5 Top Things To Do in Wears Valley in 2026, According to a Local

A Smoky Mountain local shares his favorite things to do in Wears Valley, Tennessee

Growing up, I mostly treated Wears Valley as a negative space. It was a scenic drive at best, connecting the quiet side of the Smokies near my home with Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. It was a place you drove through to get to other more interesting things. But the scenery was something spectacular. The effect of Cove Mountain’s peak rising 2,000 ft. from the valley’s floor is breathtaking.

But in the last few years, business leaders have recognized the value of land between Pigeon Forge and Townsend. The valley is now a strange conglomeration of all the things people love about the Smokies distilled into a melting pot of RV parks, kitschy stores, independent foodie restaurants and thrill-seeking endeavors. But you might be asking, what is there to do for those on a family vacation or romantic getaway in Wears Valley? Friend, there is everything to do in Wears Valley. Below are a few of my favorites.

Wears Valley, between Pigeon Forge and Townsend near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is growing in popularity and attractions. There are more things to do there now than a decade ago. You can sample moonshine at Tennessee Shine Co., go ziplining, eat Cajun food at Pawpaw’s or picnic along the Little River at Metcalf Bottoms.

1. Get your shine on at Tennessee Shine Co.

At this point, it seems like every resident of the Smoky Mountains is legally obligated to own and operate a distillery. Two things happen when you’re born. First, you’re signed up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and you get free books each month until you’re five years old. Second, you’re given the title and deed to your own Smoky Mountain moonshine operation to be opened on the occasion of your 21st birthday (alert reader, this is sarcasm).

It is a little incongruous for there to be a moonshine tasting room in Wears Valley. I mean sure, the valley certainly hosted its shares of authentic moonshine stills over the years, but it was also settled by hard people with little time or patience for frivolity. I think about the Walker sisters and the other early settlers who lived in the valley. They were Primitive Baptists. They didn’t hold with such things as dancing and certainly not drinking. I, however, am not a Primitive Baptist and I like to dance and occasionally, drink. When I drink, I am significantly more likely to dance. So a moonshine tasting room like Tennessee Shine Co. is right up my valley.

Tennessee Shine Co. (the moonshine maker formerly branded Tennessee XXX) calls its Wears Valley store its first-ever brick-and-mortar location. Stop in for a moonshine and wine tasting, and add a bourbon tasting for $5. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tennessee Shine Co. is located at 3303 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.

2. Explore Harper Bros. Mountain

Welcome to Harper Bros. Mountain, one of the newer attractions in Wears Valley. The heart of it is a family-owned general store with local goods, homemade treats, fresh coffee, souvenirs and antiques. In the store, you can find a wide variety of clothing and mountain items of classic (honey) and less classic (Smoky Mountain Southern-style salsa) varieties. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to Harper Bros. Mountain.

Right behind the store is The Hawk Skylift, a 2,800-foot ride and the only one of its kind in the Valley. At the top, you’ll find the “Hawk’s Nest” with rockers, swings and complimentary water. It’s almost like a tiny Anakeesta without the multi-million dollar budget. Heads up: when we checked in November 2026, the Harper Bros. website listed the skylift as temporarily closed, so check before you go. We’ve taken out the old skylift and horseback riding prices until we can confirm current ones. Harper Bros. is located at 4149 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.

3. Go on a zipline adventure

Soar high above the forest at Wears Valley Zipline Adventure on some of the longest and highest ziplines in the region. The six lines cover more than 6,200 feet combined, reach up to 300 feet high and fly over 43 private acres with views of Mt. LeConte and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A tour takes about 1.5 hours. The maximum weight for the ride is 275 lbs and riders must be at least 5 years old. Riders between 5 and 7 must ride tandem with a guide. As of November 2026, the six-line tour starts at $69.95 per person, and prices vary by date. You can also check the zipline’s other website for coupons and early bird or sunset tours. Wears Valley Zipline is located at 1911 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.

4. Eat at Pawpaw’s Catfish Kitchen

There are a lot of interesting dining destinations in Wears Valley. None surpasses Pawpaw’s Catfish Kitchen, a self-styled no-frills Cajun restaurant. Catfish. Boudin Balls. Gumbo. Po’ Boys. Etouffee. Chef Chris learned his culinary skills on a Louisiana tug boat in the Gulf. You know what they say. If you can cook on a tugboat, you can cook anywhere. Save room for the house specialty, New Orleans white chocolate bread pudding. Pawpaw’s is open Wednesday through Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and is closed Sunday through Tuesday. Closing time can change with the season, so check Pawpaw’s hours page before you go. Pawpaw’s is located at 2760 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.

5. Picnic and go water tubing at Metcalf Bottoms

One of the premier cookout areas in the Smokies, the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area was what first brought me to Wears Valley 30 years ago. Great for family get-togethers, playing in the water and tubing when the water’s high enough, Metcalf Bottoms isn’t as well known outside of the area as some other picnic grounds, but it’s beautiful and accessible. It’s a lovely area along the Little River and is also home to the Metcalf Bottoms Trail. It’s one of the under-appreciated gems of the Smokies. And it’s a great place to enjoy some packed sandwiches and take in the beauty of the mountains. To get to the picnic area, just type Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Rd N, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 into your GPS.

A few things to know before you go, from the National Park Service:

• The picnic area has 122 sites and sits at 1,680 feet. Part of the south loop is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The north loop, the pavilion and the rest of the south loop are open from mid-April to late October.
• Dumpsters are removed from late October to late March, so pack out all your trash. The pavilion holds up to 70 people and can be reserved on Recreation.gov.
• The Metcalf bridge has a 10-ton weight limit. Buses, motorhomes and trailers aren’t allowed.
• You’ll need a park parking tag if you park for more than 15 minutes. Tags cost $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year.
• Fishing in the Little River requires a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. Wood fires aren’t allowed; the grills are for charcoal.

If you get in the water, be careful. Rivers in the park can be dangerous, especially after rain, so read up on the dangers in the Smoky Mountains first. Nearby, the Metcalf Bottoms and Elkmont area also has a preserved homesite and schoolhouse to explore, and the Walker Sisters Place isn’t far.

More things to do in Wears Valley

Grab dinner at Wears Valley Social Food Truck Park

Can’t agree on dinner? Wears Valley Social Food Truck Park brings a rotating lineup of local food trucks to one spot, plus a bar with local craft beer and cider, roomy seating with a view and a playground beside the dining area. It’s open from 12 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, from mid-March through mid-November, so late-season visitors should check the calendar for the daily truck lineup. It’s located at 3209 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.

See the fall colors

With Cove Mountain rising over the valley, Wears Valley is a pretty place for fall leaves. The National Park Service says the best color at lower and mid elevations, below 4,000 feet, often comes between mid-October and early November, though the timing changes from year to year. Metcalf Bottoms, at 1,680 feet, is an easy low-elevation drive from the valley. For this year’s outlook, see our 2026 Smokies fall foliage guide.

Find a place to stay

Wears Valley has plenty of cabin rentals, and staying here puts you between Pigeon Forge and Townsend. If you’re deciding what kind of place to book, read our guide to cabins vs. hotels in the Smoky Mountains or browse the best mountain view cabins in Pigeon Forge. Visiting during the holidays? Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is a short drive away in Pigeon Forge.

Before you go, check our list of things not to do in Wears Valley, and learn how Wears Valley got its name.

Wears Valley FAQ

Where is Wears Valley, Tennessee?

Wears Valley is in Sevier County, along Wears Valley Road between Pigeon Forge and Townsend. Businesses there use Sevierville addresses with the 37862 ZIP code. The valley borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

What is there to do in Wears Valley?

Popular stops include moonshine tastings at Tennessee Shine Co., Harper Bros. Mountain’s general store, the six-line zipline at Wears Valley Zipline Adventure, Cajun food at Pawpaw’s Catfish Kitchen, the Wears Valley Social Food Truck Park and picnics along the Little River at Metcalf Bottoms.

Is The Hawk Skylift at Harper Bros. open?

When we checked in November 2026, the Harper Bros. Mountain website listed the skylift as temporarily closed. The general store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Check the website before you go.

Do I need a parking tag at Metcalf Bottoms?

Yes. Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a parking tag for any vehicle parked for more than 15 minutes. Tags cost $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year.

When is the best time to see fall colors in Wears Valley?

The National Park Service says color at lower and mid elevations often peaks between mid-October and early November, but the exact timing changes every year.

What are your favorite things to do in Wears Valley? Let us know in the comments below!

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