With great weather and fall fun, November is a perfect time to travel to Wears Valley.
With the weather at a perfect cool fall temperature of 60 degrees, it's the perfect time for hiking through the Smoky Mountains and roasting marshmallows on the campfire at night. The leaves are in full color of fall. There's plenty to see and do as shops wind down from the October Wears Valley Fall Festival and Halloween activities. Crowds have thinned, but there's still plenty to do.
Just minutes from Wears Valley via Wear Cove Gap Road, the Little Greenbrier Trail is an easy, family-friendly walk to the historic Little Greenbrier School. If you continue a bit further, you can explore the 19th-century Walker Sisters Cabin, where five unmarried sisters famously maintained a traditional homestead long after the national park was established.
Driving the Cades Cove loop is another popular activity in the fall. November is one of the premier months to visit; the lower elevation keeps its fall colors longer, and you have an excellent chance of spotting white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and black bears. Note: Traffic moves slowly along the 11 mile loop, so allow at least 2 to 4 hours to complete.
On November 7th, Townsend hosts the Grains and Grits Festival, with Southern craft spirits, gourmet food and live music at the Townsend Visitors Center and Company Distilling.
In Gatlinburg, Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies starts November 19th. Enjoy live bluegrass music all weekend long at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Gatlinburg Winter Magic starts November 6th and runs through February. Enjoy millions of sparkling lights, holiday characters and whimsical light sculptures by local artists lining the streets of Gatlinburg.
In Pigeon Forge, Winterfest Lights begins at Patriot Park with family-friendly holiday food, gifts and entertainment, plus the tree lighting at The Island and much more.
And of course, Thanksgiving week is a great time to spend with family and friends enjoying everything the Smoky Mountains and surrounding area has to offer.
Wander Wears Lodge is located in the middle of it all for an easy drive and convenient place to stay right off Wears Valley Road. Come visit us and explore all of Wears Valley and the surrounding area.