Twenty miles east of Gatlinburg is a whole different scene to the Smoky Mountains, one anchored by artsy Cosby, chill Newport and the rafting utopia of Hartford. Cocke County is known as the Adventure Side of the Smokies for good reason. With three rivers, four state national forests and Douglas Lake—one of East Tennessee’s most popular lake recreation areas—this slice of mountainous countryside prides itself on providing Tennessee visitors with ample outdoor opportunities that take your breath away.
Packrafting the French Broad River – 2 Day Paddle Adventure
The mud from the crudely cut road flew into the air on either side of the SUV. We were slowly making our way parallel to the French Broad River on a prime piece of property being developed into a campground. The goal was to get on the river close to the Tennessee/North Carolina border but the road was presenting an early and unexpected challenge. The last thing we wanted was to get stuck and have to walk all our gear to the put-in. Luckily, the road was just cooperative enough…
