About Townsend Wye Pullouts
The Townsend Wye is the Y-shaped junction just inside the park where Little River Road meets the road to Cades Cove. Near it the Little River slows and widens, and a string of pull-offs puts you beside the water.
Why people stop
The river here is broad and shallow over gravel, and the banks are open. In summer it is a favorite place to wade, picnic and, outside the park boundary, to tube. In October the crowd thins. The water is clear and cold, hemlocks lean over the bank, and yellow leaves float on the surface. It is one of the easiest places in the park to touch the river without a hike.
The geography
The Wye is where the park's main western roads split. Laurel Creek Road climbs 7 miles to Cades Cove, and Little River Road runs east 18 miles to Sugarlands and Gatlinburg. The Townsend entrance is the least crowded of the main entrances, and it has a visitor center in town and the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.
Visiting
- Parking: several small pull-offs along the river near the junction. A parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes.
- Facilities: restrooms are at the Townsend visitor center and in town.
- Water safety: current can be faster than it looks after rain. Do not swim in the park's gorge sections.
- Season: the road is open year-round, weather permitting.
Planning around it
If you are headed to Cades Cove, the loop is open sunrise to sunset, and the Wye is where you decide between the cove and Little River Road. The river stop makes a good break from the loop traffic. Wednesdays from May 6 to September 30, 2026, the loop is closed to cars, and Townsend is the best base for riding in.
Good to know
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.