Cosby Tennessee fall color report for the Great Smoky Mountains.

Cosby Tennessee is one of the quieter sections of the Great Smoky Mountains national park very close to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville and the hiking trails and the picnic areas are in full peak colors right now.

The entrance to the Cosby area of the Great Smoky Mountains national park is just off 321 and is a picturesque drive just east of Gatlinburg. Here you will pass by mountain vistas, wooded areas, golf courses and farms all sporting great fall colors.

As you pull into the picnic area which is also the parking area for the hiking trails, you will be overwhelmed by the fall colors in the trees and the mountain in front of you. Large shade trees over the picnic tables are all bursting forth in bright colors.

The most popular hiking trail is Hen Wallow Falls, a moderate 4 mile hike that ends up at a wonderful cascade that water flows down more than 80 feet jumping over rocks and flowing down the rest of the mountain surrounded by rock faces and huge boulders.

As soon as you are about to cross the first log bridge the forest canopy becomes a bright yellow for the leaves in the trees. This is a very quiet autumn hiking trail and the sound of the water flowing in the stream is very soothing.

Even though this area of the Smoky Mountains was originally heavily settled and logged there are still a few large old trees in the forest. Most of the trees here in Cosby are still light yellow and light green so the color will last a while but there are huge areas that a just a riot of color.

Look among the old chestnut trees and hemlock logs covered in moss on the forest floor draped in fresh autumn leaves and you will see plenty of chipmunks is you look carefully as they scamper into holes and hiding places quickly. Their chirping and squeaks will be hard to miss though.

On the Hen Wallow Hiking Trail you will pass through some large areas of Rhododendrons and hemlocks that will remain green throughout all of fall and even winter. Some of the ground cover here changes colors into bright yellows and reds but some will also remain green all year long.

Don't just look at the great fall colors in the trees or you will miss some of the beauty the forest has to offer in autumn.

Look around on the forest floor and you can still see some wildflowers blooming like this late blooming blue gentian that was on the north side of the trail. In wetter spots with more sunlight you will see purple asters with large clumps of their pretty small flowers.

The trail on the way to Hen Wallow Falls gradually climbs the whole way. Be sure to take your time and admire the scenery. As you pass by some of the large boulders and rock faces on your left look at the different mosses and small plants growing on the rocks and forming tiny communities.

If you look carefully to the right between the colorful fall leaves in the trees there are some areas you can look out at the mountain range across from you which is also sporting bright reds and oranges mixed in with greens.

Eventually you come to an intersection when the falls are off to the right and a climb downhill on the trail. At the bottom you see some huge rocks scattered about and the waterfall cascade down the side of the hill.

Right after a rainfall is a great time to see these falls when the whole wall is a sheet of water. Since the weather here in the Smokies has been so great the waterfall right now doesn't have a large flow of water.

It can get color here down by the water in the shade and this makes a great place to relax and have a snack. Just make sure to take out any trash or food scraps you may have so you don't attract any bear.

Hen Wallow Falls and the hiking trails in Cosby are all in peak fall colors right now in the lower and mid elevations and being so close to Gatlinburg a real short trip for anyone here in the Smokies.

Fall Weekend activities in the Great Smoky Mountains October 18th – 19th

Looking for activities to do on a budget this weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee? We have 2 big events going on here in the Smokies and the most expensive one is only $2 a carload!

This weekend we have activities going on in Cosby Tennessee and Walland Tennessee both evens are in sight of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and both Smokies events are a few minutes drive from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee.

The first event this weekend actually started today at the Cosby visitors center on 321 at the Moonshine Capital of the world Cosby TN - the 11th annual On Cosby outdoor festival.

Here at the On Cosby festival for the price of parking which goes to the local fire department, you an enjoy live musical shows, dancing, demonstrations, talent shows, events and free games for the kids, antique tractor and car show, story telling and so much more. On Cosby Festival Schedule.

The On Cosby show is a great way to meet and mingle with the locals from the Smoky Mountains and is the best family friendly entertainment value of the year - perfect for everyone whether you are on a budget or not.

You will also see local artwork and handicrafts and there are plenty of booths to shop for bargains and taste some locally made food. Be sure to bring back some of the locally delicacy: sourwood honey!

Further down 321 a short drive past the Foothill Parkway you will find the Carver families Apple groves and their retail store which features more apple varieties than you have ever seen before - most locally grown and tasting is encouraged.

People drive up as far away as Alabama during apple season to buy apples as well as their famous fried apple pies. Be sure to pick up a gallon on fresh pressed apple cider - it delicious and unpasteurized for a full bodied flavor.

On the other end of the Great Smoky Mountains national park 12 miles west of the Townsend entrance and 11 miles east of Maryville the national park service will be holding a open house Autumn Leaf driving tour on the Foothills Parkway.

The Foothills Parkway is a stunning section of roadway that is meant to stretch from the east end of the park to the west on the Tennessee side connecting the Towns of Cosby from I 40, Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg, Wears Valley, Townsend, Walland and ending up on 129.

There is also a section of the Foothills Parkway known as the Spur which connects Gatlinburg with Pigeon Forge and has a short cut via a bypass into the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

The Foothills Parkway has some of the most beautiful scenery in the South Eastern US that can be seen from any roadway and is maintained and patrolled by the national park service.

Even though the construction of this road started in the 1970's, only parts of the Foothills Parkway are finished because of construction problems and budgetary issues.

2 sections of this incomplete road just need to have a so called Missing Link connecting both these sections of the Foothills Parkway finished which is expected to be done by some time in 2009.

Since the fall colors are starting to peak here in the Great Smoky Mountains the national park service will be opening one of these sections to motorists this weekend so they can enjoy the beauty of this road while being enveloped by the beautiful fall colors of the Smokies.

Drivers will be allowed to ride on the Foothills Parkway from 9 am to 3 pm this Saturday and Sunday and the entrance is at the Foothills Parkway interchange off US 321 where you will be directed.