One of the most important things you need before exploring the hiking trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the proper gear! You will find several stores in Gatlinburg that have everything you need for your hike, including backpacks, apparel, water bottles, and even trail guides! Here are the top 3 stores in Gatlinburg TN that you need to visit before hitting the hiking trails:
1. Nantahala Outdoor Center
The Nantahala Outdoor Center is a massive store that sits at the downtown Gatlinburg entrance into Great Smoky Mountains National Park and carries everything necessary for excursions into the Smokies! One of the most popular areas of the store is the North Face Summit Shop, where you will find 1,000 feet of floor space exclusively dedicated to this well known outdoor brand. The Nantahala Outdoor Center also offers a fun shopping experience with unique features such as a swinging rope bridge, a kid-friendly bear cave, and a huge fireplace for warming up on chilly days!
2. Great Outdoors Trading Company
Another one of the top stores in Gatlinburg TN you need to visit before hitting the hiking trails is the Great Outdoors Trading Company ! Just getting to this store is part of the fun as it is located at the top of Anakeesta, where you will also find an exciting selection of amusements, activities, and restaurants! The Great Outdoors Trading Company is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts because it features a wide selection of daypacks and books about the Smokies. While browsing the store, you can also get some souvenir shopping done as the store offers a diverse array of unique mugs, magnets, custom bear figurines, and other specialty items!
3. The Day Hiker
If you find yourself strolling along the streets of downtown Gatlinburg, be sure to take a detour into the Village Shops where you will find The Day Hiker ! This store is a hiker’s dream as it features everything you could possibly need for a successful day on the trails, including a variety of hiking staffs, trekking poles, water carriers, daypacks, hats, maps, and trail guides! There are plenty of other essential items available as well, all at prices that are easy on your budget! The Day Hiker also features a big selection of Great Smoky Mountains National Park t-shirts and outdoor gift ideas too!
Planning on going hiking this summer? Check out these top hiking trails near Gatlinburg you should try this summer!
Where to Stay
Stay just minutes away from these stores in Gatlinburg TN with a vacation at our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals! Our affordable cabins are situated in spectacular locations within the Smokies but are still close to everything that downtown Gatlinburg has to offer! After an action packed day of hiking through the mountains, you can look forward to returning to our cabins for a relaxing soak in the bubbling hot tub or a restful evening by the fireplace! Our cabins also feature comfortable bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, game rooms, and much more!
Check out all our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to stay near these stores in Gatlinburg TN where you can gear up for your hiking adventures! We look forward to seeing you soon!