Where to grab a quick picnic dinner for Cataloochee?

We are planning to come in the afternoon of July 4th. We will probably get to our cabin between 4 or 5:00, then after unloading the van, I would like to stop somewhere to grab a quick picnic dinner for the four of us to take as we go to Cataloochee for some elk viewing (hopefully!) Our cabin is off Hemphill Rd., which is north of 19 and west of 276. Would there be any restaurants, grocery stores, quick marts that we could stop at on the way to Cataloochee for picnic grub?

Also, mapquest says that the trip from where our cabin is located will take about an hour for us to get to Cataloochee. I really can%26#39;t imagine it taking that long to get there....we%26#39;re north of 19, and not that far from 276! Any ideas of how long we should anticipate our drive to Cataloochee? Thanks in advance!

Amy

Where to grab a quick picnic dinner for Cataloochee?

I would say 30-40 minutes. Go into Maggie Valley for picnic food.

Where to grab a quick picnic dinner for Cataloochee?

Hi, Amy!

Yeah, mapquest and Good maps can get you really lost if you%26#39;re trying to get to Cataloochee. I don%26#39;t know why, though.

Hemphill Rd. is just a few miles from Cove Creek Rd., the entrance road to Cataloochee. As you pull out of Hemphill on to 276, turn left going toward I-40. Just before you reach I-40, turn left onto Cove Creek Rd. It%26#39;s a few miles of road that, at first, is paved, then gravel and finally a winding single-lane dirt road. Drive slowly with you lights on and watch for oncoming traffic. You may have to give way to let oncoming traffic by, and vice versa. It%26#39;ll take you a good 20 minutes or more to get into Cataloochee.

There are no restaurants or grocery stores between Hemphill and Cataloochee, but there are a few gas station/Quick-Marts. I suggest going back toward Waynesville on 276 (away from Cataloochee). If you stay on 276, taking a left at the red light near Maggie Valley city limits, then a right at the next light (still 276), there is a large Ingle%26#39;s grocery store, and many chain burger joints.

Hope you have a great trip! Please write a trip report when you return!

Um, the first line in my reply should have read ';mapquest and GOOGLE maps...';.

I really wish we could edit our posts.

Hi

Do not follow GPS or mapquest, follow the directions bradMac gave you. For some people it could be a challenging and never ending road but you will be fine. Try to get back down before dark. Visit the little church up there...if you have seen the movie Cold Mountain you will recognize the church. About the picnic food.... On the way there is actually little sandwich shop called GiGi%26#39;s check his web site for pict. and there is also a gas station just before you get on Cove Creek Rd. mountainshops.com/maggie_valley_waynesville/…

or your closest restaurant will be Smackers on the way to Waynesville. They have some great food.

Have fun in our mountains.

Gabi

Thank you for the picnic food suggestions and the detailed directions to Cataloochee. I actually looked up what the approximate sunset time would be that evening to help us gauge the timing of it all. From what I%26#39;ve read here on the forums, the road up to Cataloochee doesn%26#39;t sound fun in the dark! Thanks again for everyone%26#39;s suggestions! =)

Amy

Gabi%26#39;s right. I forgot about GiGi%26#39;s.

Also, didn%26#39;t Sorrell%26#39;s have breakfast and lunch for a while?

we made the trip to see the Elk just last week. Our house is in Crystal Tree and we plan on an hour to get from it to the Elk. It is 16 miles from cataloochee to Interstate 40 but that part of the trip takes a good 45 minutes. The road up starts out as blacktop but then turns into a single lane dirt road with no guard rails. we usually leave the house about 6:45 and have had good results looking at the elk. Last week the cows were in the meadow but the bulls were at the Palmer house. Just ask the rangers and they will tell you where to find the animals. we have tried both morning and evening and have found that evening is the best time. The best time to see the bulls is in October when the ';rut'; or mating season is underway. We have observed bulls fighting in the fall. Occording to the rangers the heard now totals 100 so the experiment is working. Hope you enjoy the elk as much as we do everytime we come down to our house.

I have a short video of two bulls fighting last October. It was COLD that morning.

tripadvisor.com/ProfileGallery-i18839717.html

Great video! Would you might if I post this video on my web site and face book page for my customers? I have been taking videos of attractions in Maggie and this video would help me. I think we should start post with videos from Maggie, what you think BradMac? Thank you

Gabi

No problem, Gabi.

Le me know if I can help further.