Journey East, sampling the best waterways and whiskeys the rolling hills have to offer
It’s summer, and here in Tennessee, that means it is hot-really hot. Since we’ve got more daylight than we know what to do with, cool off with us as we journey through East TN sampling the best waterways and whiskeys.
A standard bottle of whiskey contains up to 60% water. It makes sense, then, that whatever water is used to make a bottle of whiskey, greatly impacts our experience of the whiskey we’re drinking. If you tour one of the many distilleries in our area, you’ll likely be close to some sort of water source. Is it by chance? Absolutely not. Many distillers will tell you that what makes TN Whiskey so special is the water from which was derived, making location near a water source essential.
In our opinion, there’s no better way to cool off during a hot Tennessee summer than to journey East, sampling the best waterways and whiskeys the rolling hills have to offer. Be sure to bring those passports along for the stamping!
Knoxville
Distilleries: Post Modern Distillery, Knox Whiskey Works
Swim and Paddle: Mead Quarry, Augusta Quarry
Paddle: The TN River with Knox Adventure Collective
Knoxville is known as a nature loving, adventure seeking, artsy kind of town. Knoxville has no shortage of adventures. Literally, the “Urban Wilderness” can be found less than five miles outside of the city in. every. direction. Hike, bike, climb, paddle, or just wander in the woods with over 1k designated natural, green acreage.
Fort Dickerson Park is a hidden gem for explorers. The area boasts tons of mountain bike and hiking trails along the sides of the beautiful Augusta Quarry. Here you can paddle, swim and freedive in the old limestone quarry where it reaches depths of almost 300 feet!
Just across town, you’ll find Knoxville’s very own wildlife sanctuary, Ijams Nature Center. It’s filled with 10 parks, 40 miles of multi-use trails, four civil war sites, incredible views and Mead’s Quarry Lake where you can rent kayaks and swim in designated areas.
One of the highlights of our trip was the time we spent with The Knox Adventure Collective. It’s the perfect hub for those just visiting the city without gear. They. Have. It. All. From mountain bikes and street bikes, to kayaks and paddle boards – The Knox Adventure Collective offers rentals, guided tours and classes just for you or your entire family.
Of course, no trip to Knoxville is complete without a trip to Knox Whiskey Works and Post Modern Spirits. Though located close in proximity, Knox Whiskey Works and Post Modern Spirits couldn’t be more different. Knox Whiskey Works is a small batch craft distillery located in the heart of the city. They work with local farmers and artisans to create unique spirits representative of East Tennessee. Post Modern Spirits, where artistry and chemistry intersect. There’s no shortage of creativity and fresh takes on liquor here, they are truly offering up something different to the world of spirits.
Townsend
Distillery: Company Distilling
Fish, Swim and Float: The Little River
Hike: Spruce Flat Falls ( Easy / 2 miles roundtrip), Laurel Falls ( Moderate / 2.6 miles), Abrams Falls ( Hard / 5 miles roundtrip)
Townsend was a welcomed breath of fresh air and a far cry from what we’ve come to know of The Smokies and the touristy likes of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. If you are finding yourself craving a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle, I couldn’t recommend a trip to The Peaceful Side of The Smokies any more.
Go on an adventure: Where do we even start? The Little River in Townsend is quite popular for fishing and in the summer, the waterways will be lined with folks splashing around and tubing in the crystal clear cold waters. Just on the border of the small town lies Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the ever so scenic Cades Cove historic settlement.
Waterfalls: GSMNP is home to over 200 waterfalls, many of which can be seen on the scenic drive winding through the mountains. One especially scenic stop was Spruce Flat Falls. If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend this easy, 2 mile round trip hike! Longer hikes, just a short drive from Townsend will take you to Laurel and Abrams Falls.
Of course, though known as “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies”, there is no true relaxation without a little whiskey after a long day in the woods. Stamp your passport at Company Distilling that features a 4,000 s.f. tasting room along the Little River at the base of The Smokies. More than a tasting room… have a sip and stay awhile!
Sevierville
Distilleries: TN Legend Distillery and Old Tennessee Distilling
Fish, Swim and Boat: Douglas Lake, Little Pigeon River
Hike: Cataract Falls ( Easy / .5 miles roundtrip), Laurel Falls (Moderate / 2.6 miles) Rainbow Falls (Hard / 5.5 miles roundtrip)
South of Smoky Mountain National Park lies the city of Sevierville, located just outside of the Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge area. The Gateway to the Smokies is just that and a nice reprieve from the big, bright, flashy touristy areas just down the way. From waterfalls and flying high to relaxing lakeside, Sevierville is a short drive from a world of adventures.
Just a quick trip to the south side of Smoky Mountain National Park, is an easy half mile hike to the cascading, Cataract Falls! Looking for more falls to discover? Take a drive through the park where over 200 waterfalls have been mapped, many of which are located road side. Looking for longer waterfall hikes in the area? Try Rainbow or Laurel Falls!
Douglas lake and dam can be found in Sevierville, located at the foothills of The Smoky Mountains. The lake offers a variety of activities such as boating, paddling, fishing, camping and swimming but for us, it was a perfect spot to soak in the scenery and have a nice lunch far away from other people.
Stamp your passport: Chatting with the folks at Old Tennessee Distilling was like catching up with old friends. We would highly recommend doing a tasting and trying a little bit of everything – which includes an array of flavored moonshines, whiskey, rum, vodka, gin and infused fruits.
Cookeville
Distillery: TN Legend Distillery
Fish, Swim and Boat: Center Hill Lake
Paddle: Canoe the Caney River
Hike: City Lake & Falls (Easy / .5 miles roundtrip), Burgess Falls (Easy / 1.5 miles roundtrip) , Window Cliff Falls (Moderate / 5.3 miles roundtrip), Cummins Falls (permit required) (Challenging / 3 miles roundtrip)
In East Tennessee, you see bears everywhere but in Cookeville, just an hour east of Nashville and an hour west of Gatlinburg, they want you to BE the bear. Roam. Explore. Get dirty. Be free. Cookeville Tennessee is located on the Cumberland Plateau and with area hills, trails, caves, lakes, rivers and waterfalls – it’s the perfect place to seek adventure along the TN Whiskey Trail!
Go on an adventure: With no shortages of adventures to be found in Cookeville we really had to narrow down our list of to do’s in town. We stopped by the highly recommended Dogwood Park and stumbled onto the lesser known City Lake and Falls trail. After a short walk along a stream we were greeted by a wall of lightly flowing waterfalls. This hidden gem is a MUST SEE on your stop in Cookeville. It’s a perfect place to have lunch, bring the pup and splash around!
Looking for a longer hike? We highly recommend checking out other falls on The Cumberland Plateau such as Burgess, Cummins, Window Cliff or Rock Island!
Stamp your passport: Grab that passport and head into town. There you’ll find Tennessee Legend Distillery at Maddux Place. Sip on several offerings with a tasting of flavored moonshines, whiskeys and rums and while you are there, sit back and enjoy a libation at their newly opened Cocktail bar!
Codie Gentry, Content Creator
Codie Gentry is a native Tennessean, avid adventurer and digital storyteller. She is a published journalist who helped to found a millennial print magazine for USAT where she created daily itineraries and outdoor focused digital content.
