Wears Cove: A Secret Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The beauty and history of Wears Valley TN makes it a fantastic area to explore while on vacation in the Smokies, but did you know that it’s also home to a secret entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Instead of driving through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you can enjoy quick access to the national park and incredible views along the way. Keep reading to find out more about Wears Cove and its hidden entrance!

Why You Should Visit Wears Valley

Peaceful Scenic Drive: When you’re on vacation in the Smoky Mountains, you probably want to take the scenic routes to enjoy the beautiful mountain views. Wears Valley is the best place to experience true Southern charm and endless mountain scenery.

Stunning Mountain Scenery: Known for its open land and quiet environment, this higher-elevation valley is unbelievable, especially in the fall when showcasing all of the great colors of the mountains. On a clear day in Wears Valley, you can see Mount LeConte in the background with the colorful leaves blanketing the treetops. 

Calming Getaway: People tend to visit Wears Valley when looking for a true getaway from the stress of everyday life. The atmosphere is calm and quiet and there are few attractions and restaurants around to make a lot of noise.

Close to Pigeon Forge: Situated between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, you’re only a few short minutes from the Pigeon Forge Parkway when you stay in Wears Valley, so when you’re ready to spend time experiencing the exciting things to do in the area, you won’t have to drive too far. It’s also only a 30-minute drive to Gatlinburg!

Easy Access to the National Park: The best part about Wears Valley is its secret entrance to the Smoky Mountains! You can bypass Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg traffic and get to popular areas within the park easily. 

About the Wears Cove Entrance to the Smoky Mountains

If you’ve never taken a drive through Wears Valley into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you are really missing out on the beauty of the Smokies! The Wears Valley entrance (also referred to as the Wears Cove entrance) is a secret spot, typically where many of the locals will go to enter the national park. During the peak seasons, this entrance is a great way to skip the crowds and head straight into the park. You’ll be able to access popular areas via the Wears Cove entrance, including Newfound Gap, Elkmont, Cades Cove, Tremont, the Townsend “Wye” (a great area for swimming), and many hiking trails in Wears Valley, since it connects to Little Gorge River Road. 

How to Find This Secret Entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

To get to Wears Valley, you’ll turn onto Wears Valley Road from the Pigeon Forge Parkway (at the intersection right across from Pirate’s Voyage) and continue for just under 10 miles. Then you’ll take a left onto Line Springs Road and drive for about 1.5 miles before the road turns into Wears Cove Gap where it crosses the national park boundary. These roads are narrow and full of twists and turns, so take your time and drive slowly! A single-lane bridge over the river leads directly to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area, where you can enjoy tubing and fishing, as well as the Metcalf Bottoms trailhead that takes you to the Walker Sisters cabin and the Little Greenbrier School.  

Now you know all about Wears Cove and the secret entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Read our Wears Valley TN guide to learn more about the peaceful side of the Smokies and things to do in the area!