That’s a beautiful area and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited NP in the U.S.! I made the same trip on 10/5 and rode the leaf train from Bryson City to Dillsboro and back. Also made the trek up to the observation tower at Clingmans Dome and the thin air sure makes a difference on an old body! Stopped on the side of the road at Cherokee and watched the bull Elk sparring and bugling for some attention from the females as it’s rutting season. I wasn’t pulling a trailer but I used the tow haul mode and downshifted a lot in the slow twisties and never had a problem.