Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-232477
When Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion reopens
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
2
Only 2 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026 · of 2 monitored sites
Of the 76 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026): 45 open for online reservation · 29 reserved · 2 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
40.8% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 45 of 76 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 25, 2026Not open online40.8%
Open reservation dates45 / 76
Reserved (of online inventory)29 / 74
Weekday openings32
Weekend openings13
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 32 fall on weekdays and 13 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 35 of 50 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 day-use units| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| 4-8PM | 26 |
| 7AM-3:30PM | 19 |
The 2 day-use units with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
45 available reservation dates across 2 day-use units at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 2 day-use units with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-8PM | 26 | 8 dates | Sep 21, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +14 more |
| 7AM-3:30PM | 19 | 5 dates | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 9, Oct 12, Oct 13 +7 more |
About Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion
Overview
Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this picnic pavilion creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Recreation
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, offering over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from the picnic area. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities.
Visitors can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.
Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy.
The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park.
Facilities
Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 70 guests and offers a covered eating area and multiple grills, making it an ideal location for a party or family get-together.
The pavilion may be reserved for a morning or evening block, so visitors who wish to use the area for a full day should reserve both time slots.
Natural Features
World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Metcalf Bottoms never disappoints.
At 1,700 feet, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early European settlements in the 1800s, the park strives to protect its historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.
Nearby Attractions
Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 11 miles from the picnic area. Visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more, are all offered.
2 monitored unitsDay use2 shadedPets OKMax party 70
Getting there
There is no street address for the picnic pavilion Pavilion is 15 miles west of Gatlinburg, TN on Little River Road. Take Newfound Gap Road (akaUS441) south from Gatlinburg and turn west on Little River Road (TN73) at the Sugarlands Visitors Center. Go 10 miles and turn right at picnic area sign. Picnic pavilion is on west side of picnic area.
Mailing Address Is 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738865-436-1261
CampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232477 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232477 · Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion · Gatlinburg TN7 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?
Reservations for Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion are made through Recreation.gov. 45 of 76 tracked reservation dates are currently open (59.2%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 2 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?
October 2026, with 35 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 50.
When is the next open date at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion.
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.