Just Outside
Local History
Where moonshine legends and mountain heritage run deep.
Cosby isn't just a backdrop, it's a story. Once known as the "Moonshine Capital of the World," the hollows around this small community produced some of the most sought-after white whiskey in Appalachia, thanks to pure mountain water and a geography that made hiding a still easy. The legend of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, a third-generation moonshiner from Cocke County, lives on here — and if you dig a little, you'll find the heritage runs deep in nearly every corner of the valley.
Stop by the seasonal Cosby Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to learn about early settlers, moonshine traditions, and the area's unique ecology. For a taste of that tradition in a legal and very enjoyable setting, Adventure Distilling Company in Cosby keeps the craft alive with small-batch spirits rooted in the old ways. History buffs will also want to look for the historic Whitson's Fort marker. The Whitson family settled this area in the 1700s, and their fort on the Big Pigeon River was a key outpost on the Tennessee frontier.
Offroading
Hit the dirt on trails built for every level of adventure.
You don't have to go far from Roamstead to find serious off-road terrain. Outdoors in the Smokies (462 Middle Creek Rd, Cosby) is a dedicated trail facility just minutes away, with green, blue, and black-rated trails to match your rig and skill level. Their most challenging routes make up the Jeep Badge of Honor Trail, a series of connected paths that combine technical difficulty with some of the best scenery the Smokies have to offer. If you're new to off-roading, this is a comfortable, low-pressure place to learn.
For those who want to explore beyond the trail system, Rich Mountain Road winds through deep forest with chances to spot white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and even the occasional black bear. The Old Cataloochee Turnpike traverses the northeastern edge of the national park through dense forest, bridged river crossings, and waterfall views. Public OHV trails in the immediate Smokies area are limited, which is exactly what makes the private facilities here such a draw.
Mountain Biking
Challenging climbs, fast descents, and forest views at every turn.
Outdoors in the Smokies (462 Middle Creek Rd, Cosby) hosts a demanding 7-mile mountain bike loop that rewards fit riders with spicy climbs and quick, steep descents. Contact them ahead of your visit to arrange access. It's one of the few dedicated MTB trail systems right in the Cosby area, sharing the same Smoky Mountain scenery as their off-road jeep trails.
The Greenbrier Trail east of Gatlinburg follows the Little Pigeon River through a beautiful stretch of the national park. The first mile is paved, giving way to scenic gravel through old-growth forest. The eastern section of the Foothills Parkway (just off Hwy. 321) is a short drive from camp and a popular road cycling route with sweeping ridgeline views. Bring your own bike or check local outfitters in Gatlinburg for rentals and current trail conditions before you head out.
Bird/Wildlife Viewing
Over 240 bird species, and the bears are never far behind.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most biodiverse places in North America, and the Cosby area is one of its quietest spots for wildlife watching. The park is home to over 240 bird species, including warblers, woodpeckers, owls, and the striking scarlet tanager. During spring and fall migration (late April and early May especially), experienced birders have recorded 100 species in a single day. The Cosby campground trailheads and surrounding creek corridors are crowd-free spots to get your binoculars out early in the morning.
For larger wildlife, Cades Cove is the most reliably productive spot in the park. Drive the 11-mile loop at dusk and you're very likely to see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and black bears. Cataloochee Valley (about 45 minutes away) is home to the park's reintroduced elk herd and offers some of the most dramatic wildlife viewing in the Eastern U.S. Wherever you go, early mornings and evenings give you the best odds. Be patient, stay quiet, and give animals plenty of room.
Golfing
Mountain-framed fairways just a short drive from camp.
The Smokies area has several solid courses tucked into the hills around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Bent Creek Golf Club in Gatlinburg (3919 E. Parkway) is the closest option, a par-72 course designed by Gary Player with mountain scenery on every hole. The Gatlinburg Golf Course (520 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge) is famous for its 12th hole, "Sky Hi," which features a dramatic 200-foot drop from tee to green that makes for an unforgettable shot regardless of where the ball lands.
Sevierville Golf Club offers two full 18-hole courses set against rolling hills and freshwater views, with championship-quality conditioning open to the public. If you're willing to make a slightly longer drive, Dandridge Golf and Country Club (about 35 minutes away) has 27 holes across three 9-hole courses on beautiful rolling terrain. Tee times book up on peak weekends, so it's worth calling ahead.
Disc Golfing
Free, dog-friendly, and playable by absolutely anyone.
Disc golf is one of the most accessible and affordable outdoor activities in the Smokies, and the best-known course in the area won't cost you a dime. Mills Park in Gatlinburg offers a free 9-hole layout with a mix of wooded holes and open fairways, just minutes from the downtown strip. It's welcoming to beginners while still offering interesting lines and out-of-bounds challenges for more experienced players. Dogs are welcome on the course, making it an easy morning activity before the crowds pick up.
The Pigeon Forge Community Center also has a disc golf course available to visitors. If you need discs, REI on Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge carries a solid selection, including discounted "yard sale" discs that are perfect for a casual round. Disc golf is a great rainy-morning plan or an easy way to stretch your legs after a day on the trails. Bring a few extra discs and expect to lose at least one to the trees.
Ziplining
See the Smokies from above. Way above.
The Smoky Mountains have become prime zipline territory, with several companies competing to give you the biggest rush. CLIMB Works in Gatlinburg is one of the most well-known, with a Mountaintop Zipline and a Treetop Zipline set right across the street from the national park. Legacy Mountain Ziplines (2431 Upper Middle Creek Rd, Sevierville) offers 4.5 miles of travel across seven lines, including one stretching 2,500 feet. A full ride covers more than 400 acres of mountain scenery.
Smoky Mountain Ziplines (509 Mill Creek Rd, Pigeon Forge) has 4,200 total feet of cable with lines reaching over 150 feet off the ground at speeds up to 25 mph. Most companies accommodate a wide range of ages and fitness levels, though weight limits vary, so check with the operator when you book. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends, as popular time slots fill up fast.
Kayak/SUPing
Paddle a mountain lake or drift a lazy stretch of river.
Douglas Lake is the closest flat-water option to Roamstead, a large East Tennessee reservoir with stunning views of the Smoky Mountains on calm mornings. Smoky Mountain Lakeside Resort & Marina offers kayak and paddleboard rentals with hourly and full-day options, making it easy to get out on the water without hauling your own gear. Wide open water, mountain ridgelines on the horizon, and very little boat traffic early in the day.
For a river experience, the lower sections of the Pigeon River offer calm Class I-II water well-suited for paddlers of all experience levels, with local outfitters providing rentals and shuttle options. If you're up for a longer excursion, Fontana Lake near Bryson City, NC (about 45 minutes away) is one of the most scenic paddles in the Southern Appalachians, with the national park rising directly from its shores. Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) rents kayaks and SUPs there for two-hour and full-day sessions.
Hiking
One of the least-crowded corners of the most-visited national park.
The Cosby area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws far fewer visitors than Gatlinburg or Clingmans Dome, but you get the same old-growth forest, waterfalls, and ridge views. The Hen Wallow Falls Trail (2.6 miles one way) is a local favorite, following Gabes Mountain through a quiet hardwood forest to a 90-foot cascade. The Cosby Nature Trail is an easy 1-mile loop, perfect for a morning warm-up or families with young kids.
More ambitious hikers can tackle the Snake Den Ridge Trail, a strenuous climb that connects to the Appalachian Trail with sweeping views across the Tennessee mountains. Trail maps and conditions are available at the Cosby Campground kiosk, and rangers can point you toward routes that fit your group's pace. Trails in this section range from easy creek-side walks to serious all-day climbs, and you're likely to have whichever one you choose almost entirely to yourself.
Fishing
Rainbow and brook trout, right outside your tent door.
Cosby Creek runs through the national park just up the road from Roamstead, and it's one of the most accessible trout streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A paved road follows the lower section up to the Cosby Campground, so you can pull over and drop a line in sight of the road with no long hike required. The lower stretch holds a healthy mix of rainbow trout, while brook trout start showing up further upstream above the campground. It's a particularly great spot for kids learning to fish, with easy wading and cooperative fish.
A valid Tennessee fishing license is required, though no supplemental trout stamp is needed inside the national park. For more variety, the broader Smokies area has dozens of additional streams. The park's fishing guide, available at visitor centers, lists them all with species and difficulty information. If you'd rather hire a guide, local fly fishing outfitters in Gatlinburg run half- and full-day trips on some of the more remote park streams.
Bouldering
Granite faces, sandstone slabs, and moves for every grade.
The Smokies region has a quiet but passionate climbing community, with a handful of worthwhile spots within reach of Roamstead. Look Rock, on the Foothills Parkway west of the park, is one of the best-known local crags, a sandstone outcrop with boulders and cliffs up to 40 feet and solid top-rope and bouldering problems across a range of grades. The approach is short, the setting is beautiful, and you're unlikely to be sharing the rock with much of a crowd.
Closer to Cosby, The Sinks on the Little River offers deep-water soloing on a boulder that overhangs the swimming hole, a fun way to try climbing without committing to a long approach. Mountain Project (mountainproject.com) maintains an updated list of routes and boulders near Cosby with ratings, descriptions, and photos from the local climbing community. The season runs best from May through September, with spring and fall days offering the best friction on the rock.
Horseback Riding
Trail rides through old-growth forest and open mountain meadows.
A few stables in the area offer guided trail rides right inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which means your horse takes you through landscapes you simply can't reach any other way. Sugarlands Riding Stables, just minutes from Gatlinburg in the Sugarlands Valley, offers one-hour and 1.5-hour rides that depart continually throughout the day with no reservation needed. The rides wind through some of the most beautiful old-growth forest in the Smokies, with guides pointing out wildlife and plants along the way.
Cades Cove Riding Stables, the only National Park-authorized stable on the Tennessee side, offers trail rides, carriage rides, and hayrides from March through November, with departures from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For a more dramatic ride, Smokemont Riding Stables on the North Carolina side runs a 2.5-hour waterfall ride that climbs above the Smokemont Campground to the Chasteen Creek waterfall. All stables provide helmets and equipment. Just wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes.
Rafting
Class III rapids on one of the Southeast's best whitewater rivers.
The Pigeon River runs through Hartford, TN, a short drive from Roamstead, and it consistently ranks among the most popular whitewater rivers in the Southeast. The Upper Pigeon delivers Class III intermediate rapids: big enough to get your heart pounding, manageable enough that first-timers regularly have a blast. The Lower Pigeon is a gentler Class I-II float, great for families, calmer groups, or anyone who wants the river experience without the full adrenaline hit.
Five Rivers Adventures (3144 Dorsey Rd, Cosby) is one of the closest outfitters to camp, with guided trips running since 1997. Hartford is also home to Smoky Mountain Outdoors (since 1993), Big Creek Expeditions (since 2004), and Smoky Mountain River Rat (since 1995). All outfitters provide safety gear, guides, and a shuttle back to your vehicle. Summer weekends on the Upper Pigeon fill up fast, so book ahead if you have a specific date in mind.
