Townsend is a region situated at the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies," serving as a key entry point to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The landscape is characterized by forested peaks, picturesque valleys like Cades Cove, and the Little River, providing a diverse environment for outdoor pursuits. This area offers opportunities for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, and touring cycling.
For those seeking things to do in Townsend, the region provides a…
34
Routes
4.3
(4)
Average rating
98
People visited

5.0
(1)
1
hikers
5.05km
01:22
70m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.36km
01:11
70m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.00km
01:02
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
1.57km
00:24
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.33km
00:33
70m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11.1km
01:11
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.36km
00:17
100m
100m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
12.9km
01:33
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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13
riders
54.9km
02:49
480m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

2
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

6
riders
60.6km
02:43
460m
460m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

6
riders
50.4km
02:21
370m
370m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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11
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
54.4km
04:38
800m
800m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

2
riders
7.02km
00:28
30m
30m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
29.6km
01:54
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Townsend, known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies," offers a variety of outdoor activities. These include hiking, jogging, road cycling, and touring cycling. The region provides access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and features scenic areas like Cades Cove.
Townsend provides numerous hiking opportunities within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Popular trails lead to destinations such as Mt. LeConte, Chimney Tops, Charlie's Bunion, Abrams Falls, and Spruce Flats Falls. For more information, consult the Hiking around Townsend guide.
Yes, Townsend offers easy hiking options suitable for various skill levels. Trails within Cades Cove and the 9-mile (14.5 km) Townsend Bike Trail are good choices for less strenuous walks. The Easy hikes around Townsend guide provides specific routes.
Townsend is a popular destination for cyclists, offering both road and touring cycling routes. The 9-mile (14.5 km) Townsend Bike Trail provides a dedicated path, and the 11-mile (17.7 km) Cades Cove Loop Road is a major draw. Additional routes like Ellejoy Jaunt and Little River Run are also available. Explore options in the Road Cycling Routes around Townsend and Cycling around Townsend guides.
Joggers and walkers can utilize the 9-mile (14.5 km) Townsend Bike Trail. The Cades Cove Loop Road is also suitable for walking, especially on mornings when it is closed to vehicular traffic. For specific routes, refer to the Running Trails around Townsend guide.
Townsend is home to several notable natural features. These include Cades Cove, known for wildlife viewing, and the Little River, popular for tubing. Tuckaleechee Caverns features the 210-foot (64 m) Silver Falls, and scenic waterfalls like Spruce Flats Falls and Lynn Camp Cascades are accessible via trails.
Townsend is a well-regarded region for outdoor activities on komoot. It has more than 180 visitors and features 4 routes with an average rating of 4.64 out of 5 stars. The community actively shares experiences across various sports.
Townsend offers several family-friendly outdoor activities. Easy hiking trails, the Townsend Bike Trail for walking and cycling, and tubing on the Little River are popular choices. Cades Cove provides opportunities for wildlife viewing suitable for all ages.
Komoot offers several guides to help explore Townsend's outdoor activities. These include Hiking around Townsend, Easy hikes around Townsend, Running Trails around Townsend, Road Cycling Routes around Townsend, and Cycling around Townsend.
For additional information about Townsend, Tennessee, visitors can contact the Townsend Visitor Center. They can be reached by phone at 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834, or via email at infodesk@blountpartnership.com. The official tourism website is ExploreTownsend.com.
Cades Cove is a picturesque valley within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, accessible from Townsend. It is renowned for wildlife viewing, including white-tailed deer and black bears. An 11-mile (17.7 km) loop road is popular for cycling, walking, and scenic drives.

