Jagged mountain peaks, verdant forests and cascading waterfalls set the stage for big adventure within the Great Smoky Mountains, certainly one of America's best-loved nature. Spread across 500,000 acres within the Southern Appalachian range, the park is a four-season wonderland, renowned for both its colorful spring wildflowers and also the fiery blazes of autumn.
The Smokies will also be home to an impressive variety of plant and animal life – from lumbering black bears to dazzling displays of synchronous fireflies. It doesn't take long to determine why Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the usa. Whether you're coming for that hikes, a brief history, the autumn leaf peeping, the sound of silence, or the winding mountain roads, there's a little something for everybody in the Smokies.
The good reputation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There are just three Nature that spill across state lines, and Great Smoky Mountains is one of them. It covers a section of Tennessee and New york within the Southern USA that was once home to the Cherokee, and then by Scotch-Irish settlers.
Like much of Appalachia, the Smokies were targeted by logging companies seeking rich stands of timber. As early as no more the 1800s, concerned residents from the area advocated for preservation of the land. By 1925, the federal government was ready to move ahead and create one of the first national parks within the eastern United States, along with Shenandoah National Park to the north.
The land for Great Smoky Mountains National Park was acquired mainly through small-scale grassroots fundraising rather than donations from wealthy stakeholders, despite a lot of the region already being broken up into small family farms and parcels earmarked by loggers. A lot of the job was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps through the Great Depression, and also the national park was officially dedicated in 1940.
Another unique excellence of the Smoky's development was it's one of the first parks made with cars in your mind. Unlike the very first nature out west, which were originally reached by trains where visitors stayed in grand hotels financed by railroad companies, Great Smoky National Park came together with support and input from auto organizations such as the American Automobile Associations (AAA).
How to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The main gateways to Great Smoky Mountains would be the Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and also the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina. Forwards and backwards is the scenic Newfound Gap Road, which winds for 29 miles, neatly bisecting the park on the only pavement traversing the Smokies. Trailheads for many of the largest hikes plus some from the park's key historic sights are located along this two-lane road. Other popular access points are the Cataloochee Valley on the east side of the park, and Cades Cove in the western world.
If you're flying in, the closest airport towards the park is Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport (in regards to a 70-minute drive to the among the park's main gateways near Gatlinburg). Other nearby airports include Asheville, NC (an 80-minute drive), Charlotte-Douglas Airport terminal (a 3-hour drive), and Chattanooga (a 2.75 hour drive). There is no train service to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Wherever you're originating from, you'll want a car, as there is no scheduled bus service to the park nor any public transit available within it once you get there.
If you need to spend time exploring the Smokies without camping or renting a cabin, there are numerous RV rental companies in Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge – the later being two towns that are unofficial gateways towards the Smokies and home to attractions like Dollywood. You can also create a road trip out of obtaining accommodations from outfitters like Voyager Campervans in Nashville and Escape Campervans in Atlanta.
What to determine and do within the Great Smoky Mountains
One from the great draws from the Smokies is its extensive trail system crisscrossing forested valleys and misty mountain slopes. There are over 800 miles of trails, ranging from easy rambles along scenic boulder-filled streams to challenging all-day hikes. Additionally, you will find over 100 backcountry campsites and shelters, the park offers exceptional possibilities for multi-day treks.
The park's hiking opportunities include a 71 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail, which runs right through the middle of the park between Fontana Dam and Davenport Gap. The highest point around the entire 2,200 mile span of the AT is the park's own Clingman's Dome – the “top of Old Smoky” made famous by singers like the Weavers and Hank Williams. Another epic trek around the block may be the Mountains to the Sea Trail, which runs from the western terminus at Clingman's Dome up to the Outer Banks of New york.
Hiking aside, there are lots of methods to experience the Great Smoky Mountains. When you really need a rest from walking, you can let a trusty steed do the work. Horse riding stables are located in Cades Cove, Sugarlands and Smokemont. The park also has some matchless scenic drives, including ridgeline roads where you can gaze out in the seemingly endless expanse of undulating peaks. Finally, nowhere Ridge Parkway's southern terminus links the Smokies to Shenandoah, for those who like to obtain the most from your nature pass.
However you choose to explore the Smokies, you can go to the well-preserved log cabins, grist mills and one-room school houses built by early settlers to the area. There is also exceptional wildlife watching year round in the Smokies.
While you've got a chance of seeing wildlife through the park, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent route if you're looking to peep the park's animal residents, particularly in winter time, at dawn, and in the evenings. And while the area's bears and fireflies get the majority of the publicity, the Cataloochee Valley is a prime spot to see elk, reintroduced to the Smokies back in 2001.
How much will a visit to the Smokies cost?
For a cheap vacation, the Smokies are difficult to beat. Unlike the Grand Canyon and most other nature, this one won't cost you anything to enter. The Smokies are entirely admission-free, thanks to the many area residents who threw in the towel their land and contributed funds to create the park.
That means that, apart from car rental, expenses are minimal. Camping – among the best ways to go through the Smokies – runs under $25 an evening per site and as low as $14. Backcountry camping is free, although you do require a reservation and a permit.
All from the attractions inside the park have the freedom, including the Mountain Farm Museum, Cades Cove historic buildings and the panoramic overlook at Clingmans Dome, not to mention all the hiking trails. Additionally the many free ranger-led programs run through the park – night hikes, storytelling by the campfire, morning porch talks (free coffee provided), Appalachian culture fairs – and you've got the makings of 1 of America's most remarkable budget-friendly getaways.
Where in which to stay the Smokies
The allure of the Great Smoky Mountains is certainly no secret, and also the park gets quite crowded during the busy summertime (Jun -Aug) and in the autumn once the leaves change color (Sep -Oct). It makes sense to plan well ahead to get your first choice when it comes to accommodation.
There aren't any motels or rental cabins within the park. Instead, all but among the park's nine frontcountry campgrounds can be reserved online. For backcountry sites that are accessible only via hiking trail, you may make reservations through the park's backcountry permit office in both person or online. If you're a new comer to camping or spending time outdoors, review Leave No Trace principles before you head out, or check out these guidelines regarding how to RV or vancamp responsibly.
If you want not to sleep in a tent, your best option inside park boundaries is the LeConte Lodge, a delightfully old-fashioned assortment of wooden cottages near the top of Mount LeConte (elevation 6594ft). The lodge isn't accessible by road, so to get there you'll have to hoof it uphill on a hike which range from 5.5 miles to 9 miles long based on which trail you utilize.
There are meals available at LeConte when you turn up – the supplies that are brought up by llamas, which you might see along the way if you take the Trillium Gap Trail. Because of the popularity of LeConte's hospitality, however, you'll need to make reservations months – or perhaps a year – in advance.
There are lots of accommodations away from park, too. Gatlinburg, something of the resort village, comes complete with hotels and guesthouses, and there are log cabin renatls around the city and throughout the surrounding area – particularly near Cherokee, Bryson City and Pigeon Forge.
Being prepared (and staying safe) in the Smokies
Hiking trails are well-marked within the national park, though it's wise to get a great map (available in the visitors centers) before setting out. Be sure you have sturdy walking shoes (preferably waterproof hiking boots), ample water and snacks, warm clothing (it gets chilly at higher elevations, even in the summer) and gear for rain (precipitation is a year-round possibility).
A walking stick also comes in handy. Make sure to let a non-hiking partner know where you're going so when you intend to be back. Watch out for slippery rocks, and do not swim or wade in park waters (falls and drowning are some of the main reasons for injury).
As this really is bear country, you must store all of your food – and then any trash that smells like food – appropriately. You need to be aware in order to protect wildlife from becoming determined by humans for food or approaching humans with techniques that endanger both you and the animals who call the park home. Never feed animals manually, get rid of trash properly in approved receptacles, and use bear canisters or bear lockers to keep your snacks from attracting critters to your campsite.
Speaking of bears, they're generally quite shy and steer clear of human contact, though if you do encounter one, keep your distance and don't disturb the bear. In the unlikely event the bear approaches you, stand your ground, make yourself tall and make a large amount of noise – which often deters the bear.
