Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Hike the varied trails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience the beautiful mountains, forests, waterfalls, and biodiversity of plant and animal life. The trails can be accessed through the main park entrances in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, making it a great day hiking destination.
Named for the blue-colored mist that hangs above the mountain peaks and valleys from the dense vegetation below, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the highest mountains in eastern North America, including Clingmans Dome, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte. There are over 800 miles of trails in the park for hiking, including 71 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT), making it one of the top hiking destinations in the east. Hikes range from easy for the whole family to more challenging trails and have something to offer during each season: spring and summer wildflowers, fall foliage and winter icicles and snow-covered mountains.
This area features over 1,500 species of flowering plants, more than in any other national park in North America, as well as hundreds of species of native trees and shrubs. Birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians abound, and this park is an especially important site for salamanders, fireflies and black bears.
In this UNESCO World Heritage Site visitors can learn about the rich cultural history of the Southern Appalachian region, from the Cherokee to the early European-American settlers and view many of the historic structures, landscapes, and artifacts that have been preserved.
- Seasons: Year-round
- Weather: View weather forecast
- Difficulty: *Varies*
- 6,643 ft
- Land Manager: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Parking Permit Required: National Park Entrance Fee
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 12
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
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