, lots of deer and some bears lots of trails plenty of fishing in the little river. The sinks is a good time. Case cove is what you think of when you think of crowded vehicle based anaimal viewing. There’s horseback riding though to get away from some of that. It’s not bad. I ran over a skunk in my jeep when I was a kid on the way to a baxknapcking trip up there and it bounced between the top of the 33” mud tire and the wheel well a few times before it was mangled enough to spit out. I can’t rEmemebe the loop we did but when I got back to the jeep 4 days later it was the same as it was when I left it, damn near ruined- the soft top had gotten some of the blast and absolutely never came out. Back when there were cabins on 99 year leases there we rented one and bears took a cooler off the porch and my Labrador attacked a skunk under the cabin on what turned out to be our last day there...

I have had no trouble with skunks otherwise but the two encounters 8-9 years apart within 5 miles of each other are enough that even if I never see another one in east tn or west nc I’ll have my eyes peeled and be easy to step lively

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Cades Cove is awesome for wildlife some big bucks there and we have seen bear there before, we hiked to Grottoe Falls one year, didnt see much wildlife, but the falls are nice. Clingman's Dome is an easy hike as well

 

[Wellsdw]

Cades cove......, for God’s sake I once watched some kids play keep away with a calf while the kids mom was feeding the elk momma out of the van window, all the while a HUGE, bull was bugling 100’ away in late August! Go drink some beer a boo Jim’s too in waynesville

 

[Wmmichael20]

Another hike in the pigeon forge and Gatlinburg area other than Cade's cove is clingmans dome...the views are awesome and as a bonus it contains a portion of the applachian trail as well.

 

[Davebuech]

Check out the Red River Gorge/ Daniel Boone Nat'l forest about an hour east of Lexington. Camping, climbing, fishing, hiking all to be found there.

 

[ethan]

Cade’s Cove is closed to vehicle traffic on Friday mornings until 9:00 I think. But it’s a good time to take a bike ride! Any hiking in Cade’s Cove will be crazy crowded. Lots of cool history in there as well. It’s worth the traffic if you go early or late in the day. As mentioned, Clingmans Dome is a really cool visit and you can check out New Found Gap along the way. Sugarlands visitor center is pretty nice and real close to there. Townsend is billed as “the quiet side of the smoky’s” and is much nicer, in my opinion.
If you fish, stop by at Little River Fly Shop. It’s a really nice fly shop and they can give you the latest on what the fish are taking and they’re helpful on where to fish depending on what you’re looking for. If you want I pressured fish and solitude you have to hike a bit if you want to be in good fishing. If you’re in Gatlinburg, go to the Log Cabin Pancake House, you’re welcome in advance! . You can carbide load on great pancakes before you hike!

 

[sneaky]

I think the trails I favored all burned a couple years ago. Chimney rocks was a good hike.

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[Carr5vols]

Tennessee native. Cades cove is good but will be crowded unless you are the first one at the gate and in the summer not much wildlife will be out. Catalochee has elk and will have almost no one there and is very similar set up to cases cove.

 

[Cng]

Second Red River Gorge. About an hour east of Lexington. Excellent hiking. Tons of natural arches. Clifty Wilderness is right next to the RRG Geological Area, and Natural Bridge State Park is right there as well.

The Daniel Boone National Forest is to the east and south, but access can be difficult. Cave Run Lake in Morehead is a popular access point. The Sheltowee Trace is a long distance hiking trail that starts up there.

Might consider Mammoth Cave if you’ve never been. That’s about an hour and a half west of Lexington. The hiking isn’t all that great, but it’s worth taking a cave tour. Could do some canoeing on the Green River there.

Hit the Big South Fork on your way to TN from Lexington. Many awesome spots there, but definitely plan on spending a good half day on what’s called the Honey Creek Loop on the southern end in TN. That’s just a flat out incredible hike. I can’t recommend it enough.

As others have said—despite the crowds—there’s just no better place in the Smokies to view wildlife than Cades Cove. There is excellent hiking all around there. I recommend hiking up to Rocky Top for the view. Also, not in Cades Cove, but the Mt LeConte hike is good. I’ve had good experiences in most of the campgrounds. Also, there are some nice little mountain towns like Townsend or Bryson City where you can stay near the Smokies without having to deal with Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

 

[ShortMountain91]

Cade's cove is great but always crowded. My favorite hike is chimney tops but the end was still closed last time I hiked it (1 or 2 years ago) due to the fire a few years back. You can check on the nps website. Charlie's bunion is another great hike.

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[Rambo]

Wow, thank you all so much for taking the time to respond! I posted the same question here for a Wyoming trip 2 years ago and the recommendations I got made the trip great. This appears to be no different. Thank you! If any of you plan to be travelling through central Iowa along I-80 and think you'll be ready for a pit stop and some hunting talk, let me know. I'll buy you a cup of coffee!

 

[bobr1]

Mammoth cave is pretty cool if you have never been there and has several different tour options. It can be a really nice reprieve from the heat in the summer.
Also, the bourbon trail is there. Makers Mark or Woodford Reserve distillery are fun if you want to see that. Gatlinburg/pigeon forge had a pretty bad fire a couple years ago. Not sure what has been rebuilt. But the area is very family oriented. Lots of putt putt and go karts cheap souvenir store etc... Also, if you are at all into knives the smoky mountain knife works is on the way in. It is ridiculous and you could spend a good amount of time in there if you wanted to. Think like 1.5 to 2 cabelas size stores but only knives and cutlery related stuff. Feel free to PM if you have any other questions.

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[dprice911]

Carter caves and Mammoth cave are both awesome as get-a-ways

 

[sneaky]

Mammoth cave is pretty cool if you have never been there and has several different tour options. It can be a really nice reprieve from the heat in the summer.
Also, the bourbon trail is there. Makers Mark or Woodford Reserve distillery are fun if you want to see that. Gatlinburg/pigeon forge had a pretty bad fire a couple years ago. Not sure what has been rebuilt. But the area is very family oriented. Lots of putt putt and go karts cheap souvenir store etc... Also, if you are at all into knives the smoky mountain knife works is on the way in. It is ridiculous and you could spend a good amount of time in there if you wanted to. Think like 1.5 to 2 cabelas size stores but only knives and cutlery related stuff. Feel free to PM if you have any other questions.

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+1 on Smoky Mountain Knife Works. That place is really nice.

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[RockChucker30]

Park at Clingmans Dome in the Smokies, hike down to Andrews Bald for a picnic lunch, then go off trail on the way back to find the Lost Steam Engine of Forney Creek. Can find YouTube videos on the trail. Wife and I did it and it's neat.


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[RockChucker30]

Look up bluegrass underground. If a good band is playing it's more fun than Mammoth. Longer drive for you probably.


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