Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area (September!) nice riverside picnic spot on Little River Road ⛰🐻 Smoky Mountains travel blog

Hi there!

 

So the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area is a convenient stop to make if you’ll be driving along Little River Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It’s a riverside picnic spot, so you can eat your breakfast, lunch, or dinner while listening to the sounds of the water flowing! (Bring your own food!)

It’s located right along Little River.

 

I went to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area in September. What the weather will be like from year to year can vary (which means the colors can vary!), but this is what it was like for me!

 

 

 

 

Planning a visit to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area

 

Cades Cove is one of the most popular areas of the Smoky Mountains. 

And if you’re coming from Gatlinburg and making a trip to Cades Cove, then a perfect time to stop at this picnic area can be on your drive there, or on your way back.

So you can make it a late morning or noon start in driving towards Cades Cove, and then make the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area your lunch stop along the way before your afternoon in Cades Cove!

 

The Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is about half way between Gatlinburg and Cades Cove.

Explore the map.

 

Or, if you’ll be staying in Gatlinburg, in Townsend, or at Elkmont Campground, then it can also make sense to make a separate activity out of driving Little River Road, with a lunch or dinner stop at Metcalf Bottoms.

 

 

From Gatlinburg to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is about a 30 minute drive.

Explore the map.

 

 

From Townsend to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is about a 20 minute drive.

If you want to make go the scenic route, then be sure to drive along Little River Road! Google maps may not route you that way. Explore the map.

 

 

From Elkmont Campground to Metcalf Bottoms picnic area is around a 15 minute drive.

Explore the map.

 

 

Keeping bears away

You will find “bearproof” trash cans all over the park.

 

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is bear country!

There is a saying: “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

If bears start to recognize human food as bear food, they can become a serious threat to humans – to you!

So if a bear is found to be eating human food, it may be put to rest for good.

This is why it’s said to be important that everyone does their part to pick up after themselves. This is especially the case if you’ll be eating out in the open in the Smoky Mountains, like at the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area!

 

 

The people of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park request the following after you’re finished eating at Metcalf Bottoms, along with elsewhere in the park:

Clean up fire grates and rings when you are finished.

Never dispose of food scraps or grease in rings.

Pick up all food scraps, aluminum foil, and trash, and place them in a bearproof dumpster or trash can.

Never leave coolers or food unattended, and keep them out of sight in your vehicle when not in use.

If a bear approaches your area, frighten it by yelling, banging pans together, or throwing rocks.

 

 

Bathrooms at Metcalf Bottoms

 

There is a regular bathroom facility near the picnic area parking lot. If you’re driving along Little River Road and looking for a bathroom, this is a reason to stop here too.

 

 

⛰🐻

 

 

 

Finding the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area

 

First, it will be best to download offline google maps before you go.

There’s a good chance you won’t get data service as you’re driving around the vast majority of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Then, when you’re driving, you can put in Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion as your destination.

Once you’re on Little River Road you’ll want to start paying attention to google maps.

 

 

You can then use the GPS (this will generally still work around the park) to know when you’re getting close to the picnic area. 

You’ll turn down the road to find the parking area, and then you can find your perfect picnic spot! 

 

 

And then if you want to make this more than just a picnic stop, you can also go and see the historic Little Greenbrier School that used to be used as a school and church. You can find the start of a hiking trail right near the bridge.

 

 

 

And that’s a bit about the Little River Road picnic area!

 

 

Be sure to also see more stops to make on the drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove!

This can include the popular Laurel Falls Trail.

And if you’re chasing waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, then be sure to look into Abrams Falls Trail for when you go to Cades Cove.

Plus, here is a list of more of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!

 

HAPPY EATING AT METCALF BOTTOMS PICNIC AREA!