We arrived in Townsend around 2:45 PM and stopped to eat at Timber’s Restaurant on 321 not far from the edge of the Smoky Mountains National Park. Timber’s is a great place to eat if you like log cabins, black bears, amazing service, and big servings of absolutely delicious food. We love the atmosphere. It’s comfortable and almost feels like you’re sitting around the dinner table at home.

Next, we headed out toward Sugarlands and stopped to take in the newly remodeled overlook and parking area at the Sinks Waterfall, and of course, to see the water. This waterfall offers a lot of “bang for your hike” since it’s right by the road and there’s a lot of water gushing down over the rocks. When you’re short on time or energy, this is a perfect waterfall stop.

After a brief stop at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, we headed over to the Sugarlands Valley Nature Walk for some quick, easy exercise. This paved, 1/2-mile loop takes you through a nice forest past a wide, rocky stream. There are plenty of benches where you can stop and relax if you feel like it.

It was rather chilly and a bit wet today anyway, but just after we crawled into our vehicles to leave, it started sprinkling, so we made it out of the woods just in time.

By then we were ready to head up to Pigeon Forge to check in at Colonial Properties, the company through which we rented our house. We are staying in Gatlinburg, not far off of the PIgeon Forge bypass and a little less than 6 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Our plans are to be here for 10 days. It’s exciting to think of all the quality time we’ll have together as a family, relaxing, playing games, eating, hiking, driving around, looking for bears, and whatever else we come up with!

Thanks for reading and check back for more.

Lavern

Looking at my waterfalls brochure, I found two waterfalls close to Townsend that we could drive to. We took Little River Road toward the Sugarlands visitor center, watching for Meigs and the Sinks. For some reason, we didn’t see post #6 (according to the brochure) and drove past Meigs waterfall and came to the Sinks.

There is a nice parking area at the Sinks and a gushing river stumbling down over the rocks. Little River flows under Little River road at this point and turns to flow parallel with the road.

The Sinks is probably the most beautiful waterfall in the entire Smoky Mountain National Park that you can drive to. And for those a little daring, you can climb out on the rocks for a more intense view of these engaging falls.

After soaking in some of this beauty, we headed back and found Meigs set back maybe 100 yards away from the road. Even at this distance, Meigs waterfall is a beauty to behold and worth stopping on the shoulder for a few minutes to take it in.

If you are ever make it down Little River road between Townsend and Sugarlands Visitor Center, take a few minutes to stop and enjoy these two Smoky Mountain waterfalls.

Lavern Gingerich