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Unsurprisingly, the Great Smoky Mountains are the top visited of the country’s 62 national parks, and welcomed more than 12 million visitors last year. A drive from so many crowded centers in the eastern United States, the vast expanse of herbs gives it a good hard look to fit with its uninterrupted chain of foggy mountain peaks emerging at more than 5,000 feet, winding streams, cascading waterfalls, ornate meadows. and miles of ancient forests.
Approximately slightly distributed between eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, the park has 62 species of mammals, including iconic black bears, mountain cats, coyotes, red wolves and about two hundred moose, covering its 522427 acres. It also houses more than 67 types of fish, 234 species of birds and dozens of species of salamanders (the park has been called the “world capital of the salamander”).
Members of the Cherokee Nation lived in these mystical mountains long before the arrival of European settlers; its roots here go back more than 1000 years. The ubiquitous fog surrounding the chain led the Cherokee to call the mountains “shaconage”, which as a “place of blue smoke”. The Euro-Americans later nicknamed them the Great Smoky Mountains.
Driven by Congress in 1934 and officially committed through President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) offers an almost endless laugh, from hiking (can locate trails for all levels) to boating, cycling, fishing and horseback riding. You can also explore the ancient Appalachian farms that once called those mountains home.
All roads, trails, background camps and concessions in great Smoky Mountains National Park have reopened after the park closed in the spring. Visitor centers are also open, but their schedules may be limited. Five of the 10 camps remain closed: Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cataloochee and Cosby; others are re-settled with the reserves. Verify the park updates.
Location: Almost similarly divided between eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina
Area: 522427 acres
Highest peak: Clingmans Dome, 6643 feet
Lowest point: Abrams Creek, 876 feet
Miles/number of trails: 850 miles on trails
Main attraction: Cades Cove
Registration fee: free
It is best to see it: along its roads in good condition.
When to go through the weather and fewer people: just before mid-June and September
Three major Tennessee cities are seamlessly available via GSMNP cars: Chattanooga is 108 miles southwest; Knoxville, just 32 miles north; and Nashville, 194 miles northwest. From North Carolina, Asheville is just 37 miles east and Charlotte is 151 miles southeast. Atlanta is 175 miles southwest. With their major airports, Atlanta and Charlotte are smart access issues for those arriving from all over the country.
Located 42 miles southeast of Knoxville, Gatlinburg serves as a gateway to the main front to the north side of the park (Tennessee), while the city of Cherokee leads to the stopover points at north Carolina’s Doleading on the southeast side. No need to take out your wallet on the fronts of the park: GSMNP does not have an entrance fee. Once inspected, it will locate 4 scale centers (Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Oconaluftee and Sugarlands) that provide data on the park and park-managed systems. It’s a smart concept to start your stopover in the heart of Sugarlands, just 3.2 km from the front of Gatlinburg, for a 20-minute orientation film that will give you a wonderful view.
GSMNP has 384 miles of roads in good condition; most are paved, but some are gravel. Not that you’re in the mountains, so get ready for many twists and turns, as well as rare slopes and descents. (Note that some secondary roads have restrictions on giant cars such as buses, recreational cars, and trailers). The Newfoundland Gap Highway winds 31 miles southeast of Gatlinburg to Cherokee, connecting the two walkways.
In the spring, the more than 1,600 resident black bears emerge from their winter lethargy; more than 1,500 species of wildflowers are beginning to bloom, covering the park with a multicolored splendor; and paired fireflies eliminate the darkness of the evening sky in bright synchronicity. Daytime temperatures average 65 degrees pleasant, with nighttime lows of forty-five degrees.
The high season runs from mid-June to mid-August, when the number of visitors per month is around 1.5 million. Temperatures also peak, with peaks exceeding 80 degrees during the day. Summer evenings bring thunderstorms, with July being the wettest month. As night falls, temperatures drop to a comfortable average of 55 degrees.
The rainy weather of the summer calms down in September and the crowds begin to dissipate. In October, even cooler temperatures arrive, ranging from 40 to 50 degrees, with a new wave of visitors. When the shades of red, gold and orange stretched from the mountain peaks to the forest floor, the park experienced its peak season. To see the splendor of fall without all the traffic, head to North Carolina’s quietest domain for a Monday-Friday visit.
The snow and ice of winter close some routes, adding the popular road leading to the Clingmans Dome, the park mountain (6643 feet). But the domain remains open for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or a winter hike through the fir and fir forest at high altitude.
Plan to disconnect when you visit the park: there are no moving towers, which makes reception limited or non-existent, unless you are at higher altitudes where visitors may stumble upon the signs. Limited Wi-Fi may be available in some places.
Bathrooms can be provided in the guest centers, campsites, picnic areas, Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome. Expect amenities on the trail, portable restrooms on grotto Falls Trail and primitive amenities at the beginning of the Rainbow Falls Trail.
Diversity of accessible systems, from diversity-led explorations in the complex forest terrain to visits that highlight the park’s human history. You can explore much of the park by car, with a parking area that prevents you from seeing the surrounding landscapes and short trails to venture a little more.
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If you need to spend the night in the park, be able to work out on your quads. Getting to the only accommodation in the park (in addition to camping) requires a 5.5-mile hike and physical endurance, however, it is rewarded with stellar sunrises and sunsets and a starry night sky. Designed for those who climb to the most sensible of Mount Le Conte, the park’s third highest mountain (6594 feet), Mount Le Conte Lodge can accommodate up to 60 more people at night in rustic one-bedroom chalets and multi-room pavilions. Hikers can also take a lunch break.
The park also has 10 camps ($17.50 to $27 per night) for tents and recreational vehicles, in a variety of cozy locations, from coasts to forests. All have toilets, water inscrusting water and toilets, but do not have showers or electrical or water connections. Each site has a fireplace door and a picnic table. Reservations are mandatory (Recreation.gov) from May to October, with a limited number of places on a first-come, first-served basis also available from November to April.
Just 8 miles from access to the city of Gatlinburg, Elkmont Campground is the largest and busiest camp in the GSMNP, with two hundred camps, nine of which meet the ADA (large concrete walkways, raised fireplace rings and wheelchair accessible picnic tables), next to the small river. A quieter option is Cosby Campground, on the northeast side of the park: it offers 157 campsites nestled under a canopy of fir trees and the feeling of camping indoors with first-count facilities.
Hikers can the primitive sites of the interior with a reservation, as well as five equestrian camps with primitive camping facilities and hitches that offer simple horse trails. For backcountal tickets ($4 consistent with the overnight consistent with the child), call 865-436-1297.
You probably wouldn’t eat abundantly here. GSMNP’s only dining option is the Snack Bar at Cades Cove Campground, which serves breakfast dishes, sandwiches, pizzas, soups, wraps and ice cream. ATMs can also be purchased at the front desk centres. It is more productive to bring your own food and enjoy one of the 12 picnic spaces scattered throughout the park in the woods and along rivers and streams. They come with charcoal barbecues and picnic tables.
From hiking on 150 trails covering 850 miles to cycling, fishing and horseback riding, GSMNP offers many recreational features, for all fitness levels. Or take a slow look and pass the sightseeing from the comfort of your car on roads and motorized trails (one-way panoramic loops) that highlight the park’s spotlights. At Newfound Gap, take advantage of the many stops to appreciate the picturesque panoramas. Along the way, stretch your legs and soak up the sound of nature on short, simple trails marked as “quiet paths.” The tranquil 0.3 mile walk to Balsam Point, north of chimney tops view, offers perspectives of Steep Branch Creek and the west look of the Little Pigeon River. Sit on a bench in the clearing and soak up the landscape.
And some must-sees on the park sides of Tennessee and North Carolina:
In Tennessee: You won’t want to spend much beyond the main front for a quiet walk through a forest. Just outside the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the 1.1-mile Fighting Creek Nature Trail gives you an advent to the park’s wildlife, with imaginable sightings of black bears, moose, white-tailed deer and more.
If you’re able to take a longer but simple hike with plenty of things to entertain, Patricia Kersey of the Gatlinburg-based A Walk in the Woods Consultant Service recommends the 4.9-mile circular Holiday to Little River Trail on the Elkmont. about 6 miles west of downtown Sugarlands. “It’s a relatively flat and wide path that follows the river,” he says, and “with its herbal beauty, there’s a lot of human history to notice when walking. These come with the ruins of ancient hotel huts from the 1920s, remnants of the region history as a getaway for Knoxville’s elite.
Or check out the Roaring Fork Motor nature trail, which winds about 10km through centuries-old forests along gurgling mountain streams. The trail starts 3 miles to the park from the entrance to Cherokee Orchard, just over a mile east of downtown Sugarlands. A mile before you reach the trail, avoid the 0.7-mile Noah “Bud” Ogle self-guided nature trail for a walking tour of an original mountain farm, with one of the park’s last fully operational tub mills. Then, if you’re able to get more physical activity, take the arduous, moderate 5.4-mile (round trip) hike to Rainbow Falls, which starts just beyond the farm. This rock-covered path gains about 1,500 feet of altitude in the direction of the 80-foot-tall waterfalls named after the rainbow that looks like it in the fog.
Thirty miles west of downtown Sugarlands, the good look of the landscape and abundance make Cades Cove the park’s top popular domain. An 18 km circuit winds through the creek beyond farms, barns, churches and a fully operational early 19th-century grain mill reminiscent of the Appalachian lifestyle. Hikers flock to Cades Cove to access popular starting points, adding the moderate 8 km walk (round trip) from Abrams Falls that leads through a beautiful pine and oak forest along Abrams Creek to the 20-foot waterfall that falls into a long waterfall and deep pool.
Clingmans Dome, near the center of the park, stretches on both sides of the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The road leading to the emerging mountain makes a detour to the Newfound Gap Highway about 7 miles south, leading to less than a mile from the tower of the same name. If you are physically capable, continue on foot for a steep climb with a big gain: a 365-degree view of the surrounding Smokies.
Do you need gonzo and check your courage? Take on the challenge at Mount Le Conte, north of Newfound Gap Road, near the center of the park, where several trails lead to the 6594-foot summit. On the steepest Alun Cave trail, you’ll climb 5.5 miles past Mount Le Conte Lodge.
In North Carolina: Escape the crowds in Tennessee’s busiest aspect and enjoy the wild beauty of the Smokies in the secluded Cataloochee Valley, in the least visited segment of the park in North Carolina. Surrounded by mountain peaks, the valley was once used as hunting ground for the Cherokee. Later, one of the largest Appalachian colonies in the region flourished here. The preserved structures of the last nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, adding two churches, a school and several huts, reveal this history. Get a self-guided tour brochure in a road box near the valley entrance.
Black bears, deer, moose and other wild animals roam this peaceful valley. For the most productive chance of spotting moose, biologist Joe Yarkovich gives this advice: “Arrive about an hour before sunrise or a few hours before sunset.” For anglers, Cataloochee Creek is full of wild trout. Explore all or part of the moderate 11km Boogerman Trail for a restorative hike through lush ancient forests and the tumultuous waters of Caldwell Fork.
Discover the park’s good looks from another view of Lake Fontana, on the southern edge of the GSMNP, giving you access to the park’s most remote spaces and the adjacent Nantahala National Forest. At one of the many marinas, rent a pontoon to explore for yourself or take a boat ride with Sunny Day Adventure Company. “Many of the trails around the lake are flat, making them available to maximum guests,” says Jason Swafford, business owner.
When the high october season exceeds the roads of other sections of the park, Swafford recommends this domain for leaf and wildlife observation. “Traffic on the lake dissipates in the fall, but it’s one of the most productive moments to be in the water.” There is an advantage to taking the less-traveled road (or lake), he adds: “Black bear sightings are likely to occur when they descend from treetops to feed on the eggs left by breeding fish.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee: With a fun theme park atmosphere, Orlando, combined with a country twist, Gatlinburg and the nearby town of Pigeon Forge feature all kinds of attractions. Ideal if you have grandchildren in tow: Ripley Smokies Aquarium, where a penguin camera monitors the tuxedo charmers. Nearby, the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park elevator takes you to SkyBridge for thrilling (perhaps agonizing) cloud-level rides on this 680-foot pedestrian bridge across a deep gorge at a height of 140 feet. A Tennessee classic, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Amusement Park thrills with all the twists, turns and turns you’d expect, all served with a loose look of country music.
Accommodation features in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, from resorts to motel chains. At the top end, enjoy a luxury suite at margaritaville Resort and Spa on the Pigeon River. For anything cheap, in one of the basic rooms (including breakfast) at Greystone Lodge on the River, where you can use the city tram to seamlessly access Gatlinburg attractions (there is a prevention in front of the hostel).
Resealed energy for a busy day of exploration at the Gatlinburg Pancake Pantry (since 1960) which serves a variety of sweets, such as triumph banana and pineapple pancakes topped with powdered sugar and whipped cream.
Cherokee, North Carolina: Located in the Cherokee Indian Reservation, the city of Cherokee focuses on the tribal nation. Revisit the 18th century in the Indian village of Oconaluftee amid recreations of classic Cherokee dwellings, sacred ritual sites and workshops. Delve into the tribe’s 11,000-year-old history through interactive exhibits and cultural exhibits at the Cherokee Indian Museum. For recreation and adrenaline, spend whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River near the city of Bryson.
Enjoy a luxury cottage with fireplace, jacuzzi and personal chef at Cherokee Mountain Cabins. Alternatively, cherokee KOA budget camp rents luxury cabins (with full bathrooms and showers) and fundamental camping stalls (using public toilets for camping). Drop the bucket at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.
When hunger arrives, Granny’s Kitchen offers a variety of ancient Southern dishes. Stock up on grilled ribs, red meat chops and black-eyed peas at the lunch and dinner buffet.
Traveling from Atlanta to Cherokee on US Highway 23, a 16-mile detour along Georgia Route 384 North leads to Helen, Georgia, a captivating mountain, the city that breeds a Bavarian Alpine village (yes, at the southern end). Stroll through its picturesque cobblestone streets and locate specialty department stores that offer everything from kitsch souvenirs to handmade candles, blown glass and cuckoo clocks. For dinner, wet your teeth in an abundant plate of schnitzel in Heidelberg.
If you’re from Asheville, take some time to go to the sumptuous Biltmore Property before you leave town. Built in the past 1800 for George Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the sumptuous “country house” sits on 125,000 acres of land south of the city.
Add a few extra days, if you can, to explore the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. The southern end of this 469-mile linear park begins just 0.2 miles outside the GSMNP Oconaluftee Visitor Center and ends in Virginia, in conjunction with Shenandoah National Park.
The moderate 8 km (round trip) hike from Abrams Falls takes you to a beautiful pine and oak forest to the 20-foot waterfall.
Visit John P. Cable Mill, a working grain mill built in 1867 at Cades Cove.
The Newfound Gap Mountain Pass is near the center of the park, on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.
During the fall foliage season, crowds visit a weekday and focus on North Carolina’s quietest domain.
Your chance to see moose in the Cataloochee Valley is an hour before sunrise or a few hours before sunset.
In the spring, more than 1,600 black bears from the park emerge from their lethargy.
Rent a pontoon boat on Lake Fontana, on the southern edge of the GSMNP, or on the surrounding trails.
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