Take a hike, buddy! No seriously—we’re not trying to be rude, but it’s time to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather this November 17, National Take a Hike Day. With 189 locations in 22 states, here at InTown Suites we’re lucky to be surrounded by some of this country’s greatest parks, historical monuments, and mountain ranges—like the Great Smokies.
To celebrate National Take a Hike Day, we’ve reached out our resident expert, Tennessee Market Manager for InTown/UpTown Suites, Steve Watson. An avid hiker and amateur photographer, Steve gives us the insider tips on where to hike in Tennessee and North Carolina.
CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST
Where: Tellico Plains, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites: Chattanooga Airport (ZCT) Extended Stay and Chattanooga East (GUN) Extended Stay
Spanning the Southern Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, this lush forest playground offers wildlife, rapids, verdant mountains and more. Steve recommends hiking the 3.2-mile Benton Falls Trail to take in the stunning falls, see the snaking Ocoee River, and visit the Ocoee Scenic Byway for a birds-eye view of the 1,930-acre Parksville Lake.
Parksville Lake
CHICKAMAUGA & CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
Where: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites: Chattanooga Airport (ZCT) Extended Stay and Chattanooga East (GUN) Extended Stay
Get outside and learn more about history at the same time. Walk in the footsteps of the Confederate Army who held watch at Lookout Mountain for months as they tried to close in on the Union Army. Hike along trails that are old 19th-century railroad beds, visit the monuments atop the mountain and see the battery positions and canons that still guard the cliffs.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Where: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites: Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
Cades Cove is near and dear to Steve’s heart, and we can see why. This beautiful 11-mile trail loops through the verdant valley beneath the Great Smokies. See churches, a working mill grist, log houses, and other 18th century structures scattered along the trail, along with a variety of wildlife. Bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, and more all call these parts home.
Cades Cove
SOUTH CUMBERLAND STATE PARK
Where: Altamont, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites: Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
This state park spans several counties, different landscapes, and the scenic streams and waterfalls of the Cumberland Plateau. Walk the well-marked loop of groomed trails, picnic on the rocks under Greeter Falls, or even take a cooling dip in a nearby swimming hole. This spot gets high marks from Steve for its dog-friendly trails, allowing him to bring his favorite hiking buddy, Hank, along with him.
Greeter Falls
CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK
Where: Ashville, NC
Nearest InTown Suites: Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
An Instagram worthy hike! Climb the 500-million-year-old Chimney Rock monolith to take in sweeping views on the valley below or capture an iconic photo (like Steve’s below) of the waving flag against the setting sun from a nearby rock ledge. See dramatic scenery, rare plants, and one of the state’s highest waterfalls.
Chimney Rock
Taking Steve’s advice and hiking the Great Smoky region? Stay with us in any of our Tennessee and North Carolina InTown Suites extended stay accommodations to save more, so you can see more.
Steve Watson, Tennessee Market Manager for InTown Suites
Take a hike, buddy! No seriously—we’re not trying to be rude, but it’s time to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather this November 17, National Take a Hike Day. With 189
locations in 22 states, here at
InTown Suites we’re lucky to be surrounded by some of this country’s greatest parks, historical monuments, and mountain ranges—like the Great Smokies.
To celebrate
National Take a Hike Day, we’ve reached out our resident expert, Tennessee Market Manager for InTown/
UpTown Suites, Steve Watson. An avid hiker and amateur photographer, Steve gives us the insider tips on where to hike in Tennessee and North Carolina.
CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST
Where: Tellico Plains, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites:
Chattanooga Airport (ZCT) Extended Stay and
Chattanooga East (GUN) Extended Stay
Spanning the Southern Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, this lush forest playground offers wildlife, rapids, verdant mountains and more. Steve recommends hiking the 3.2-mile
Benton Falls Trail to take in the stunning falls, see the snaking Ocoee River, and visit the
Ocoee Scenic Byway for a birds-eye view of the 1,930-acre
Parksville Lake.
[caption id="attachment_5827" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Parksville Lake[/caption]
CHICKAMAUGA & CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
Where: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites:
Chattanooga Airport (ZCT) Extended Stay and
Chattanooga East (GUN) Extended Stay
Get outside and learn more about history at the same time. Walk in the footsteps of the Confederate Army who held watch at
Lookout Mountain for months as they tried to close in on the Union Army. Hike along trails that are old 19th-century railroad beds, visit the monuments atop the mountain and see the battery positions and canons that still guard the cliffs.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Where: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites:
Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
Cades Cove is near and dear to Steve’s heart, and we can see why. This beautiful 11-mile trail loops through the verdant valley beneath the Great Smokies. See churches, a working mill grist, log houses, and other 18
th century structures scattered along the trail, along with a variety of wildlife. Bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, and more all call these parts home.
[caption id="attachment_5828" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Cades Cove[/caption]
SOUTH CUMBERLAND STATE PARK
Where: Altamont, Tennessee
Nearest InTown Suites:
Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
This state park spans several counties, different landscapes, and the scenic streams and waterfalls of the Cumberland Plateau. Walk the well-marked loop of groomed trails, picnic on the rocks under
Greeter Falls, or even take a cooling dip in a nearby swimming hole. This spot gets high marks from Steve for its dog-friendly trails, allowing him to bring his favorite hiking buddy, Hank, along with him.
[caption id="attachment_5833" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Greeter Falls[/caption]
CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK
Where: Ashville, NC
Nearest InTown Suites:
Knoxville (ZXT) Extended Stay
An Instagram worthy hike! Climb the 500-million-year-old
Chimney Rock monolith to take in sweeping views on the valley below or capture an iconic photo (like Steve’s below) of the waving flag against the setting sun from a nearby rock ledge. See dramatic scenery, rare plants, and one of the state’s highest waterfalls.
[caption id="attachment_5831" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Chimney Rock[/caption]
Taking Steve’s advice and hiking the Great Smoky region? Stay with us in any of our
Tennessee and
North Carolina InTown Suites extended stay accommodations to save more, so you can see more.
[caption id="attachment_5832" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Steve Watson, Tennessee Market Manager for InTown Suites[/caption]
