09/28/2026
Planning on traveling to Gatlinburg during fall? 🍂🍁
Have you ever been to the Old Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse and the Metcalf Bottoms trails? If not, this is one of those hidden gems in the Smokies that is absolutely worth adding to your list.
It’s a refreshing change of pace from the crowds of downtown Gatlinburg. Once you make your way across the old wooden bridge and into this quieter part of the mountains, it almost feels like you’ve stepped back in time. The fall colors, rushing water, old-growth surroundings, and historic buildings make for some beautiful photo opportunities along the way.
The Little Greenbrier School was built in 1882 and served families living in this part of the Smokies for more than 50 years. Formal classes ended in 1935, but the little one-room schoolhouse continued to be a place where the history of these mountain communities was kept alive. The building also served as a church and school, something that was very common in rural mountain communities where one building often had to serve several purposes.
One of the people most closely connected with the school was “Miss Elsie” Burrell. After spending 35 years as a teacher and school administrator, she came to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1969 at the age of 65 and began teaching visitors about the people who once called these mountains home. She continued sharing that history until she was 95 years old. One of the old photographs at the site even shows former students spanning a wide range of ages. A reminder of just how many families were connected to this little school.
Nearby are the resting places of many of the people and families who lived in this area generations ago. Please be respectful. The cemetery area is currently off limits because of erosion, so admire the area from the permitted trails and help protect this piece of Smoky Mountain history.
As you walk, keep your eyes open, you may come across some of the local wildlife that calls this quieter section of the park home. And bring your camera! Between the wooden bridge, the creek, historic structures, forest trails, and fall leaves, there are plenty of spots that look like they came straight off a postcard.
There’s something special about visiting a place where you can actually see how people lived, learned, worshiped, raised families, and built a community long before Gatlinburg became the destination we know today.
Sometimes the best part of the Smokies isn’t the busiest attraction. It’s finding a quiet trail, hearing the water running through the woods, and discovering a little piece of history that has been sitting there for more than 140 years.
