Metcalf Bottoms, located between Gatlinburg and Townsend, is one of the most popular picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains. With picnic tables scattered along the Little Greenbrier River and convenient access to swimming and tubing, Metcalf Bottoms is the quintessential mountain swimming hole and is an excellent way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.
One of the many things that draws visitors to Metcalf Bottoms is convenient access to the Little Greenbrier River. From families with fishing poles looking for trout to teenagers going tubing, there's plenty to do on the river. You may want to go rock hopping - just be careful you don't fall in since some of the rocks are slick. There are also several swimming holes along the river. I'd like to offer one caveat, though. If you visit Metcalf Bottoms in summer and spend much time at the river it is likely you will spot at least one water snake (especially if you're looking for them) I don't think I've ever been to Metcalf Bottoms when I haven't seen at least one or two snakes. The good news is that they are not poisonous and are actively afraid of people. So if you have a strong aversion to snakes you may want to stay out of the water here.
In addition to rock hopping and swimming in the river, Metcalf Bottoms offers plenty more to do. Just across the bridge from the picnic area is a trail that leads to the Little Greenbrier schoolhouse. The trail is only a half mile or so and leads through the woods. While I have taken a stroller on it, I wouldn't recommend doing so unless absolutely necessary since there are copious roots and rocks in the trail and you will have to carry the stroller over some of the worst spots. If you don't want to walk off your picnic lunch you can also drive to the school. Just cross the bridge and follow the road about half a mile to a gravel road on the right leading to the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse still contains the desks and blackboard left there when it was last in use in the 1930's. Grades 1-8 were taught at Greenbrier school by a single teacher. During summer months in the past the National Park Service has offered presentations on mountain schooling. Information on the 2008 schedule should be available here by the end of March. On the hillside just outside the schoolhouse you will find an old community cemetary. Feel free to wander through the cemetary paying respects to the mountain folks who settled this area.
If you have a few extra hours to spend in Metcalf Bottoms visit the Walker Sisters' homesite. The trailhead to their home is located off the parking lot for the Greenbrier Schoolhouse. The sisters were some of the last living residents inside what is now the National Park. When the federal government decided to establish a national park in the Smokies the five sisters refused to sell their land. They eventually came to an agreement with the government whereby they sold their land but retained a lifetime lease on the property. The Walker sisters claimed their land produced everything they needed except sugar, coffee, soda and salt. And until the last sister passed away in 1964 they farmed the land while supplementing their efforts with the sale of souvenirs to tourists.
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