Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Metcalf Bottoms never disappoints. Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together. The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should reserve both time slots. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, offering over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, a number of them easily accessible from the picnic area. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular. Trout are available in abundance in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park it is not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, and holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States: over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated. At 1,700 feet, Metcalf Bottoms provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Gatlinburg, one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 11 miles from the picnic area, offering tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.