Raccoons in the Great Smoky Mountains

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its great diversity of species, including 65 species of mammals. The raccoon, known as the “masked bandit” is an intelligent, mostly nocturnal mammal. Fully grown, raccoons weigh from 8-14 pounds, and live up to 7 years old. They feed on many aquatic species such as frogs or crayfish, and the nests of both birds and turtles. In the fall, acorns are the food of choice, helping build up their fat stores for the winter. Raccoons can be found from Canada to Central America and have an average home range of 200-500 acres, mostly along stream courses. You can help raccoons stay wild by keeping your trash put away, as they are frequent visitors to camprounds, such as Elkmont, or Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or Up the Creek RV Camp in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Synchronous Firefly Viewing at Elkmont

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Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the Elkmont Campground located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to witness the naturally occurring phenomenon of “Photinus carolinas,” a firefly species known for flashing synchronously. There are 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but Photinus carolinas is the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns.

Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are beetles. Their light patterns are part of their mating display. Each species of firefly has a characteristic flash pattern that helps its male and female individuals recognize each other. Most species produce a greenish-yellow light. The males fly and flash and the usually stationary females respond with a flash.
It is not understood why the fireflies flash synchronously. The fireflies do not always flash in unison, and instead flash in waves across hillsides, and at other times will flash randomly. Synchrony occurs in short bursts that end with abrupt periods of darkness.

The firefly shuttle operating dates are June 2-9, 2015. Advance reservations of parking passes have sold out, however, 85 parking passes will be available for each day of the event. These 85 passes will go on sale online at 10:00 a.m. the day before the event. Passes can be purchased online at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. During the program operating dates, a parking pass is required for evening access tp the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot and the firefly shuttle to the Elkmont viewing Area.

Elkmont is not the only place to view synchronous fireflies. On many occasions, synchronous fireflies have made an appearance at Up the Creek RV Camp in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Great Smoky Mountains Waterfalls – Mingo Falls

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Mingo Falls on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, located just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a lesser-known gem! The 120 ft waterfall is one of the tallest and most spectacular in the southern Appalachians. Of all the hikes to Great Smoky Mountains Waterfalls, this one is relatively short, being only 0.4 miles in length, one-way. However, it is considered moderate to difficult, since it is all stair-climbing from the trailhead.

To reach the trail head: from Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south (toward Cherokee) on US-441 and take the second left onto Big Cove Road. At the first stop sign turn left and drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground, where the trail begins. Mingo Falls is an amazingly scenic day-trip from Up the Creek RV Camp in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. One of our large, scenic full-hookup sites is a great base camp for all of your Great Smoky Mountain adventures!

Cades Cove – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Up the Creek RV Camp

Up the Creek RV Camp is a great base camp for visiting Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades Cove is popular for auto-touring, hiking, bicycling, wild life viewing and photography. An 11-mile paved loop road winds through this scenic mountain valley dotted with original pioneer cabins, businesses and churches dating back to the early 1800’s. Visitors may choose among several stops and pull offs along the loop road to tour these original structures and homesteads, view wildlife, or take pictures. The loop road is open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting.

The entrance to Cades Cove is 26 miles from Up the Creek RV Camp, (14 of the miles being within the Smoky Mountains National Park) and can be accessed from the RV Camp through Hwy 321/Wears Valley Rd. through Townsend, TN, without having to wait through Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg traffic.

There are also several trailheads accessed through Cades Cove, such as the 5-mile round trip hike to Abrahams Falls or the shorter Cades Cove nature trail. The Cades Cove loop is also enjoyed by bicycling enthusiasts, being one of the few areas for biking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The National Park Service closes the loop road through Cades Coveto motorized vehicles on Wednesdays and Sundays until 10 a.m., making a perfect opportunity for a quiet, motor-free bicycle trip. For a shorter, less strenuous trip, visitors may choose to take Hyatt or Sparks Lane, cutting out most of the hills on the loop road.

After a full day of visiting Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, your spacious, full hookup RV site at Up the Creek RV Camp, awaits you. We take pride in our quiet, yet convenient setting that is close to the dining, shopping and amusement options that Pigeon Forge, TN, has to offer, without having to camp amidst the downtown noise and traffic. Of all the Pigeon Forge RV or Gatlinburg RV campgrounds, Up the Creek RV Camp has the most spacious RV camp sites in the Smokies.

Pigeon Forge Campground Volunteer Opportunities

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We are currently seeking volunteer work-camping couples for the 2021 Season (March-Jan 3) at Up the Creek RV Camp for 2-3 days per week. We ask for at least a 4 month commitment. We offer a (30 or 50 amp) FHU site with Wi-Fi, cable TV, fire-ring, picnic table and large concrete patio!

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with Up the Creek RV Camp, please email your resumes (PDF format), references and photos of you and rig to alison@upthecreekrvcamp.com.

No phone calls, please.