Tennessee

Best summer hikes in East Tennessee: Places to cool off and take in the views

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2024

Best summer hikes in East Tennessee: Places to cool off and take in the views

As we have reached the middle of the summer, the time for outdoor activities is at its peak with a variety of activities to choose from to do.

With over 61 million people in the United States hiking at least once a year in 2023, there are plenty of people on the hunt for a new spot. East Tennessee has some of the most attractive hiking spots, ranging from higher altitude climbs to scenic overlooks to places where you can take a cooling dip to beat the heat.

Here are some places to try this summer:

Higher-altitude hikes

It’s hot in Tennessee, and sometimes the only way to cool off is to get high up into in the Great Smoky Mountains. Here are some trails that will get you up where the breezes will give you a break from the stifling heat.

Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the highest peak in Tennessee, and the Appalachian Trail runs right over the top. The peak is 6,643 feet.

There are a variety of long trails to take to reach the peak, including Forney Creek Trail, Noland Creak/Forney Ridge Trail, Noland Divide Trail, Little River Trail/Goshen Prong Trail, Sugar Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail at Fontana Dam.

You can also drive to the parking lot at the top and explore from there. The half-mile paved trail to the observation tower is an easy one. Andrews Bald is another trail from the Clingmans Dome parking lot. It’s 3.6 miles round trip and has gorgeous views.

Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the national park at 6,593 ft. The trails leading up to Mt. LeConte vary in difficulty.

The six trails leading to Mt. Leconte are the Alum Cave Trail, Boulevard Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Trillium Gap Trail, Bullhead Trail and Brushy Mountain Trail. They vary in length, too, but all reach the cool, breezy top. As a bonus, the LeConte Lodge has snacks, souvenirs and outhouses.

Hikes with views, even in the summer

Winter hikes in Tennessee have sweeping views when the lush trees lose their leaves. In the summer, you have to plan to make sure you’re able to catch those gorgeous sightlines.

House Mountain is the highest peak in Knox County and rises to an elevation of 2,064 feet. There are four main trails for hiking this wooded mountain ,and they add up to about 4.5 miles. The hike should take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete so make sure to be well prepared and have some good hiking shoes. The view of surrounding communities and mountain ranges is at the top.

Sharp’s Ridge Loop Trail at Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park in Knoxville is known for having one of the best views of the Smoky Mountains (without having to go there). The unpaved trail is 5.4 miles long and loops back to the start, averaging about an hour and 30 minutes. The high ridge takes you high over downtown for amazing city views.

Hiking trails where you can swim, too

After a hike through the woods, it is nice to have a place for a refreshing swim.

River Trail Loop at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville is an excellent mix between forest and water as the trail travels in the woods and alongside the Tennessee River. The trail is 1.3 miles long at a low elevation with an average of 30 minutes to complete. The location provides easy access to swimming opportunities with kayaking at the Ijams Riverside landing nearby Mead’s Quarry Lake for a cooling dip in the water. There are no lifeguards, however, and jumping of the cliffs is prohibited.

Littler River Trail in Townsend is another great opportunity for those looking for an easy hike and a fun place to swim. The trail is an easier one at about 5 miles with an elevation of just 412 feet. This location also offers excellent opportunity for swimming and tubing as the trail is located all along the Little River. It’s a summertime must for families and a place where childhood memories are made.

Metcalf Bottoms Trail an easy trail located in Gatlinburg with at a 100-foot elevation gain that should take less than an hour to complete at 1.2 miles round trip. Hiking is optional for those visiting Metcalf Bottoms because of its excellent picnic and swimming locations for those wanting a more relaxing ‒ and wetter ‒ excursion.

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Tennessee

L.L.Bean opens first Tennessee store in Franklin. See inside

Published

11 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

L.L.Bean opens first Tennessee store in Franklin. See inside

The boot has arrived. After months of anticipation, L.L.Bean opened its inaugural Tennessee location at Cool Springs Galleria mall in Franklin July 17.

To celebrate and spread the word, L.L.Bean’s 13-foot-tall Bootmobile boot-shaped vehicle made appearances throughout the Franklin area, including stops at The Franklin Butchery, Hank’s Coffee Station, Leiper’s Fork Distillery and a Nashville Sounds game.

“For generations, Tennesseans have shopped with L.L.Bean through our catalog and online channels, and we’re excited to finally bring the brand experience to life in Franklin,” said L.L.Bean District Manager Kenon Mitchell. “With its strong outdoor culture and growing community, Franklin is a natural home for L.L.Bean. We look forward to deepening our connection with longtime customers while introducing the brand to new audiences through our legendary service, quality products and outdoor expertise.”

Some fans of the Maine-based outdoor gear store arrived for the opening before dawn.

First in a line of about 150 people was Paul Smith, who got there at 3 a.m.

“We are super excited for this,” Smith said. “We always go up to their headquarters in Maine, so we know what L.L. Bean is and we love them.”

Smith was most excited to purchase some more of their equipment: “Their outdoor equipment is really great. Their backpacks are well known for being waterproof and long-lasting.”

L.L.Bean also made a $10,000 contribution to the Franklin Family YMCA. Since 2022, L.L.Bean has contributed more than $2.25 million to YMCA Summer Camp scholarships.

“We’re an all-American outdoor lifestyle program,” Mitchell said. No matter if you’re walking your dog, playing with your kids, or you’re hiking around, we’re providing the gear that helps to make that experience better. We’ve been around for 114 years and our stuff is really well crafted, that people have loved for years. We’re happy to bring this store to our current fans while bringing our store to more people.

L.L. Bean is located at 1800 Galleria Blvd. Suite 252 at Cool Springs Galleria. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

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Tennessee

State encouraging Paramount to come to Tennessee

Published

23 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

State encouraging Paramount to come to Tennessee

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Tennessee

How did your school district do? New TCAP scores released across Southeast Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

How did your school district do? New TCAP scores released across Southeast Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — New TCAP results are giving parents their first look at how students performed across Southeast Tennessee during the 2025-26 school year.

Among the districts in the Chattanooga area, Dayton City Schools posted the highest proficiency rates in English language arts and social studies, while Rhea County led the region in math.

Here’s how districts in the Tennessee portion of the NewsChannel 9 viewing area performed:

Hamilton County: