8 Hidden Spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
When thinking of visiting national parks most people envision nature, mountains, trees, views and water…..the great outdoors. These would all be accurate thoughts but most of these parks have hidden gems that you have to find and the Smokies are no different. We are still finding these places even after living close to the park for years. I know many people only have a few days on vacation so I’ve thrown together this quick list of a few of our favorites! These are some of the best hidden Smoky Mountain spots!
The Ghost Town of Elkmont
The ghost town of Elkmont sits between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Cades Cove in the park. From the main road you will see a sign directing you to turn off towards Elkmont Campground. Be aware that this sign is right at the road so make sure you’re looking for it.
The town started in the mid 1800s and was part of the Little River Logging Company later becoming a resort area primarily for the affluent of Knoxville until the park was formed in 1934. At this time several of the owners sold to the government but some opted to take a reduced price and maintain a lifetime lease on their property with the last ending in the early 1990s leaving the National Park Service with around 70 buildings without care. Over the years these buildings fell into such disrepair that many could not be saved. in 2018 the park demolished all but 19 of the structures and it is currently in the process of securing and preserving these historic structures!
Today you can take a walk through many of these buildings and see the plots where many other homes once stood. Stand on the banks of the creeks and streams and imagine what life was like in years past!
Troll Bridge
Just steps from the ghost town of Elkmont lies another unique find that one would not normally expect to see inside a national park. Approximately 100 feet or so after starting down the Little River Trail lies a small side trail to the right that leads to a real life troll bridge!
This bridge is built of stone and covered in moss just as you would expect to see in a fairy tale. It does cross a small stream around several ruins of past structures so you may want to ask the troll for permission to cross!
House of the Fairies
House of the Fairies
In addition to all the other amazing sites inside the park you will also find a Fairy House on the Voorheis Estate. To access this gem you’ll need to take a hike on the Twin Creeks Trail which is roughly a 4.5 mile out and back hike. You can park at the Mynatt Park in Gatlinburg and access the trail head or you can venture up Cherokee Orchard Road to the Ogle Place parking area and start in from the Nature Trail Loop. Either of these is a good option but make sure to hike the entire nature loop as I’ll highlight another gem shortly.
At about the half way point on the trail you will come upon the Natural Resources Center of the Great Smoky Mountains which sits in the heart of the original Voorhies estate. In this area you can still see many of the water feature styles Mr. Voorhies created during his time on the property. Behind the main building you will see a chain link fenced area but there are paths on both sides. Walk along either side to the rear of the area and look into the hillside where you will see the arched structure known at the House of the Fairies.
This structure was build as a spring house and still has water running through it meaning the steps and moss can be slippery. Use extreme caution when visiting and respect the area!
Ogle Tub Mill
While on your hike to find the House of the Fairies you’ll want to make sure you see the Ogle cabin and the Ogle Tub Mill located on the Nature Loop. This mill has stood the test of time and is a testament to the craftsmanship of those who came before us. It was built in 1885 to grind corn and was completely powered by the creek. You can even take a step back in time by opening the door and imagining how this operation worked over a century ago!
The Rusted Cadillac
Any visit to the Smokies is sure to be epic but this stop in the Tremont area will check of waterfalls AND a rusty old Cadillac!
There are several trails in the area but this one takes you down the Middle Prong Trail. This trail is approximately 4.1 miles each way but passes Lynn Camp Falls, the rusted Cadillac, railroad rails and finally the three-tiered Indian Flats Falls.
The Cadillac can be located just beyond the 2 mile marker and is not visible from the main trail. It is believed to be a late 1920s – early 1930s model that was once owned by the president of the Little River Lumber Company. The GPS coordinates for the location are 35.61286, -83.64413.
Steam Engine Wreckage
Shifting across the park to the Greenbrier area you will find the Grapeyard Ridge Trail. This hike is approximately 5.8 miles out and back to the wreckage and is moderate in difficulty. During the winter there are several creeks that must be crossed and in the summer you will enjoy trekking through rhododendron tunnels. About 2.8 miles in you will come to Injun Creek and find the remains of an old steam engine spread across the banks and in the creek. The story is that the engine was being used by the logging company during the 1920s. As it was being moved the engineer failed to negotiate the ridge and the engine tumbled downward into the creek. Later during labeling of maps the word “Engine” was misspelled “Injun” and that names remains for the creek to this day.
Elf Tree House
The Elf House is our most recent find and one not often noted on any list I’ve seen but is definitely worth the hike to see it. A note about this one is that it is right on the NPS boundary line and appears to technically be on private property.
There are a couple ways to access this little gem depending on what type of hike you’re comfortable with. The shortest is just over 2 miles from Laurel Creek Road on the Schoolhouse Gap Trail. The longer way, which we took, is to park at the Townsend Wye parking area and hike the 4.5 miles each way up the Chestnut Top Trail to Schoolhouse Gap.
There is a picnic table at the Elf House and other things of interest to use as photo opportunities the cabin owners have out. They’ve been there for decades and are obviously more than happy to share their area so we must be extra diligent in keeping the area clean!
Walker Sisters Cabin
This cabin was home to the last full time residents of the park and was John Walker shortly after the United States Civil War. John had 11 children including 7 girls. Of these, 5 of the daughters remained unmarried and lived together in the cabin living off the land.
During the 1920s and 1930s the government many times attempted to buy the property for inclusion in a new national park. The sisters fought this acquisition refusing to leave or sell. Unfortunately for them in 1940 the park was officially dedicated by President Roosevelt and the sister’s land was purchased under eminent domain. This purchase included a lifetime lease for the sisters and was occupied until the last sister passed away in 1964. The park service has a full history of the property and the sisters here!
These are just a few of the must see spots in the park but keep in mind that The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 2 states and over 500,000 acres. There are approximately 900 miles of hiking trails within the park boundaries and many sites to see. There are no fees for this park which is part of why it is the most visited park in the National Park System. Donation boxes are spread around the park for the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association to help support the park. Take your time and enjoy the outdoors!
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