A family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains wouldn’t be complete without a trip down Little River Road. If you plan to drive from Townsend to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, this is the route to take as it will take you past some magnificent scenery. In addition, you can take advantage of numerous pull offs and see some beautiful waterfalls that are only a few steps away from the road.
We hiked to Laurel Falls, which is accessed from Little River Road, on our second trip to the Smokies. My 7 and 9 year old boys had no problem with the trail, despite the fact that it is listed as being “moderate.” My twins didn’t have as easy of a time, however, and my husband and I each ended up having to carry a twin pretty much the entire way. I am not the most physically fit of people, so it isn’t like this was a simpl task for me. Nonetheless, I made it and the trip was worth it. The falls are quite breathtaking and the twins loved them once we got there!
The Sinks are also found along the road and are easily accessble. Each time I have visited the Sinks, I have found other tourists taking a dip in the waters. Personally, I don’t encourage swimming in the Sinks because of the many rocks in the area that could potentially lead to getting hurt. Since there are plenty of designated areas for enjoying the water at the Smokies, I don’t think it is worth the risk. Nonetheless, climbing on the rocks and enjoying the natural beauty is definitely worth a stop.
From Little River Road, you can also access the Little Greenbrier School. Your kids will be amazed when they see this 19th century schoolhouse, which is certainly a far cry from the massive, highly technological schools most kids attend today. The drive to the schoolhouse is a bet trecherous, so be prepared to pull off to the side or to even back up a bit for oncoming traffic to pass you by.
When we visit the Smokies, a trip down Little River Road is a must and we usually take the trip more than once – and not just because we are trying to get from point A to point B. It is just a wonderfully scenic trip that allows you to feel completed enveloped by the beauty of the park – even when you aren’t actually inside of it.