Picnicking

 
 
A picnic table and raised charcoal grill in the forest.
Picnic sites have a picnic table and a raised grill for cooking with charcoal.

NPS Photo

Picnic areas are located at Big Creek, Chimneys, Cades Cove, Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, Heintooga, Look Rock, and Metcalf Bottoms. Use the map above or download a park map to view the location of picnic areas in the park.

The picnic areas at Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf Bottoms are open year-round. The remaining picnic areas are closed during the winter. See schedule below.

Picnic pavilions are available at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek,
Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, and Twin Creeks. Pavilions can be reserved for groups one year in advance online or by calling 877-444-6777. Impromptu use of pavilions is allowed only when the pavilion has not been reserved.

Please remember that feeding bears and other wildlife is illegal. The black bear symbolizes the invaluable wilderness qualities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but bears are dying unnecessarily from improper disposal of garbage or illegal feeding by visitors. A bear's remarkable sense of smell may lead it to human foods, such as a picnicker's cooler, garbage left in the open, or food scraps thrown on the ground or left in the grill.

A bear that has discovered human food or garbage will eventually become day-active and leave the safety of the backcountry. It may panhandle along roadsides and be killed by a car or it may injure a visitor. Please do your part to help protect black bears and other wildlife in the Great Smokies. Clean your picnic area, including the grill and the ground around the table, thoroughly after your meal.

 

Picnic Area

2024 Schedule

Number
of Sites

Pavilion

Notes

Big Creek

3/29-10/27

10

No

One ADA-accessible site.

Cades Cove

Year-round

81

No

Closes at 8:00 pm from 4/26-9/02; sunset on other dates. Three ADA-accessible sites.

Chimneys

3/29-12/02

68

No

Closes at 8:00 pm 4/26-9/02; sunset on other dates. Lower loop with vault toilet open 3/29-12/02; Lower and upper loops with flush toilets open 4/12-10/31, weather permitting.

Collins Creek

3/29-10/31

182

Seats 70

Closes at 8:00 pm 4/26-9/02; sunset on other dates. Pavilion can be reserved up to a year in advance. Flush toilets open 3/29, weather permitting. Two ADA-accessible sites.

Cosby

3/29-10/28

35

Seats 55

Pavilion can be reserved up to a year in advance. Hiker parking area open year-round.

Deep Creek

Year-round

58

Seats 70

Pavilion can be reserved up to a year in advance from 3/29-10/31. Restrooms only open during the reservation period.

Greenbrier

Year-round

12

Seats 70

Pavilion at separate site can be reserved up to a year in advance from 3/29-10/31. Vault toilets available.

Heintooga

5/10-10/14

41

No

Look Rock

4/26-10/27

51

No

Metcalf Bottoms

Year-round

122

Seats 70

Pavilion can be reserved up to a year in advance from 3/29-10/31. North loop, pavilion, and south gated loop only open from 3/29-10/31; remaining sites open year-round. Only "pack it out" picnicking from 11/1/2024-4/17/2025. All dumpsters are removed during the winter. 10-ton wgt. limit on Metcalf bridge—no buses, motorhomes, trailers, etc. Two ADA-accessible sites.

Twin Creeks

3/29-10/31

Pavilion
only

Seats 150

By reservation only.

 
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Last updated: February 13, 2024

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Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Phone:

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