Extreme Outdoor Adventures

The Smoky Mountains don’t just feel like a magical place, they really are a mystical destination. The phrase “old as the hills” rings true when you really dive into the old lore of the mountains. When you come to visit, take this otherworldly tour and investigate for yourself. Here are six of the Smokies’ best kept secrets.

1. Elkmont Trollbridge

Escape to a place that really feels like a glimpse into a mythical land. The Elkmont Trollbridge is a true hidden gem that only locals know about. Hike along the Little River Trail until you reach this spot. Covered in moss and mushrooms, the Trollbridge is perfect for capturing pictures or looking for hidden fantastical creatures.

2. House Of The Fairies

This whimsical spot is only a mile from downtown Gatlinburg yet it feels like you’ve been transported into another realm. Map to this magical place, then go out and explore. Here, you’ll find towering trees and moss covered logs and boulders. Then at the end of the trail you’ll see it...an arched doorway, that looks like it’s almost cut into the side of the hill, sits with a wooden ladder leaning against the frame. Step inside and find a cool spring, filled with water that tinkles like bells.

3. Synchronous Fireflies

The synchronized fireflies that come out every year like clockwork might be more science than magic but when you’re sitting among the trees and they begin to spark in unison, flickering in and out of sight, it feels like something otherworldly. This rare phenomenon is only seen in a few places in the world and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of them.

4. Elkmont Ghost Town

Once a thriving vacation spot for the Knoxville elite, the Elkmont Ghost Town looks like a legend brought back to life. Recently restored, explore inside the homes and hike trails where you will find the remains of homes once occupied by Appalachian locals who would serve, supply and work in the town. This piece of history is frozen in time and feels like stepping back into the past.

There are many magical places in the Smokies and these are only four of them. Don’t stop here, continue to search for more mystical creatures and sprites living in the trees and hollows. To discover more, stay overnight in the mountains in a log cabin. This cabin is even called Magical Moments, which is exactly what you’ll find when you visit the Smoky Mountains.

The history of the Smoky Mountains has seen rivers of adrenaline flow through that rival the Little Pigeon in the many eras that humans have found value to settle here. For thousands of years, if you wanted an extreme outdoor adventure, you scarcely had to venture too far to find it. Foraging in the wilderness to find food and shelter, fighting bears and boars and giant birds in a then-advanced game of cat and mouse, venturing across the mountains to the nearest town by foot and without light, fishing in the dead of winter without a fishing rod and plenty of feuds and battles that would outline, for better or worse, some of the various ways you could get a thrill and flex that manly muscle (whether you were a man or not!) in the Smokies.

Thankfully, we don't have to make those things an obligatory experience for those who come visit our region anymore. Now you can get that heart pumping and the fight-or-flight neurons upstairs firing in much safer, less destructive activities and, in this article, we're happy to introduce you to just some of the ways you can do that!

Foxfire Mountain

The first recommendation we wanted to list is our personal favorite of ours and it's a place where you and the family can get a LOT of outdoor fun in all at one spot. The name is Foxfire Mountain and they are located south of Jones Cove Road in Sevierville on a huge 150-acre park that gives you ziplines, off-road ATV rides, hiking trails with bridges where necessary, a huge rock-climbing wall named "The Gorilla", a rope jungle and more onsite amenities that help complete Foxfire as a definite one-stop full-day adventure for families. See more on them Click Here

Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg

This unique outdoor center is also a very worthy stop for having the distinction of being a large, awesome hiking and outdoor store while also offering everything you need for any of those experiences plus a swinging rope bridge, a bear cave, a giant fireplace, whitewater rafting adventures, a 25 foot climbing wall... sometimes some of the outdoor adventures we have here are indoors, but whether you're wanting to get that thrill under a roof or not, make sure the NOC in Gatlinburg (near stoplight #10) is part of your adventure to-do list! See more Click Here

Dolly's Splash Country

The parks representing Miss Dolly Parton need no introduction, and while both are definitely outdoors fun you can enjoy with the entire family for the entire duration of the day (or more), Splash Country edges out for the "extreme" outdoor label with their immaculate collection of huge slides, rides, waves, sprays and structures that even look like they were pulled out of a Dr. Seuss book. You have to see this park to believe it. See more Click Here.

Outdoor Gravity Park

Oh man, you've probably never experienced anything like what the Outdoor Gravity Park has to offer but always wanted to! Your childhood dream of getting inside a giant sphere and rolling like a crazy person down a huge hill comes true in Pigeon Forge and the park offers different ways of doing so - dry rolling, wet rolling, a "speed demon" track, a zig-zag track and much more. This is, evidently, the only type of attraction like this in the U.S., which is quite a boast, but most definitely the Smokies and the state of Tennessee have nothing else like this anywhere. If you want a truly unique extreme outdoor experience, come check out Outdoor Gravity Park. See more Click Here.

And now that we've given you some ideas for an extreme outdoor adventure, let us provide you with some ideas for an extreme INDOOR adventure with our luxury cabins for rent in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville and more! All of our cabins are in reasonable proximity to these attractions and you can find the one that works best for you at SEE MORE CLICK HERE .