Nearby Campgrounds
§ 02 — 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 that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer. Picnic pavilion is along Cosby creek.
The picnic area is sheltered and accessible. Just across the parking area is an accessible restroom.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail. Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities. Campers 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 during the right time of year. 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.
Cosby Picnic Pavilion can accommodate up to 55 guests and offers a covered eating area, multiple grills, flush toilets and other modern amenities, 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.
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. At 2,460 feet, Cosby 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 Appalachian. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts, which tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.
§ 03 — CONDITIONS
National Weather Service · seven-day outlook · updated hourly
§ 04 — SIGNAL
FCC broadband data · actual signal varies in remote terrain
§ 05—08 — FROM THE FIELD
Community Intel from visitors, written reviews, dated trip reports, and reader-submitted photographs.
§ 06 — REVIEWS
§ 07 — TRIP REPORTS
§ 08 — COMMUNITY PHOTOS
Cosby Picnic Pavilion is a day-use only facility, however the nearby Cosby Campground offers overnight camping. Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the pavilion, offers convenience stores and fuel. Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies' famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the picnic area, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more.
Customers who cancel a day-use facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will forfeit the total day-use fee.
Trip Reports
0 reports
Sign the ledger to file a review.
Sign in to add your own photos.
No community photos yet — be the first to share one from your visit.
§ 01 — VITALS
No cell coverage detected at this coordinate.
Today
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
10 mph NW
Sat
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 to 5 mph NW
Sun
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
0 to 10 mph SW
Mon
75°F
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 to 5 mph NW
Tue
76°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
0 to 5 mph NW
Wed
79°F
Mostly Sunny
0 to 5 mph W
Thu
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
10 to 15 mph SW