I am Keith Garnes, the land specialist with the Jason White Team and am honored to tell you that I have been an active part of WWW over the years.
Wilderness Wildlife Week (WWW) is an annual event celebrating the natural features, wild life and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is an open to the public free event and offers programs such as seminars, workshops, guided hikes, plus a variety of exhibits.
This year is the 34th annual event and runs from January 5th through the 8th. The Wilderness Wildlife Week programs and seminars are located in the LeConte Event Center near the famous Island in Pigeon Forge.
My first experience with WWW was 2011 and I did a presentation on Arches and Natural Bridges Along Tennessee’s Trails.
For 2026, I have added an hour-long look at Tennessee’s Top Tier Waterfalls plus I lead two hikes into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I invite everyone to attend on Wednesday January 7th @ 11 Am and 12:30 PM in the LeConte Center’s Greenbrier Section Room A for my presentation and hikes!
If you can’t make it to WWW this year, I’ll share a hike I lead that can be enjoyed by all on your very next visit.
The hike is the Gatlinburg Trail/Cataract Falls/Fighting Creek Nature Trail.
The beauty of WWW is my group gets a Pigeon Forge Trolley to shuttle to and from the trailhead. Our hike starts on the edge of Gatlinburg at a GPS friendly 916 River Road near traffic light #10 and terminates at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
The Gatlinburg Trail is 1.9 miles (one way) and is rated moderate with just over nearly 200 ft elevation gain plus can be enjoyed in all seasons. It is the only trail on the Tennessee side of the park that dogs (on a leash) and bicycles are allowed.
Other details include at approximately a half mile from the start the trail with the Gatlinburg access the trail crosses the Little Pigeon River is what is considered the longest foot bridge in the Park.
In addition, a spur trail to Cataract Falls is well marked and in wet weather seasons worth a visit.
Before arriving at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the Fighting Creek Nature Trail offers a short 1.2 mile loop the WWW group will explore to view the historic John Ownby cabin.
It should be noted that both Cataract Falls and Fighting Creek Nature Trail are closer to the Sugarlands Visitor Center making a shorter hike for both spur trails.
Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge’s LeConte Event Center is most likely the best offering of what the Great Smoky Mountains Natural Park and its surrounding areas have to offer that you have never heard of. Check it out!