Fall has a way of changing the pace in East Tennessee. The air cools, the mountains trade their summer greens for shades of red, orange, and gold, and a drive through the Smokies becomes part of the destination. If you’re planning a fall trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail gives you another reason to take the scenic route. Traveling through Sevierville, Wears Valley, and Townsend, the trail connects four stops where visitors can sample Tennessee-made wine and cider while exploring some of the most scenic communities near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pair a few tastings with a drive to see the fall leaves, and you have an easy way to spend a day or weekend in the Smokies.
Meet the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail
The Foothills Wine & Cider Trail brings together four East Tennessee destinations: Apple Barn Hard Cider, Cades Cove Cellars Townsend, Cades Cove Cellars Wears Valley, and XXX Cider Co. Each stop offers something a little different, making the trail an opportunity to experience the variety of wine and cider being made in the region.
Apple Barn Hard Cider
Located at the Apple Barn Village in Sevierville, Apple Barn Hard Cider is a fitting place to start a fall trip through the foothills. Apples have long been at the heart of the Apple Barn experience, and the Cider House gives visitors a chance to explore them in another form. Its Sevierville location also makes it an easy addition to a day spent exploring the area before heading farther into Wears Valley and Townsend.
Cades Cove Cellars Wears Valley
Continue toward the mountains, and you’ll find Cades Cove Cellars Wears Valley. Cades Cove Cellars is a family-run winery backed by generations of winemaking experience. The Wears Valley location puts visitors in one of the Smokies’ most scenic communities, surrounded by mountain views and within easy reach of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In the fall, the drive itself is worth making. Wears Valley sits between Townsend and Pigeon Forge, offering a quieter route through the foothills as the surrounding ridges begin to change color.
Cades Cove Cellars Townsend
Head farther into Townsend to visit the original Cades Cove Cellars tasting room. The winery was founded by the Birkholz and Reed families, whose combined winemaking experience spans decades. Visitors can stop in for a tasting and get a closer look at the winemaking process, including views of the winery’s tank room and bottling operations. Its Townsend location also makes it an especially convenient stop before or after exploring Cades Cove, Little River Road or the Foothills Parkway.
XXX Cider Co.
Rounding out the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail is XXX Cider Co., where Appalachian tradition is a major part of the experience. Founded in 2015, the company produces regional wines and ciders alongside its Tennessee spirits. With locations in the Smokies, XXX Cider Co. offers another taste of East Tennessee and an easy addition to a day spent exploring the Pigeon Forge and Sevierville area.
Pair the Trail With Some of the Best Fall Colors in the Smokies
One of the advantages of exploring the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail in autumn is its proximity to some of the most popular places to see fall foliage in East Tennessee. Fall color in Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not arrive everywhere at once. Because of the park’s wide range in elevation, leaves typically begin changing at higher elevations before color gradually moves into the lower elevations over the following weeks. That means there are plenty of opportunities to find fall color throughout the season.
Drive the Foothills Parkway
For mountain views without committing to a long hike, add the Foothills Parkway to your itinerary. The section between Walland and Wears Valley stretches nearly 15 miles and includes several overlooks with expansive views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Wears Valley. It’s a natural pairing with the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail, especially if you’re traveling between the Wears Valley and Townsend stops. During fall, give yourself extra time to pull over at the overlooks and enjoy the changing landscape.
Make the Loop Through Cades Cove
Few places are as closely associated with fall in the Smokies as Cades Cove. The 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road travels through a broad valley surrounded by mountains. Along the way, visitors can see historic structures, open fields, mountain views, and wildlife. Cades Cove can be particularly busy during the fall, so plan for extra travel time. Great Smoky Mountains National Park recommends allowing at least two to four hours to drive and explore the loop, and fall traffic can make the trip longer. Once you leave the park, Cades Cove Cellars Townsend is a convenient addition to the day’s itinerary.
Take the Scenic Route Through Wears Valley
You don’t necessarily have to enter the national park to enjoy the fall scenery. A drive through Wears Valley offers wide mountain views, winding roads, and plenty of changing leaves. With Cades Cove Cellars in Wears Valley located right along your route, it’s easy to turn an afternoon drive into another stop on the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail. For an extended scenic drive, connect Wears Valley with the Foothills Parkway before continuing toward Townsend.
Turn Your Fall Drive Into a Wine Trail Weekend
There’s no need to rush through all four stops. The Foothills Wine & Cider Trail works just as well as a weekend itinerary, particularly during the busy fall travel season in the Smoky Mountains. Spend one day exploring Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, then make your way toward Wears Valley and Townsend for the next leg of the trip. Leave room in the schedule for scenic overlooks, a drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and, of course, time to enjoy each trail stop. Before you go, download the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail passport. Check in as you visit participating locations and make your way through the trail while discovering more of East Tennessee along the way. Whether you’re headed to the Smokies specifically for the fall leaves or already have a mountain getaway on the calendar, consider taking the scenic route this year. There may be a new favorite Tennessee wine or cider waiting just down the road.
