The park service decided not to restore these and they have crumbled. For additional information, call 865-436-1200 or visit. Pets are not allowed on any other park trails. I would hike the trails first and then come back to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic while the kids splash in the river. We give you the lowdown on the best places to stay in or near Townsend. It is up some stairs though. Most people from the G- N loops use this trail to get to these trailheads. We enjoyed a leisurely drive back to Elkmont where we made pancakes and enjoyed a lazy morning around the campsite because, hey, we already accomplished something that day! The early morning also ups your chances of seeing wildlife, such as bears. One of the sites is tent only, one is for a large RV/ motorhome, and one is for a smaller RV. Campers come back surprisingly late, usually from a day out in nearby Gatlinburg, so road noise can last into the night. The campground is the largest and busiest campground in the park. One of the most popular trails in the park due to its convenient location near Gatlinburg and the picturesque, 80 ft falls, I never hike this trail any more because it is usually a zoo. Drive toward Cades Cove for about 7 miles until you see a sign for Elkmont Campground. Lots of room and privacy. One group campsite holds 15 people, two hold 20 people, and one can sleep 30. However, it is surrounded by extensive history, river access, hiking trails and is also home to world famous synchronized fireflies. A limited selection of groceries, camping supplies, visitor convenience items, and food and beverage service are available in the park. And, as locals, we know how to see the best while missing the worst crowds and overpriced tourist traps. It was then that the town took the name of Elkmont. The west side of the campground has fewer sites than the east side (by about 20) and the sites are a little more spread out (emphasis on a little). Even outside of the official festival, people drive themselves to the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads to see the fireflies so it can be surprisingly busy even late into the night on the Little River Road during these times. Visitors who simply drive through the park will not need a parking tag. 1. Campsite List Seasons & Fees A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park. It has 200 RV/ tent sites plus 2o walk in sites for tents only spread over 14 loops in the campground, labeled A-N. Wondering if your kids can handle this can't miss Smokies trail? You have successfully signed up for the monthly newsletter. Walk to campsites B2 and B3. Open Seasonally March - Nov. Elevation 2,099 ft / 639 m Max Stay 14 Max Length 35 ft Tent Camping Yes GPS: 35.6598, -83.585 View on Google Maps Q&A - Ask the Community about Elkmont Campground Book on the recreation.gov website for Elkmont. Find out more details and check site availability for Site F08, Loop Generator Use in Elkmont Campground at Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Recreation.gov. If you arrive after the office is CLOSED for the day then you must check-in with the campground staff the following day. For good info on trails not mentioned on the NPS website, you will need to depend on crowd sourced sites like All Trails. You could be that person! Pets are permitted, but cannot be left unattended. Pets are allowed at Elkmont but must be on a physical, max 6 foot leash at all times. Townsend, TN is a great basecamp to explore the Smokies. Campsite L 14. 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). Want to take a trip to the Smokies and camp in the woods but not sure what to expect? Otters were released here in the 1990s so keep an eye for them. Campsites B2, B3, and B4, as well as sites B21 through B36 are walk-in campsites. I camped at Elkmont on a weekend in late October because Cades Cove, my first choice, was booked solid; there were still some empty sites at Elkmont. This is a wonderful site as there aren't immediate neighbours on either side and the river is just beyond the tent pad. The Gatlinburg Trolley has a National Park route that runs between Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center (which is at Ripleys Aquarium) and Elkmont Campground. Aim for an 8am arrival at the trailhead at the very latest. Do not bring your own firewood to Great Smokey Mountains National Park. 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. This family friendly campground is one of our favorites in the Smokies and we return to it again and again. A and B loops are the worst for this because they are by the entrance to the campground so get everyone exiting and entering plus the road noise from the adjacent Little River road. * As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Metcalf Bottoms is an excellent picnic area and has a trailhead to one of our favorite trails in the park, Little Brier Gap trail. The G25 driveway is fairly sloped, but the adjacent campsite driveways are level. They dont sell them in the park. It has 2 tent areas on opposite sides of the picnic tables and tons of room. By the time we left at 9am, the parking lot was filling up and the crowds were starting up the trail. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The G sites tend to be packed together, so if you are looking for privacy, your best bet is G26, which is off by itself. For campground inquiries, please call: 865-430-5560 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-877-444-6777, Learn more about gear rental options for your trip. If you walk a little ways up Jakes Creek trail and the Little River trail, you can find the remnants of these vacation cabins that were dismantled by the park in recent years. The campground is still open and is a popular place for visitors to come for the annual synchronous fireflies spectacle. Site B12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G19, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A12, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G21, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J02, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site J09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B18, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N03, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site K08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J14, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site N02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B27, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A11, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G18, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site K03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A23, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B32, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L14, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B29, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site C07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G05, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B20, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D08, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A08, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B35, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site F12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B26, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A07, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site J06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B36, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A26, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B11, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B33, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G20, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G17, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B17, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G24, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M02, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G25, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B24, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G22, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A28, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K16, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A24, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L11, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A05, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site G11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B02, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site D01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M06, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B04, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site K04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B22, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site J04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K15, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N05, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L06, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site A25, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L05, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A04, Loop Generator Free , Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G26, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B34, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A09, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site B30, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site K07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site C10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M03, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B09, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A21, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E01, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site C12, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A22, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E11, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F11, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site L15, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site M01, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E07, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site G08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J16, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site N01, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site E04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B25, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site E12, Loop Generator Use, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site H04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E09, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L02, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site B21, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A19, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site H10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D10, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site J08, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B03, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site A27, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A13, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site A14, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K13, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K05, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site L07, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B31, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site L12, Loop Generator Free, Type Tent Only Nonelectric, Site J03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site K14, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G02, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E17, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site N04, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site F04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E06, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B23, Loop Generator Free, Type Walk To, Site C04, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B10, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site G23, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site B16, Loop Generator Free, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site E03, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric, Site D07, Loop Generator Use, Type Standard Nonelectric. , hiking trails and is a great basecamp to explore the Smokies and we return to it again again... 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