Aishling the AIrstream Update No. 040

 Elkmont 

in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

From the internets:  Located eight miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At an elevation of 2,150 feet, the area enjoys a moderate climate. Elkmont Campground has 200 tent / RV campsites with paved driveways, gravel tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables.

 Restrooms at Elkmont Campground have flush toilets, cold running water, and utility sinks. Potable water is available at spigots near each restroom; use of hoses is not allowed. Elkmont Campground does NOT have electric, water, or sewer hook-ups. 

Elkmont is strictly an overnight campground; there are no day-use facilities. The nearest picnic area is Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, west of Elkmont on Little River Road. Due to its central location and variety of amenities, Elkmont Campground tends to be heavily used during the summer vacation months and in October. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Little River and Jakes Creek run through the campground, offering easy access for fishing or cool summertime splashing. Trailheads for Little River Trail, Jakes Creek Trail, and Elkmont Nature Trail are located adjacent to the campground. Historic remnants of Little River Lumber Company's logging camp and old buildings from the Elkmont resort community offer campers a glimpse of life at Elkmont nearly a century ago."

 

[ #AishlingtheAirstream ]

Thanks to some sweet friends, we were able to get a campsite during the firefly rendezvous - something we've wanted to do for ages! 

 - Several years ago we 'won' the lottery and had a parking space for one night [drive-in] to see them - AND IT RAINED... And in 2020 we had a campsite [yay!] but of course the campground was closed due to the pandemic...

So WE LOVED BEING IN THE CAMPGROUND for a few nights where we could walk up the trail [hike?] and see these beautiful fireflies twinkle their lights all together and then go completely dark before lighting up in synchrony over and over again. 

[NOT MY PHOTO - we tried, but decided it was better to just stand in awe of God's creation and enjoy the show each night...]

 

 Y'all know I was concerned about the zero electricity thing, right?

And I'm please to say we did alright.  

C-paps worked wonderfully with our little bluetties!

 

Here's some highlights in no particular order  -  

We drove through Townsend and the curvy road around little river on our way in... ALWAYS a beautiful drive, but it was our first time to pull Aishling on these curvy [tight] roads - but of course, Craig did a great job with it!

 Surprisingly, Elkmont was nice and quiet while we were there - 

It's difficult to get a spot during these two weeks each year - but, turns out - many of the campers are one nighters who come in, have a picnic, hike up to see the fireflies and head out without even pitching a tent... 

 

As I said earlier - no electricity -  but Craig had us nice and prepared with lots of little lights to use [and our generator, which he turned on once...] He even downloaded the show we've been watching each night so we could watch an episode or two at night...#ROUGHINGIT

 

The weather was PERFECT - 

and it was so relaxing and quiet in the campground!

We enjoyed just hanging out and listening to nature...

 

We weren't on a creek site, but we could hear its 

relaxing sound every time were outside...  

 

We enjoyed the little hike up to the firefly area each night, and also stopped to do a couple of the little trails marked 'quiet walks' - something I've wanted to do when we've been in the Smokys in the past....

 

And it always surprises me how we can be so very close to a busy road and yet, once we immerse ourselves in nature [Forest Bathing -?] it just all melts away...

 

We also took a morning to walk around Daisy Town - an 'abandoned' resort area for wealthy Knoxville families in the early 1900s... 

 

A neat little area... the houses reminded me of my gr-mothers [not in size, of course... but the plain plank walls - no insulation...

 

And of course we drove into town each day to get our internet 'fix' and enjoy a meal or two... oddly - we did not shop those 'standard' souvenir shops at all... 

But we DID enjoy the beautiful mountain views! 

THROWBACK: Craig and I attended a youth conference at that big round hotel to the left  - our first time to travel together when we'd just started dating...

 

We have a little one-burner butane stove that came in handy each morning - and I found that I kinda enjoy a good PERKED coffee from the stove top - lol 8-10 minutes is perfect for us.

 

And our one skillet breakfast worked well too! 

My new pan from aldi worked perfectly!

 

Pro Tip - Go up to the Parkway by-pass to take your photo with the National Park sign - less people... Plus they've got a little stand for you to prop your cell phone on for the perfect shot! 

 

To wrap things up - WE LOVED CAMPING AT ELKMONT.

We'll definitely be back -  

ELECTRICITY - ZERO... Internet - ZERO... WATER - you have to tote it from a spigot [we had plenty on-board] Bath Houses - yes - but we never went in one... [NO SHOWERS. Again - we love having everything we need in our little home away from home.] Dish washing station - not the tidiest - but doable...

 

Bears?

THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS - and will confiscate anything left outside of your camper [think grills, coolers, etc.]

 

But sadly... we never saw a bear the whole time we were there.  

AND I WANTED TO!

 

Side Note: The curvy road was closed when we left the campground... so we went around by Sugarlands Visitor Center and took the by-pass... then through Knoxville -- Wheee - but really not so terrible... Still, give me the curvy [pretty] road anytime!