Collins Creek Picnic Pavilion

Collins Creek, tucked into picturesque mountain ranges and surrounded by pristine mountain streams, is the perfect backdrop for your party or family get-together. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Collins Creek never disappoints. A large pavilion with tables and multiple grills provides a convenient place for visitors to prepare meals while enjoying the stunning backdrop. It can hold approximately 70 guests, with four charcoal grills and 15 picnic tables. Visitors should also be aware that while the site meets accessibility standards, the restrooms do not. Nearby trails include the 3.9-mile Smokemont Loop Trail, Bradley Fork Trail and Newton Bald Trail. The Oconaluftee River offers some of the best trout fishing in the park; downstream from the confluence with the Bradley Fork, the river opens up and features large grassy meadows, which are not too heavily populated with anglers. At an elevation of 2,600 feet, Collins Creek provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The pavilion is located near the Oconaluftee River and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, the gateway to the North Carolina section of the Smokies. The Qualla Boundary, commonly known as Cherokee, North Carolina, is roughly 8 miles south of the pavilion and serves as a reservation for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee nation, who inhabited this area long before early Euro-American settlements. Oconaluftee comes from the Cherokee village name meaning "by the river." The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States, with over 90 historic structures preserved or rehabilitated, and a good portion of the surrounding land is a designated part of the Oconaluftee Archaeological District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, just six miles away, features museum exhibits that tell the story of life in the Smoky Mountains dating back to early Native Americans, and the adjacent Mountain Farm Museum highlights a large collection of historical log structures.