The Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain Range, stretch over 800 square miles, from the western border of North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They got their name from the Cherokee Indians. They called the mountains, Shaconage, for the blue-gray haze that veils the summits.
One of the largest protected land areas east of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 500,000 acres of forest. It has beautiful streams and numerous waterfalls, virgin forests of red spruce, and hundreds of miles of developed hiking trails. It is also home to more than 50 species of mammals, including black bears, white-tailed deer, foxes and bobcats. The Great Smoky Mountains rise from 800 feet to 6,643 feet, with Mount LeConte being the highest peak.
The park offers something for everyone and is one of the most visited parks in the U.S. Every year, over 9 million visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking, fishing, horseback riding, bike riding, canoeing, whitewater rafting, river tubing, skiing and snowboarding. Accommodations range from rustic campsites and cozy cottages to private chalets and exclusive resorts.
Open year round, peak travel is mid-March through October, with traffic heaviest in summer and fall. Primary access to the National Park is south of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on US Hwy Route 441. You can get information at the National Park Information Center or travel a little further south to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Park Headquarters. There you'll find many exhibits and you can also talk to one of the park rangers.
There are over 650 miles of trails in the park including The Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail runs along the mountain crest and Tennessee-North Carolina border. During fall foliage, one of the best places to enjoy the views is on the two-mile stretch between Newfound and Indian gaps. You can reach this part of the trail near the Newfound Gap parking lot.
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Driving through the mountain roads with their tight curves, steep inclines, and narrow drops offs, requires some caution. It's best to drive slowly for safety -- and also to enjoy the views. Be extra cautious during rainfall. The mountains get a lot of rain during the year, about 100 inches, and the roads can become slippery.
For a scenic drive with spectacular views, take the historic Newfound Gap Road east from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina. This road, built in the 1930s, has stone bridges, broad curves, and original stone guardrails. It covers nearly 40 miles and will take about two hours. Along the way you can stop at the Newfound Gap Overlook where Tennessee meets North Carolina.
Another popular driving tour is the Cades Cove Loop off Laurel Creek Road. There are many marked sights you can visit along the way including an 1827 Baptist Church and a rustic farmstead with a smokehouse, springhouse, and corn crib. Midway through the drive is the Cades Cove Visitor Center where you'll see exhibits of 19th century rural life.
Hikers and backpackers will appreciate the magnificent forests and breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains backcountry. Campsites, hiking trails, and backpacking shelters are open year round. The park has 10 developed campgrounds (3 are open year-round) and there are many private campgrounds outside the park. Overnight hiking parties will need a backcountry use permit. Backcountry shelters and rationed campsites require reservations through the Backcountry Reservation Office at 865-436-1297.
Bicycling is very popular on the Cades Cove Loop Road. It's an 11-mile road through open fields surrounded by mountains. Although bicycling is allowed on the other park roads, it can be difficult. The park roads are winding, steep, or narrow, and shared by motorists. Bicycles are not allowed on the trails.
