Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Tennessee, United States
4.5 (1.768 reviews) Spent Ranking #11 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hiking Trails
Bears
Nice driving tour of a small portion of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Not far from Gatlinburg. Pick up an information brochure for $1 at the start. A dozen stops along the route including scenic views and historical pioneer sites. Best to go early in the morning after sunrise or in the hour or 2 before sunset to avoid crowds and for wildlife spotting. Good opportunity to see black bears along here. A saw 3 different bears from my car including briefly a mother bear and her cub. Could spend an hour doing the drive but a hike to Grotto Falls from the trailhead on the tour is well worth the time and effort but will add to the time you will need.
Address
Rte. 441 Enter from stoplight 8 at Airport Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37783
Mobile
Website
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/roaringfork.htm
Current local date and time now
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 12:58
User Ratings
4.5 based on (1.768 reviews)
Reviews
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5TravelingSoccerLoon 5:00 PM Sep 30, 2021
Bears
Nice driving tour of a small portion of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Not far from Gatlinburg. Pick up an information brochure for $1 at the start. A dozen stops along the route including scenic views and historical pioneer sites. Best to go early in the morning after sunrise or in the hour or 2 before sunset to avoid crowds and for wildlife spotting. Good opportunity to see black bears along here. A saw 3 different bears from my car including briefly a mother bear and her cub. Could spend an hour doing the drive but a hike to Grotto Falls from the trailhead on the tour is well worth the time and effort but will add to the time you will need.
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4PaulBeve 5:00 PM May 16, 2022
Potential if Done at the Right Time
This can be an awesome experience if you plan it. Don't do what we did and just go on a whim in the middle of the afternoon. Once you get the nose of your vehicle on the motor trail you are committed, no backing out. Traffic was so bad that the very few opportunities to pull over we skipped as we just wanted out of there. This motor trail is also parking for some trails heads which adds to the vehicles. People end up parking 1/2 off 1/2 on the road making it had to pass. People were foot hiking. What is the joy of foot hiking with 100s of cars passing you. Go to a real hiking trail. Go early or go late. I give it a Very Good because it can be an awesome drive if properly planned and done earlier or later.
