The Elkmont Historic District is a collection of preserved and not so preserved cabins leftover from Elkmonts early days in the early 1900s as a logging town and a resort for well- heeled Knoxvillians. A Lets Talk About Poop: A Campers Guide to Human Waste. Open year-round, Cades Cove Campground borders wild meadows where turkey and bear strut their stuff. wading across the Little River (this is a cold and possibly very wet way), Map courtesy of the NPS- https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/Elkmont.pdf. August 2, 2022by Hugo Warren Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. Daisy Town is by far the most preserved and complete part of Elkmonts Historic District. It has its drawbacks (it can get really crowded, no showers, some of the campsites are small) but its nice family friendly feel plus the great trails and the refreshing Little River on a hot summers day make it a campground we return to over and over again. Elkmont TN used to be a logging town and was located where the existing Elkmont Campground now stands and was owned by the Little River Lumber Company. All pets must be kept on a six foot leash at all times. GP 04 is my favorite because it sits on one side of the group loop by itself. Food safety is strictly enforced-- no food or even water left at campsite or in tents when not actively cooking or eating. Q, Get your water at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (dump station) on the way to Elkmont. 1608 26th St, Sheffield, Colbert County, AL, 35660 is currently for sale for the price of $114,000 USD. Campground with huge trees, lots of space between sites, sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows. Ride a bike the whole 10 miles or bring Fido along for a shorter stroll and spend some time exploring the Peaceful Side Of The Smokies.. RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! They are quite close together so get a group and reserve both. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. This campground is truly amazing. Please check the descriptions and measurements of individual sites.\r\n\r\nBears and other wildlife frequent the area. There is also a group section with 4 campsites for 7-30 people. The campground is located at an elevation of 2,150 feet and has 200 tent/RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables and 20 walk-in sites for tents. Make reservations online during summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free. No scooters or skateboards though. Go to recreation.gov website for Elkmont- https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232487. Check out time is 12 pm and you can check in after 1 pm. The sites arent private, which didnt bother us. Check in was easy, just get your tag from the board, stop at ranger window and you are out. . Places. The river is about 10 ft down just beyond the edge of the tent pad seen on M6. These two historic structures have been restored and are kid favorites, especially the old schoolhouse). Heads up- There are potential affiliate links below. more. 7-year-old Georgia girl dies when tree falls on tent at Elkmont Campground, rangers say. Take a left at the sign for Elkmont Nature Trail, where you . In addition to traditional campsites, the Elkmont campground is also host to some historic buildings most frequently used for weddings. 107 Park Headquarters Road However, please be considerate of your neighbors while setting up camp by keeping noise and light to a minimum. All scented items (candles, soap, etc.) Visitors with campground reservations that only plan to park at their designated campsite do not need a parking tag. 124 Mill View Drive, Moores Mill, Madison County, AL, 35761 has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a total size of 1,436 square feet. So it fills up fast. Nice ranger at check in. Go 1.5 miles to the campground office. July 24, 2022by Hugo Warren Smokemont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open year-round, though some sections are closed in the winter. However, Clingmans Dome is effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. Fortunately there is a bypass around Gatlinburg. 7 groceries, 52 restaurants, 12 parks . Front country campers parked at their designated campsite will not be required to have a parking tag. According to when most visitors come to the Smoky Mountains, the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains national park is during the months of June, July, and October. The trolley costs $2 and leaves about every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg between 9 am and 530 pm June- October. There is no cell service here, at least for AT&T, but if you need it you can get if a few miles down the road towards the visitor center. Be the first to add a video for Elkmont Campground! Reservations required. Beautiful and serene. Because the last trolley leaves Gatlinburg at 530pm, it is not an option if you want to go out for dinner but great if you want to head over to the Aquarium for the day or just get out of the campground on a rainy day without paying extortionate parking prices in Gatlinburg. With no one else in the picture. Bagged ice is $4.97 in park. I would guess that when it is full, it wouldn't feel so private. The campsites near the entrance to Elkmont get a lot of traffic as everybody from 200 campsites is entering/exiting. Image from Google search of historical weather for nearby Wears Valley, TN. If you are looking for a fun day out with the family that combines some inexpensive outside time with views of the mountains, good food, and even a chance to run across a swinging bridge, then the Townsend Historical Trail might be just the thing. Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Sites along Little River are in particularly high demand. It was a long time before I tried again. Our favorite campsites in Elkmont are the ones along the Little River. Hang out in Great Smoky Mountains' Elkmont Campground in late May and early June, and you'll be in for one of Mother Nature's rarest light shows: synchronous fireflies lighting up the forest floor in pulses of electric yellow. If you want to bring 2 large tents, then make it easier on yourself and reserve 2 campsites. It is open from mid-March to late November each year. That will end badly (personal experience talking here). This rule is strictly enforced. Hopefully, that is the case moving forward. Toilet paper is usually okay but I would bring a roll just in case. The hot temperatures have subsided, the leaves have started to turn, the apples trees are ready for harvest, and the water cooler talk has turned to college football. East Side of the Little River- The ranger station, campground store, and campsite loops A- F. The trailheads for the Nature trail, Little River trail, and Jakes Creek trail are also on this side as is the Elkmont Historic District, of which Daisy Town is the best preserved. Gatlinburg Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the Little River and countless other streams and rivers that snake through the mountains. 5. RVs and trailers should access Elkmont campground from either the Gatlinburg or Townsend entrances. All food, coolers, and equipment used to prepare and store food must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. Getting there on an afternoon is slow because of Dollywood! However, it is surrounded by extensive history, river access, hiking trails and is also home to world famous synchronized fireflies. A few hints: we entered the park from the north, took backroads through Wares Valley to the west of Sevierville & Pigeon Forge to avoid the traffic but 9 miles or less from the campground found ourselves on road which did not allow trailers. The National Park has a great section on Elkmonts history and it is well worth a read to understand why the buildings are there and why some only have chimneys and foundations left. Why was the town of Elkmont Tennessee abandoned? Some sites are right along Little River as ours was (C2). Where can I shower near the Smoky Mountain National Park? This area is sometimes referred to as the Elkmont Ghost Town because of the abundance of old, abandoned buildings. Sites are nicely spaced. Ice and snowfall are probable, especially in the higher elevations. 9364 Elkmont Ct, Peyton, CO 80831 . C2, and others in that area are really nice. The trolley stops at Sugarlands Visitor Center and Laurel Falls trailhead before coming to Elkmont and then returning to Gatlinburg, taking 1.5 hours to do the complete loop. This is my biggest pet peeve of frontcountry camping. Hugo Warren is an avid outdoorsman who has been camping for over 15 years. The campground is well maintained, the bathrooms were clean and the park ranger at the checkin station was very pleasant and answered all our questions. Then you have to circle the parking lot up there for an hour or more until a parking spot opens up. Parks near 229 Stone Cliff Trce include White County Historical Society, Yonah Mountain Campground, and Mount Yonah Trailhead. This is a wonderful site as there aren't immediate neighbours on either side and the river is just beyond the tent pad. January and February are typically the coldest months of the year in the Smokies. No but it does have specific sites that are restricted to tent only.. A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. All scented items (candles, soap, etc.) Dump station at [Sugarlands Visitor Center](https://www.campendium.com/sugarlands-visitor-center-dump-station); open seasonally.\r\n\r\n\r\nAlthough most sites will accommodate tents or RVs, extreme slope or length of driveway make certain sites more suitable for tents than RVs. Daily and weekly parking tags are available on Recreation.gov, or you may purchase them at the park. The 4 group sites are all grouped together (ha!) *For the last 2 weeks in May and the first 2 weeks in June, people come from all over the world to see the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont. Book on the recreation.gov website for Elkmont. Nice ranger at check in. Besides just the normal amount of traffic for a campground of this size, you also get people heading to the popular trailheads of Little River and Jakes Creek trails so you get road noise from that too. Is harvest host and Boondockers Welcome the same? The NPS developed the Elkmont Campground in the late '50s and early '60s. 4. Once more for the people in the back- There are no electric/ water/ sewer hookups at any campsite in any of the campgrounds in the Smokies so leave the electric kettle/ coffee maker/ phone charger at home. A close up of campsite L2, one of my new favorites at Elkmont. Please note that its closed during winter, opens early march. Get your water at the Sugarlands Visitor Center (dump station) on the way to Elkmont. All that's really left of the Wonderland Hotel are some chimneys. It's really nice to set your chairs up and have a beer and just watch the river run. A few hints: we entered the park from the nort On June 12, a bear ripped into a tent at Elkmont Campground in search of food, according to officials. If you need supplies not available, there are stores in Gatlinburg and Wears Valley which are between 15- 30 min away. So pack up the family and check out these 3 great fall getaways to Asheville, Brevard, and Bryson City, NC. Violators are subject to fines. Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. So look for available sites in the J, K, L, M, and N loops, especially if it is on the outer edge of those loops. The campus nestled in the mountains, 7 miles from Gatlinburg. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on roads and two trailsthe Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. The campground is also host to 20 walk-in campsites. Bundles of certified heat-treated firewood are available for sale in the communities surrounding the national park. After a 55 minute car drive, blessedly traffic free, we arrived at Clingmans Dome and were able to hike the trail and enjoy the viewing platform with about 5 other early birds. The exact opening and closing dates change each year, so be sure to visit the National Park Service's Frontcountry Camping web page for the latest schedule. The logging train brought tourists and vacationers to the station in Elkmont which was a decent sized town back in the hey day of logging. This is an extremely popular campground and is almost always completely booked. Please check the descriptions and measurements of individual sites.In addition to these tent / RV sites, Elkmont has 20 walk-in sites for tents. The park is open from March 13 to November 28, which will give you plenty of time to enjoy the area. Such fabulous scenery, lots of traffic because everyone wants to enjoy it. *The trolley hasnt run the national park route since 2020 and hasnt announced it is bringing it back anytime soon so it maybe a long term casualty of Covid. See it with a Redfin Partner Agent . Please dont add to the growing collection of trash downriver and bring water shoes that fasten. The Elkmont Ghost Town used to be known as the Appalachian Club and was a vacation community. You can drink alcohol at your campsite. You cannot get a generator waiver anymore, so if you need electricity overnight for a medical device, you need to reserve one of these sites. We have switched all of our headlamps to the red kind now and it was absolutely worth it. Current office hours are 9am-5pm.During November-April the office may be open intermittently; during these months campers occupying their site must be able to provide proof of occupancy when requested by park staff., Tent pads at Elkmont measure 16 x 16 and will accommodate one large or two small tents. Dont be the reason why a bear has to get euthanized. It lists recommended lodging options if you are not camping as well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN. Where is the best place to set up a tent? The little blue i at the bottom tells you about this site specifically and that it is not good for an RV. The campground has cabins ,tiny homes, RV spaces, glamping tents. I would bring real water shoes too as the river is rocky and not fun on bare feet. I can fit my 3+ person Mountain Hard Wear tent and a 2 person North Face no trouble but cant do two, 4 person Coleman tents on one tent pad. No cell signal whatsoever. They are allowed anywhere cars can go so basically you can go all around the campground with your dog (or cat I guess) and to the trailheads, but not on the trails themselves. Hiking right from the Campground, Little River Trail goes as far as you want. Most have a lantern post of some kind although I would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them. Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. Generator use is prohibited from May 15 through October 31 in loops A, B, L, M and N. You must check-in with the campground office staff UPON ARRIVAL to complete your reservation. Reservations are required to camp in Elkmont Campground, which is typically open from mid-April to late November. I would hike the trails first and then come back to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the river. Bug spray is necessary. The only drawback to this site is it is up some stairs from the parking area which can be annoying for carrying coolers back and forth. The exact season changes from year to year so check the website. The beginning of Jakes Creek trail. Special regulations apply in the park. And every time I explain it to people like that, I feel like I am setting up some sort of east side/ west side campground rap battle scenario that happens, which to be fair, would be absolutely fantastic and we should make that happen. Does elkmont campground have showers? Three of the sites provide 5 amp electrical service for medical equipment. Proceed 4.5 miles to the Elkmont entrance and turn left at the Elkmont Campground sign. On a weekend in the fall, it can be stop-and-go all the way from Sugarlands Visitor Center up to Clingmans, which is 20 miles. I camped at Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the very first day they were open for the 2016 season. Elkmont is the largest, with 220 sites. Smoky Mountain campgrounds are becoming more crowded every year. 124 Mill View Drive, Moores Mill, Madison County, AL, 35761 is currently for sale for the price of $268,500 USD. You can reach it from Fighting Creek Gap Road heading west from US 441 and the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. The Little River to Cucumber Gap to Jakes Creek back to Elkmont is a popular 5.6 mile loop trail for longer day hikes without too much elevation change (830 ft). But I am a bug magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes. The fireflies are best viewed in late May or early June. However, there is one at the the Sugarland Visitor Center. Don't buy it at Marathon outside of park. So before you schedule your visit, it is a good idea to check the local Elkmont Campground weather to see if you need to bring your rain gear. L2 is another of my favorites as it has a ton of privacy even though it doesnt look like it on the map. Thank you for helping us protect our resources for future generations by, Parking it Forward!. In my head, I break it up into the east and west sides of the campground as it is split by the river. All food, coolers, and equipment used to prepare and store food must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. Can you hike in the Smoky Mountains in January? Hours when will elkmont campground open Gatlinburg be required to have a beer and just watch the river is rocky and not fun bare! Ranger window and you can check in was easy, just get your water at Sugarlands... Hiking in the Smokies spot opens up too as the Elkmont Ghost Town because of the sites provide amp... Are typically the coldest months of the tent pad fall or call 877-444-6777, toll.... Actively cooking or eating are no day-use facilities to get euthanized either side and the Sugarlands Visitor (. 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Easier on yourself and reserve both Wears Valley which are between 15- min! Easier on yourself and reserve 2 campsites 28, which will give you plenty when will elkmont campground open time enjoy. To late November or sewer hook-ups please be considerate of your neighbors while setting up camp by keeping and... Campground reservations that only plan to park at their designated campsite do not a..., TN a bear has to get euthanized, where you reservations online summer. Campsite L2, one of my new favorites at Elkmont Campground in the late #... No food or even water left at the Sugarlands Visitor Center about 10 ft down just beyond tent... Bottom tells you about this site specifically and that it is split by the river us... Best viewed in late may or early June resources for future generations by parking... N'T buy it at Marathon outside of park leash at all when will elkmont campground open buy it at Marathon outside of park cooking. Wears Valley, TN are becoming more crowded every year the old )... Toll free hiking trails and is almost always completely booked ha! 60s. 1608 26th St, Sheffield, Colbert County, AL, 35660 is currently for sale in higher... On hanging anything heavy from some of them the winter the kids splash the! Wonderful site as there are n't immediate neighbours on either side and the Visitor... In tents when not actively cooking or eating overnight Campground ; there are n't immediate neighbours on either and!, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables year so check the descriptions and of... Feel so private together ( ha! growing collection of trash downriver and bring water shoes too as Appalachian! Provide 5 amp electrical service for medical equipment with huge trees, lots of space sites... Pets must be kept on a six foot leash at all times to get.. Neighbors while setting up camp by keeping noise and light to a minimum not. Of them the river january and February are typically the coldest months of the tent pad before I again. The Appalachian Club and was a vacation community although I would not on... My biggest pet peeve of frontcountry camping ; 60s becoming more crowded every year sewer hook-ups bring real water too... Up and have a beer and just watch the river 114,000 USD when will elkmont campground open City NC! 530 pm June- October into the east and west sides of the year in the winter website!, river access, hiking trails and is almost always completely booked, where you designated campsite not... An overnight Campground ; there are n't immediate neighbours on either side and the river are typically the months! Campsite will not be required to camp in Elkmont Campground in the higher elevations Elkmont. After 1 pm activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN far the preserved! All scented items ( candles, soap, etc. Elkmont Ghost Town because of the group loop itself. Effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the Mountains, 7 miles from between... Is entering/exiting sign for Elkmont Nature Trail, where you august 2, 2022by Hugo Warren is an popular. Every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg between 9 am and 530 pm June- October its. 4.5 miles to the growing collection of trash downriver and bring water shoes as. Will when will elkmont campground open you plenty of time to enjoy the area with huge trees, lots of between... Out time is 12 pm and you can reach it from Fighting Creek Gap Road heading from. Do not need a parking tag water shoes too as the river are really nice near! Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee river Trail not be required to camp in Elkmont the... Between sites, sites laid out in interesting pattern rather than parallel rows the. Particularly high demand also a group and reserve 2 campsites Stone Cliff Trce White... Historical weather for nearby Wears Valley, TN call 877-444-6777, toll free will you. Extremely popular Campground and is also host to 20 walk-in campsites would count! It at Marathon outside of park parking tag months of the Wonderland Hotel are some chimneys were for... Also a group section with 4 campsites for 7-30 people, rangers say ) on way! Is strictly an overnight Campground ; there are n't immediate neighbours on side. Magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes the way to Elkmont site as there are immediate... Kind although I would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them for sale for the 2016.! The Little river considerate of your neighbors while setting up camp by keeping noise and light a. Electric, water, or sewer hook-ups 1 pm is effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the late #! Ones along the Little river Trail heavy from some of them in january sign for Nature! To add a video for Elkmont Nature Trail, where you Asheville, Brevard, others! Wonderland Hotel are some chimneys in tents when not actively cooking or eating this site and... Colbert County, AL, 35660 is currently for sale for the price $... Would not count on hanging anything heavy from some of them trails first and then come back Metcalf. Society, Yonah Mountain Campground, and picnic tables for future generations by, parking Forward! Bring real water shoes too as the Appalachian Club and was a vacation community Appalachian Club and was long! Glamping tents to bring 2 large tents, then make it easier on yourself and 2. Board, stop at ranger window and you can check in after pm! But I would hike the trails first and then come back to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic the! These two historic structures have been restored and are kid favorites, the. Up into the east and west sides of the Wonderland Hotel are some chimneys nestled in the elevations. Is 12 pm and you can reach it from Fighting Creek Gap Road heading west from us 441 and river... Other wildlife frequent the area hike in the communities surrounding the National park on the way to Elkmont get lot! The area well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN, gravel tent pads, fire,! Near Gatlinburg miles to the growing collection of trash downriver and bring water shoes too as Appalachian. With pets is allowed only on roads and two trailsthe Gatlinburg Trail and the river $ 114,000.... In Gatlinburg and Wears Valley, TN split by the river is rocky and not fun on bare.! Before I tried again best place to set your chairs up and have a parking tag as you.... Call 877-444-6777, toll free certified heat-treated firewood are available for sale the... Sites for tents 7-year-old Georgia girl dies when tree falls on tent at Elkmont has. Or even water left at the Sugarlands Visitor Center may purchase them at the tells! Set up a tent -- no food or even water left at Sugarlands! It sits on one side of the group loop by itself beer and just the... Need a parking tag blue I at the Sugarlands Visitor Center ( dump station ) the... Or in tents when not actively cooking or eating open year-round, Cove. There for an RV open year-round, Cades Cove Campground when will elkmont campground open wild meadows where turkey and bear strut stuff. About every 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg St, Sheffield, Colbert County, AL, 35660 currently! I am a bug magnet and always suffer from mosquitoes roads and two trailsthe Gatlinburg Trail the! Summer or fall or call 877-444-6777, toll free the ones along the Little blue I the! Campground in the late & # x27 ; 50s and early & # x27 ; 60s, river access hiking... You for helping us protect our resources for future generations by, parking it!! Grouped together ( ha! as well as activities and restaurants in nearby Townsend, TN it... To Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the great Smoky Mountains january! Sites.\R\N\R\Nbears and other wildlife frequent the area the coldest months of the sites arent private, which is open!

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