4 Reasons to Use the Wears Valley Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
If you are planning to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during your vacation, take advantage of the Wears Valley entrance into the park! This “secret entrance” is just a few miles away from Hearthside at the Preserve and allows you to quickly access the park without the crowds! Here are the top 4 reasons to use the Wears Valley entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
1. Minimal Traffic
One of the top reasons why you should use the Wears Valley entrance into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is because there is minimal traffic at this entrance. In fact, since most people don’t know that it even exists, it is used primarily by locals! The majority of visitors drive through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to access the park, where traffic can often be heavy due to all of the attractions along the Parkway. During the peak season, the Wears Valley entrance is the perfect way to skip the crowds and head directly into the park!
2. Easily Accessible
You can easily access the Wears Valley entrance from Hearthside at the Preserve as our cabin resort is only minutes away! When leaving your cabin, simply head back to Wears Valley Road and make a left. After just one mile, turn right onto Line Springs Road just past the Mountain Brothers General Store. Continue on Line Springs Road for 1.4 miles and this road will eventually change into Wears Cove Gap Road when it crosses the national park boundary. Be sure to use caution when driving this road because this route is curvy and narrow.
3. Connections to All Popular Areas of the Park
The Wears Valley entrance connects to Little River Gorge Road, where you can access some of the most popular areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! These include sites like Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Elkmont, Newfound Gap, Tremont, and the Townsend Wye. Since Hearthside at the Preserve is so close to the Wears Valley entrance, you can get a jump start on the traffic to these popular areas and make the most of your time in the national park!
4. Leads Directly to a Picnic Area
Another great thing about the Wears Valley entrance is that it leads directly to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area, which is a great place to stop for a snack or a picnic lunch! You will know you are getting close when you cross a single lane bridge across the river along Wears Cove Cap Road. The picnic area has a covered pavilion that seats up to 70 people, which can be reserved for a small fee from April 1 through October 31. There are also 165 individual picnic areas, each which has its own grill and picnic table. After your picnic, be sure to check out some of the nearby hikes, including the Metcalf Bottoms Trail!
Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to stay just minutes away from the Wears Valley entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We look forward to welcoming you to Hearthside at the Preserve!
