Millions of people come to Pigeon Forge, TN each fall to see the area’s spectacular natural beauty. Located just a short drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge offers some of the best autumn foliage in the nation. In addition to the changing leaves, the Smoky Mountain area also hosts a variety of excellent seasonal events that you definitely don’t want to miss. For your convenience, Valley Forge Inn has put together a guide to planning a fall vacation at our Pigeon Forge Tennessee hotel:

Schedule Your Getaway to Coincide with the Fall Colors

With 100 species of native trees in the Smokies, the Pigeon Forge area erupts in vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges each fall. As you schedule your trip, try to coordinate your getaway with the changing of the leaves.

While weather conditions can affect the timing of the autumn foliage, “peak season” in the lower elevations typically occurs around the last two weeks of October and the first week of November. If you can’t make it to Pigeon Forge during this period, you can still catch the fall leaves earlier in the season. Leaves in the higher elevations of the mountains typically change around late September or mid-October, which makes this period of time great for visiting Clingmans Dome or other tall vantage points.

Choose the Right Room

Once you have selected the dates for your vacation, it’s time to choose your room! Valley Forge Inn has an excellent variety of Pigeon Forge Tennessee hotel rooms, offering units with a King bed, two Queen beds, two double beds, and even a townhouse. For a fall vacation, consider choosing a room with a private balcony, so you can enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery from the comfort of your home away from home. Most of our rooms come with balconies, but to be sure you’re getting the exact view you desire, feel free to give our friendly staff a call.

Attend Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration

Every October, Dollywood hosts the National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration. Throughout the month, the theme park celebrates the fall season with over 350 concerts from some of the biggest names in southern gospel music. Best of all, the concerts are completely free with park admission.

In addition to all of the wonderful music, Dollywood also hosts more than 40 talented artisans who perform craft demonstrations around the park. Some of the handmade products you can expect to see at the Harvest Celebration include wood carvings, paintings, pottery, textiles, jewelry, and more. Valley Forge Inn is just ten minutes away from all of the fun at Dollywood!

Go for a Hike in the National Park

The comfortably cool weather and beautiful scenery makes fall one of the best times to go hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are some of our favorite trails for an autumn hike:

• Mt. LeConte (late September)
• Andrews Bald (late September)
• Spence Field (early – mid October)
• Gregory Bald (early – mid October)
• Alum Cave (mid – late October)
• Porters Creek Trail (mid – late October)
• Abrams Falls (early November)
• Schoolhouse Gap (early November)

As you can see, there is no shortage of fun to have in the Smokies this fall! To learn about everything our Pigeon Forge Tennessee hotel has to offer, visit the Valley Forge Inn amenities page.