Hey everyone, I’m going to Gatlinburg at the end of October and I’m planning on proposing to my girlfriend while we’re there. Right now I’m thinking of doing the Alum Cave → Mt. LeConte hike and possibly proposing around Cliff Tops, but I wanted to ask people who know the park better if there are any other spots I should consider.

Also how are the leaves looking did the hurricane make alot of them fall? lol how are the colors?

I really want somewhere on a mountain with a great view, especially if we get lucky with the fall colors. I know Charlies Bunion is another option, but from the pictures/videos I’ve seen it looks kind of tight and crowded for what I’m trying to do.

The slightly weird requirement is that I need a little bit of open space. We have this stupid thing we do where I pick her up and spin her around and call it a “rocket ship.” That’s basically my excuse for setting my phone down and recording us without her immediately realizing I’m about to propose. So ideally I need somewhere I could prop my phone up on a rock or something and have enough room to pick her up/spin her around without being right next to a cliff lol.

I’ve also heard Cades Cove has some really beautiful spots even though it’s obviously not a mountaintop, so I’m open to that or anything else in the park if there’s a specific overlook/field/trail spot people think would be better.

I'm taking my first hiking trip in November! Thinking of doing smokey mountains and other surrounding areas, specifically November 6-9.

My questions are mainly

1. Are their any fall colors left around this time? If not what can I expect to see (naked trees, leaves on floor, greenery, etc)

2. How cold are we looking at around this time? Will I be fine with a hoodie/jacket or am I definitely still shivering the whole way lol

3. What are the best routes you like here, especially for the time frame

4. And lastly if this time frame is worth it in your opinion

Thanks!!

I have an SUV and will attach a tent to the back overnight with the hatch door up. Obviously i know you can't park inside the park and do that but would like to do it somewhere else. Really anything on or near blue ridge parkway or the border of TN-GA-NC. A campground or spot somewhere in National Forest.

Hello all!

My partner and I are heading to the great smoky mountains for our 7 year anniversary Oct 30th-Nov 2nd and are obviously to do some hiking! So far, we’re planning on hitting: Charlies bunion, Andrews bald, kuowhi trail (for sunset), alum cave (to the bluffs, no time for mountain le conte unfortunately), and laurel falls. Given our very limited time, we want to see as much as possible! We’re also coming from a place in the US with very limited fall foliage so we’re wanting to maximize seeing that as well. Any suggestions welcome!

We are very experienced hikers and don’t shy away from a challenge! Our biggest constraint is honestly time and the fact we’re flying in so we can’t bring all of our usual gear. Thanks in advance!

Planning a trip in November to the Smokies. Can anyone recommend the best things to do with a toddler under 2?
What attractions are kid friendly and what trails are short easy hikes or stroller friendly?

I'm camping at Elkmont on Thursday/Friday night and I'm wondering if I'll be able to use a portable AM/FM radio to pick up a station or two as I'm hearing cell service is a lost cause. Hoping to listen to the ALCS. Anyone have experience?

Stay safe out there, folks.

Hello. Spent years in the park but I'm looking for some recommendations I may not have come across in my time. I'm looking for your favorite trails/hikes (of any distance) that are great for river/creek views.

Because I live 6+ hours from the Blue Ridge mountains, I usually do weekend hikes that are a short evening hike to a basecamp (after the long drive), a big loop hike the next day back to base camp, and then the short hike back out the next morning for the drive home. (I call these "corn dogs.") So I'm looking do the south side of GSMNP and have narrowed it down to these two. Deep Creek and Indian Creek are more scenic, I hear, and the water situation seems better, but Twentymile gets you Gregory Bald. Which is the tastier corn dog?

Anyone know when things will open back up? At least where I was at I didn’t really see any impact from the hurricane today. I’m hoping to do Charlie’s Bunion early tmrw (start 10am) but am disappointed because it probably won’t be open until later than that. Are conditions in higher elevations really that much worse?

I am a home builder and kind of a geek about historical rural architecture. I have looked for a couple of year unsuccessfully for plans on the historical home stead’s of Cades cove and catalogue. Is there a resource somewhere with drawings of these structures?

Hi everyone! It will be my partner's and my first time visiting GSMNP, and we are very excited, especially to see the fall colors there! We want to see as much as possible, but I also don't want it to be an unrealistically packed and stressful itinerary! If anyone could let me know if this sounds reasonable and like a good plan, or if you have any suggestions at all, please let me know : ) I super appreciate it.

For context, my partner and I love hiking and camping and don't mind getting up early.  We are going in October, so I know it will be busy. I am just a little worried about how much traffic there will be and am not sure if we should plan for the drives in between our campsites to take way longer than normal or just account for a little bit more time. If anyone has any tips or tricks for GSM, super open to any of that as well! Thanks : )

Thursday night — Arrive & camp

• Arrive at Smokemont Campground
• Set up camp and get settled for the night

Friday — Big hike + drive to Elkmont

Get up early to reach the trailhead by 5:30 AM

• Choose one of the following hikes:
  • Alum Cave
  • Charlie's Bunion
  • Taking input on which one we should do!
• Drive to Elkmont Campground for night two
• Stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center on the way
• Explore any worthwhile overlooks or stops along the drive

Saturday — Elkmont history + elk viewing

• Spend some time relaxing at camp
• Walk through the Elkmont Historic District
• Pack up camp
• Explore other nearby sights or activities in the Elkmont area
• Head toward Oconaluftee Visitor Center
• Arrive by 6:00 PM to watch the elk
• Drive to Deep Creek Campground
• Set up camp for the night

Sunday — Waterfalls + drive home

• Wake up and hike one of the Deep Creek waterfall loop trails
• Pack up camp
• Begin the 8-hour drive home

Edit: Hi everyone, thank you so much to everyone who took the time to leave their thoughts! I really appreciate your time. I forgot to mention that, yes, all of those campgrounds are already booked. It's not ideal, but those were the only spots available because we booked last minute, so we decided to make the best of it and use that as a way to see lots of different parts of the Smokies! Also, we are headed south, so Deep Creek puts us a little closer to home, so that was slightly intentional (within our options).

Oconaluftee 10-7-2026

We are seeing more color down low than we are at higher elevation.

So got a notice today that Cosby knob is closed for an aggressive bear until late November. That was my first stop for sobo through the smokies for me late October. Davenport doesn’t make much sense for me. Will the back country office divert to the cammerer tower? Seems like the gap between davenport and tricorner/pecks is less ideal.

It has been almost 20 years since I have gone backpacking in the smokies but I was thinking of going one weekend this October. I know October is the busiest time of year. How crowded do the trails get these days that are not the AT or Mt Leconte trails? How far away from the roads do you have to go to get away from the crowds?

Hi All,

I was planning on renting an RV from Maryland and bringing it to the GSMNP this weekend staying in Cosby, TN. I understand that the track is still unknown for Tropical Storm Isasis (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/refresh/graphics_at4+html/071753.html?wwCone#contents) . However, it does appear that this could bring a lot of rain and wind.

Should I look into cancelling/rescheduling?

Thank you!

How did a motorcyclist crash on Cataloochee rd?

Hello.. we booked 3 nights from Friday to Mondah this week and it seems the storm(possibly hurricane) is coming up!
I don’t think we can hike or drive the mountain well,, but our cancellation due for hotels is over.
Do you think hotels can give free cancellation for the storm thing?
Thank you a lot for silly question!

Some photos my daughter and I took when we went to Cades Cove on Saturday the 4th . My wife's ashes are there at the cable Mill Cades Cove Loop . I go there because I feel at peace there I want to try to move down to Townsend Tennessee or somewhere around there but we just don't have the money right now my wife's been there since November 15th she died last October have a heart attack she was 44 years old please keep us in your prayers every time you go there and think of my wife her name is Angel that's where she wanted to be the photos of the two patches of woods is where my wife's ashes are at

What a fun hike!

Hi all! I’m planning my first trip to the Smokies. We’ll be driving from Raleigh, with our first stop being Asheville, and then spending 2 days in Gatlinburg for the Great Smoky Mountains.

Would you recommend the Oct 24th weekend or Oct 31st weekend? Which one do you think would be a better option for peak fall colors, ideally with a lower chance of bad weather?

We’ll mainly be doing scenic drives, overlooks, and town hopping rather than long hikes. Would love to hear what you’d recommend!

We will be in Whittier,NC from Oct 14th - Oct 17th. We plan on traveling around that area I would love some reccomendations on good trails, & sight seeing literally anywhere. Also, local restaraunts, breweries, shops (antiques/thrift), must see places, hidden gems.. literally anything you can think of! We do want to go to Harrahs Casino in Cherokee as well - any tips there? Appreciate your help (:

Hi everybody. I booked a trip to the smokies a few months ago for my birthday (Oct 3). Come to find out recently that there’s a front pulling in right for the weekend. How bad is it expected to be? Is it going to be a lockdown typa weekend :(