Smoky Mountain Skies

09/12/2026

One of the Smoky Mountains’ most beautiful sights is the Emert’s Cove Covered Bridge, where a rustic wooden crossing stretches above the clear, rushing Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Although it looks like something from another era, the bridge was completed in 2000 to honor Frederick Emert, a Revolutionary War veteran who settled here with his family in 1790. The 84-foot bridge has a log-cabin look, a shingled roof, and open side windows that give you beautiful views of the river and mountains. You can walk across its wooden deck, stop for photos, and enjoy the peaceful setting just off Pittman Center Road, only a short drive from Gatlinburg. Trout fishing is also popular along the Middle Prong. About half a mile away, you can visit Emert’s Cove Cemetery, where Frederick Emert is buried. The river was also named an Outstanding National Resource Water by Tennessee in 1998, two years before the bridge was finished.

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

One of the Smoky Mountains’ most magical stops is “Santa’s Land” in the mountain town of Cherokee, North Carolina…where you’ll find Christmas fun tucked into the mountains with rides, animals, shops, and Santa himself. Families can stop by Santa’s cabin, climb aboard the Santa’s Express train, take a spin on the Ferris wheel and carousel, or ride the reindeer-themed Rudicoaster. There are also games, shows, paddle boats, and areas where younger visitors can get close to animals. The zoo adds even more to see, including bears, deer, kangaroos, lemurs, birds, and other animals. Grab a burger, pizza, or a piece of fudge before wandering through the Christmas-themed gift shops. Santa’s Land first opened in June 1966, making 2026 its 60th season of welcoming families to the Smokies. The park sits about three miles east of Cherokee, close to the southern entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is generally open seasonally from mid-May through late October.

09/05/2026

Gatlinburg Friday!

Traffic is still moving smoothly this afternoon, but that'll change as we move further into the weekend.😉

09/05/2026

🌿💦 Chasing waterfalls in the Smokies? Grotto Falls is one you’ll want to add to your list!

Tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Grotto Falls is the only waterfall in the Smokies that you can actually walk behind! The trail winds through a lush forest before bringing you to the 25-foot waterfall, where you can cool off and take in the beauty of the mountains.

📍 Grotto Falls | Great Smoky Mountains National Park

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, the Craggy Pinnacle Trail offers some of the most incredible views in all of the state! Located about 20 miles north of Asheville in the Craggy Gardens area, this short mountain hike packs a lot of scenery into roughly 1.4 miles round trip. The climb is moderate in spots, but before long you’ll reach the 5,892-foot summit, where wide-open, 360-degree views stretch across layer after layer of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can even look down at sections of the Parkway winding through the mountains below. Along the way, the trail passes through tunnels of rhododendron, twisted sweet birch trees, rocky areas, and seasonal wildflowers. The Catawba rhododendrons are especially beautiful when their pink and purple blooms usually peak in June. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail reopened in September 2025 after landslide repairs were completed along this section of the Parkway following Hurricane Helene. Fall is another beautiful time to visit, when the surrounding ridges begin changing to red, orange, and gold and the high overlook gives you a huge view of the changing mountains.

08/29/2026

The Dolly Parton statue in downtown Sevierville has been extra beautiful this week. 🦋 Thank you to everyone who has visited to leave flowers, balloons and notes in her memory. The Smoky Mountains will always love you, Dolly. 🩷

📷: Mary Ellen Rader