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Rachel Wilhelm

A horseback guide in the mountains of East Tennessee. When I'm not riding, I'm fly fishing. I support naptime, beards, deep woods, rivers, streams, lakes, and mountains.

What an amazing way to cool off after a day of hiking and exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway! If you're there in the summer, prepare to wait in line but it's well worth it!

This is by far one of my favorite hikes in the smokies. Going in the fall is always my favorite, but beating the crowds can be challenging. The traffic on the Cades cove loop can be crazy this time of year. For the most adventurous, the road is closed to car traffic on Wednesday and Saturday mornings which can be fun to bike to the trailhead. Expect to hike between 3 and 4 hours round trip and bring a camera. The falls ate exceptionally beautiful.