If you’re planning to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park and access the park from the Gatlinburg entrance, make your first stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center! This outdoor superstore sits right outside the entrance and has everything you need to prepare for an active day of hiking, including the best selection of outdoor gear, apparel, and equipment in the area! You’ll also find a unique shopping experience that is fun for all ages! Here are the top 4 reasons to start your National Park visit at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg:
1. Gear Up for Your Hiking Adventures
The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg is the perfect place to gear up for your hiking adventures in the Smokies! This massive 18,000-square-foot store stocks an extensive array of essential gear for both hiking and camping, including top brands like The North Face, Columbia, and Patagonia! Whether you forgot to pack an item for your vacation, want to pick up a new backpack, or try out some hiking poles, you’re sure to find it here! If you can’t find anything, the store offers excellent customer service and a friendly team member would be happy to help out!
2. Experience the Unique Shopping Environment
Another one of the reasons to start your National Park visit at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg is to get your family excited about the full day ahead! You’ll quickly discover that this is not just a retail store, but an experience that is a fun part of any Smoky Mountain vacation! In addition to shopping, you can walk across the second-floor swinging rope bridge, crawl through a kid-friendly “bear cave”, relax by a giant fireplace, and even attempt the 25-foot tall climbing wall! This is one store where you definitely won’t have to be concerned about the kids being bored!
3. Plan a White Water Rafting Excursion
The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg also serves as the premier adventure outfitter in the Smoky Mountains, so there is no better place to plan your white water rafting trip on the Pigeon River! For many families, rafting in the Pigeon Gorge represents the pinnacle of their Smoky Mountain experience and the team at the Nantahala Outdoor Center is ready to help book your trip! You can choose from an Upper Pigeon River trip for an action-packed trip with thrilling class III rapids or go for the Lower Pigeon River trip for a leisurely float ride!
4. Convenient Location at the Park Entrance
You don’t have to worry about going out of your way to stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg! The store is conveniently located right at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the famous Gatlinburg Parkway! It is open from 10 AM to 6 PM daily, so start your morning here and get ready for an amazing day in the National Park!
Learn more about other local places to gear up for hiking in the Smoky Mountains!
After gearing up for your hiking adventures at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Gatlinburg, it’s time to hit the trails! If this is your first time visiting the National Park, here are a few of the best Smoky Mountain hiking trails you have to try!
