If you are planning a vacation to Gatlinburg this summer, be sure to schedule a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to find out for yourself why it is the most popular park in the country! The park is filled with miles of scenic hiking trails where you can explore historic buildings, beautiful wildflowers and majestic waterfalls. If you are looking for some different fun activities to enjoy in the park, check out these top 3 things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the summer:
1. Horseback, Carriage and Wagon Rides
If you want to give your feet a rest from hiking, saddle up for a guided horseback ride lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours on the park trails! The horseback rides are available at several concession horseback riding stables in the park and all of them proceed at a walking pace so that you can fully appreciate the gorgeous scenery. Carriage and wagon rides are also available at the park’s horseback riding stables where you can have the opportunity to experience a 30 minute horse-drawn ride on a park trail!
2. Fishing for Trout
Another one of the things to do in the Smoky Mountains is to fish for trout among one of the many streams in the park. There areapproximately 2,900 miles of streams within the park with about 20 percent of them large enough to hold trout populations. Fishing is permitted throughout the year, but the summer is a particularly great time to be outside among the beauty of the mountains! You can start fishing early to beat the heat at 30 minutes prior to official sunrise and can fish 30 minutes after the official sunset time. The only requirement for fishing in the park is a valid fishing license permit, which can be purchased in nearby towns or online.
3. Bicycling on Cades Cove Loop Road
While bicycles are permitted on most roads throughout the park, the best bicycling area is on the Cades Cove Loop Road. In the summer months, the road is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings which makes it an ideal cycling route without traffic concerns. This is a fantastic chance to view wildlife and tour 19th century homesites while enjoying the pleasure of a bike ride. If you did not bring your bike along for your vacation, there is no need to worry as bicycles can be rented at the campground store near Cades Cove Campground!
Where to Stay
If you want the best accommodations close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, look no further than the cabins from Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals! Our affordable cabins have everything you need to relax after a busy day in the park, including bubbling hot tubs, decks with lovely views and much more!
Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to enjoy all of the wonderful things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We hope to see you soon at Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals!
