It's Time To Reserve a Cabin - Fall Color is Coming.

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.

This is unconfirmed as of writing, and definitely, we don't want to be starting any riot-inducing hearsay, but since mid-August, some of us seem to be noticing that... well... the colors appear to already be starting their change...

Perhaps not totally out of line with nature here in the Smokies, it has been a cooler Summer in general and definitely MUCH cooler than the Summer we had before that where we had an incredibly long streak of 90+ degree weather days followed by a Winter that was also warmer than usual. Either way, we are seeing a few trees here and there that are already turning some shades of brown and red and this may impact the traditional color schedule for the Autumn season. Typically the colors start as soon as the temperatures start winding down near the second week of September and then slowly build to a color crescendo for 4-5 more weeks until about 10-14 days before Halloween. They remain there for another 2-3 weeks before beginning to fall as November turns Autumn to Winter. We expect this to still be relatively the norm, but time can only tell for sure and that time is actually here.

This is, naturally, all the more reason you should reserve your cabin with us at Bear Camp Cabins for the fall color sooner than later. We used to just tell people this for making sure they can get a reservation as Autumn is a major peak season occasion in the Smokies, but now we can add the possibility that the colors may start and/or peak sooner than usual as well! Just imagine all the possibilities you get when you stay at a Bear Camp Cabin while the colors lay out miles ahead of you like huge bowls of Fruity Pebbles... enjoying a homecooked dinner on the deck as you watch the sunset, enjoying the hot tub on the deck as you watch the sunset, filling your camera's memory card with incredible pictures of nature, and in many cases being able to see and enjoy the colors even without going outside thanks to huge cathedral ceilings and whole sides of the houses being made nearly entirely out of windows!

And that doesn't even take into account the many attractions we are convenient to where you can REALLY drink in the Autumn spirit and get plenty of incredible colorful views:

The Gatlinburg Space Needle.

Ober Gatlinburg.

Dollywood.

Gatlinburg Skylift.

The many zip line attractions.

The Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community.

Hillbilly Golf.

Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster.

The Old Mill and Patriot Park.

Many horse riding stables in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg.

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.

And of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and all the hiking trails and roadways that go through it and showcase everything you came to East Tennessee to see!

If you'd like to know more about how Bear Camp Cabins can make an awesome Autumn experience for you no matter what time you come to the Smokies to see colors, see our cabins and find the right one for you at CLICK HERE.