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How To Use This Blog

Welcome to the Garage Mahal Blog!  Use this blog to find hikes, attractions, shopping... whatever it is you are coming to the Great Smoky Mountains to do.  On the right side try the search bar, to find what you are looking for quicker, like a specific hike.  Or, scroll down to the labels section for a list of different posts.  There is so much to do here, I've tried to group activities together.  There is also a link to our Facebook page, check us out!

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls is an extremely popular destination within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Thus, parking can be a problem during peak season. If you wish to avoid crowds your best bet is to begin your hike early in the morning, during the early evening hours, on a weekday, or during the off-season.

The Laurel Falls Trail was built in 1932 to provide fire crews with access to the Cove Mountain area in the event of a forest fire. By the early 1960s, however, Laurel Falls had become a popular hiking destination for visitors, and erosion was beginning to take a toll on the trail. As part of the 1963 Accelerated Works Projects grant to the Department of Interior, the Laurel Falls Trail was paved in order to halt problems with erosion.

As in decades past, you'll still find a lot of families with young children on this popular trail. If you do plan to hike with young children, I highly suggest keeping a close eye on them at all times as the trail passes next to some very steep drop-offs, especially as you get closer to the falls.

Roundtrip, the hike to Laurel Falls and back is 2.3 miles. Hikers will climb roughly 314 feet in elevation before arriving at the 80-foot waterfall. The hike is well worth it though - Laurel Falls is very photogenic!

The waterfall consists of an upper and a lower section, divided by a walkway which crosses the stream (Laurel Branch) at the base of the upper falls. The falls receives its name from the mountain laurel that blooms along the trail and near the falls in May.

If you wish to go home with some great photos of the waterfall you may want to consider planning your hike for early in the morning, or late in the day. The shade provided by the surrounding mountains will likely produce a much better photograph.

Visitors should also note that you'll be traveling in bear country on this hike. Although it may not seem like it, due to the scores of people on the trail at any given time, but black bears are still present in this area. On our most recent hike we saw a mother and three cubs roughly 50 yards off the trail.

Big Creek/Mouse Creek Falls

The Big Creek Trail follows an old railroad grade, built in the early 1900's to haul lumber out of the mountains during the logging boom.  The trail was improved by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the early 1930's when it was converted for hiking use. 

With a relatively smooth and even surface that climbs gradually over the course of its 2.1 miles to Mouse Creek Falls, this is an outstanding hike for young or novice hikers.  At first the wide path climbs high above the Big Creek Campground, and away from the creek.  After roughly 1.3 miles, however, the trail finally makes contact with the creek, and for the rest of this hike you'll never leave the sight or sounds of Big Creek.  Wildflowers and Rhododendron also line the pathway throughout this section of the trail.  As you proceed higher you may notice a boulder field off to the right of the trail.  This is just one of the after-effects from the logging days.  The erosion caused by stripping the mountainside of trees has exposed these underlying boulders. 

At roughly 1.5 miles the trail passes Midnight Hole, a deep, emerald green pool that lies just below a six-foot waterfall flowing between two large boulders.  If you're lucky you may see a trout scooting through the water here.  Unfortunately this spot isn't marked by a trail sign.  Moreover, you'll pass a couple of smaller waterfalls along the way that might lead some to believe that they've already reached Midnight Hole.  On the flip side you can use this as an excuse to take your time to explore the many features along this portion of the trail.  At just over 2 miles you'll see a hitching post on your left.  Continue a little bit further beyond the hitching post and you'll see a short side trail that leads to a viewing area of Mouse Creek Falls.  Located on the far side of Big Creek, this 45 foot waterfall emerges from the dense forest to tumble over several tiers of moss covered rocks before crashing into Big Creek.  This is an outstanding place to drop your backpack, break out the camera, and grab a snack or picnic lunch.

If you wish to explore more of the terrain in this section of the park you'll have the option of continuing along the Big Creek Trail, past an old carriage bridge, to visit Walnut Bottom, the site of an old logging camp.  Walnut Bottom, now known for its exceptional displays of spring wildflowers, is located just past Back Country Campsite 37, and requires a hike of another 3 miles beyond Mouse Creek Falls.

Directions to the Trailhead:  The trailhead is just 12 miles from the Garage Mahal, head east into Hartford get on I-40 heading to Asheville and get off at the very next exit, Waterville Road Exit 451.  Turn left after crossing the Pigeon River  and proceed 2.1 miles to a 4-way intersection.  Continue straight ahead on to the narrow gravel road and drive past the ranger station to a large parking area at the end of the road. The Big Creek Trailhead is located on the right, just before reaching the parking area, roughly 3 miles from the highway.  

Ranger Led Programs in the Park!

Explore the park with a ranger!

A Walk in the Woods

Everyday between 10:30 am and Noon

Meet at the Sugarlands Visitors Center

1.5 hour easy walk

Free

Through September

Get away from the hustle and bustle by taking an easy stroll and discover stories of history and nature along this scenic, wooded trail.

Click here for more programs and locations: 

Porters Creek Trail

Porters Creek Trail, about 2 miles each way to our destination, Fern Branch Falls.  It was an easy hike and what a beautiful day!

             Be advised, you are in the woods, snakes happen...

At roughly two-thirds of a mile several old stone walls will appear on your right, remnants from the Elbert Cantrell farmstead, who settled in the Porters Creek community in the early 1900s.

                

The Ownby Cemetery dating back to the early 1900's.

                                    So sad... mostly children.

Crazy tree, it must have grown around something like another tree or stump that has long since gone.

Ok, this rickety little "bridge" looks interesting, if not scary.

                         The wildflowers were just amazing!

Check out this rock...we can't get flowers to grow in our "dirt" and these flowers are growing on rock...

Amazing!

     I can't remember the names of all the flowers we saw today, but                         these are called Dutchman's Britches.

                               Fern Branch Falls, 60 feet high.

On our way back down...

A short hike of roughly 250 yards off the main trail will take you to the John Messer farm site, which includes a cantilevered barn built around 1875 by John Whaley. 

The lofts were originally used for storing hay, loaded conveniently from wagons pulled into the driveway between the cribs. Cribs were livestock pens, while the sheltered area under the overhanging loft provided space for storing equipment and grooming animals.

The cabin on this site built by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club in the mid-1930's. Members of the club were permitted to use it as an overnight facility until 1981.

The club used the logs from three dismantled Whaley cabins, and constructed the cabin around an existing chimney fall.  It's heart breaking to think of the thousands of families that had to leave their homes when the land was purchased for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park...for the greater good, I guess.

Deeeeeeelux accommodations!

                                      And move-in ready!

This was the "Spring House" the creek or spring runs through the middle of it, that is where water would have been collected for daily use. 

Pigeon Forge Indoor Snow Tubing Park

Pigeon Forge Indoor Snow Tubing Park

The first indoor snow tubing park in the nation has opened in Pigeon Forge! Pigeon Forge Snow is a 35,000 sqft indoor snow tubing park featuring over 10 tubing lanes with real snow.  Pigeon Forge Snow is open year-round, which means this is the perfect attraction for hot summer days, or even rainy days! The temperature inside the building stays between a comfortable 60-70 degrees all year long, so there is no need to pack a winter coat to enjoy playing in the snow!

Things to do at Pigeon Forge Snow

Snow Tubing - The primary attraction at Pigeon Forge Snow is the indoor snow tubing.  After you grab a tube, you step onto a moving walkway (kind of like a conveyor belt) that moves you up to the top of the slope, which is great because there are no stairs to climb!  Once at the top, you pick one of the snow-covered lanes to slide down.  The snow is completely natural and not synthetic...Just water that makes fresh powder!  The only difference between their snow and snow that falls from the sky is that their snow is blown from a machine.  After sliding down the slope, it has a slight incline that naturally slows you down to a stop at which point you simply pick up your tube and ride back up the moving walkway for another turn!  their prices are per hour, so you can tube as many times as you wish during that hour.

Snow Play Area - Pigeon Forge Snow also offers a snow play area for all ages to enjoy building snowmen, making snowballs, etc.  this is a fantastic opportunity to play in snow for people from warmer states that rarely, if ever, get to play in snow!

Pigeon Forge Snow Prices and FAQs

Pricing - The price for snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow as on March 2018 is $21.99 per hour for all ages.  Snow Play is $7.99 per 30 minutes.  The also offer a combo of 1 hour tubing and snow play for $26.99.

Height & Age Requirement - For snow tubing, there is a 38" minimum height and  years of age requirement.  The Snow Play area is available for all ages and height.  

What to Wear - Pigeon Forge Snow suggests a long sleeve t-shirt or windbreaker/light jacket.  However, it usually stays between 65-70 degrees in the building, so most people will be fine with whatever they are wearing any given day.  They do suggest not wearing flip flops as they may fly off your feet when tubing. 

Where is Pigeon Forge Snow Located

Pigeon Forge Snow is located near The Track in Pigeon Forge.  If you turn at traffic light #3 and drive up the hill, you will see it when you approach the next traffic light.  

This is the address:
2533 Teaster Ln
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Phone: 865-257-9136

Click here for more information.