Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area

Metcalf Bottoms is a 122-site daytime picnic area beside the Little River, on the Wears Valley side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a good stop when you want a proper break from the road: picnic tables and charcoal grills sit near the water, and you can walk down for a wade. Bring your own food; there isn't a concession here.

The area is open from sunrise to sunset and is partly open year-round. The north loop, pavilion and part of the south loop operate from mid-April through late October; the rest of the south loop stays open year-round. A Smokies parking tag is required if your vehicle is parked for more than 15 minutes. The access bridge has a 10-ton limit, so buses, motorhomes and trailers can't cross. In winter, dumpsters are removed, so pack out your rubbish and food scraps.

Metcalf Bottoms is also a starting point for the 3.4-mile round-trip walk to Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse and Walker Sisters Place. Built in 1881 from tulip poplar logs, the one-room schoolhouse served the Little Greenbrier community as a school, church and gathering place. Its cemetery is next door. It's a good way to turn lunch into a short history stop, though the round trip takes more commitment than a quick stroll from the table.