Outdoor Adventures Await in Blount County

Explore the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies" through these 10 fun outdoor activities in Blount County.

By Andrew Potter on January 4, 2024

Jeff Adkins

With so much beauty to explore, it’s no wonder that outdoor enthusiasts flock to Blount County to experience all that East Tennessee has to offer on the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.”

The region, aptly nicknamed, offers a chance to make memories outdoors, away from distractions. Want to see for yourself? Here are 10 must-try outdoor activities in Blount County, and they all involve the Great Smoky Mountains – home of a legendary motorcycle route and the most visited national park in the country. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

It’s not America’s most visited national park by accident. The Smokies feature 10 developed campgrounds, wonderous mountain views that reach elevations of 6,000 feet and 850 miles of backcountry trails. For photographers, like Rachel Woods of Smoke Signal Media, the Smokies offer many scenic opportunities, including waterfalls and wildlife, that are easily accessible. “There’s such a variety of views in such a small, compact area,” Woods says. 

Tail of the Dragon 

Riding the Tail of the Dragon is as much fun as it sounds. This stretch of roadway at the Tennessee-North Carolina border takes its name from its many curves that are reminiscent of a dragon’s tail. It’s a popular road for motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts and runs primarily through a forested area with wildlife spotting opportunities galore. 

Cades Cove 

Find this treasure of an area in the Smokies as well. The 11-mile scenic loop is great for spotting wildlife such as black bears, coyotes, turkeys and white-tailed deer. Historic stops, with a nod to the past, include a cabin and a mill once owned by some of the area’s first settlers as well as other areas that seem untouched by the modern world. “I love that we are able to see what the area used to look like,” Woods says. 

Vee Hollow 

Experience the mountains in a whole new way by taking on all, or a portion of, this 14-mile mountain bike course in the Townsend area that is a must-do for adventure-seekers. “It’s an incredibly fun and challenging series of trails,” Colclough says. If biking isn’t your speed, the trails are also open for hiking throughout the year as well. 

Jeff Adkins

Little River 

The Little River flows out of the mountains and makes its way to the Tennessee River through Blount County. Phil Colclough, director of animal care with Zoo Knoxville, is an avid outdoorsman and a resident of Blount County. He loves kayaking the Little River. “I love the excitement and the adrenaline of it,” Colclough says. “It’s super thrilling and it’s beautiful.” 

Townsend River Walk & Arboretum 

The half-mile trail has many offerings packed into a short walk in the foothills of the Smokies along the Little River. Learn more about native trees in the Arboretum, which is both an aesthetic and educational nature experience. 

Maryville-Alcoa Greenway 

This paved walking and bike path connects Springbrook Park in Alcoa to Bicentennial Greenbelt and Sandy Springs Park in Maryville, serving as a link to downtown businesses, sports facilities and playgrounds, and surrounding neighborhoods. “It’s aesthetically beautiful, and there’s tons of wildlife,” Colclough says. 

Louisville Point Park 

Spanning 16 acres along the Tennessee River, the park is a boating destination in the region, with Louisville Landing Marina and waterfront restaurants nearby. 

Kampgrounds of America/Dan Armstrong Photography

Available Campgrounds 

You don’t have to leave the area when the sun goes down; instead, opt to continue the adventure and camp at places like Big Meadow Family Campground or the Townsend/ Great Smokies KOA. There’s also Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, which partners with a local restaurant and wine bar, Diamondjack, to have a location on-site. 

Spruce Flats Falls 

Blount County has miles upon miles of trails to explore for everyone, from the novice hiker to the more experienced trekker. Whether you want to traverse a mountain or just take in the view, the area has it all. When Colclough gets asked by visitors for a place to see a waterfall that’s not too strenuous to get to, he sends them to Spruce Flats Falls, southeast of Townsend. 

Bonus: Nurturing Black Bears

One organization in Townsend is working to return injured black bear cubs to their natural habitat. Appalachian Bear Rescue cares for injured and orphaned black bear cubs and yearlings with the goal of returning each young bear back to the wild. ABR is located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and partners with park officials as well as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. 

“ABR received our first black bear cub in July 1996, and now in our 27th year, we have cared for more than 370 young black bears,” says Dana Dodd, Appalachian Bear Rescue executive director. “When bears are healthy enough to succeed in the wild on their own, wildlife officials release the bears back to the wild as close as possible to the place where they were originally found.” 

Dodd says that besides medical care, ABR also promotes public awareness about living safely with black bears. “Most human-bear conflict is centered around intentional or unintentional feeding of black bears, so if you live, play or work in bear country, it is important to secure all potential food sources,” she says. “Secure your trash.” 

Dodd adds that feeding birds and other wildlife should only occur when bears are denning, and to never intentionally feed a bear. 

“It is also important to stay at least 50 yards away from black bears,” she says. “The photo you take with your cell phone camera isn’t worth your life or a bear’s life. Respect our bears and keep a safe distance away.”

– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.