Great Smoky Mountains National Park: America's Most Beloved Park

The National Park Service ranks Great Smoky Mountains National Park as the most visited park in the United States with more than ten million annual visits. It spans two states, North Carolina and Tennessee, which cover over half-a-million acres. Visitors flock to the Park each year due to its exciting activities, picturesque views, accessible location and family-friendly entertainment.

Outdoor Activities

There is plenty of entertainment in the park that drives visitors back to the park each year. Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers bicycle rentals and safe bike trails for most seasons. Fishing is available year round, and the park features an abundance of fish local to the area. Guided horseback riding, trails for personal horse use, hayrides, carriage rides and wagon rides are available in both Tennessee and North Carolina areas of the park.

Opportunities to Learn

The park contains to institutes and a staff-led program to educate visitors on wide variety of topics, such as the ecology of the park, Appalachian music, animal life and indigenous populations. Programs for children and adults offer opportunities for learning at all ages. The institutes on the park serve as a base for research and training for biologists, ecologists, anthropologists and more.

Trails

Trail lovers enjoy over 850 miles of trail options throughout the park. The trails range from beginner, intermediate and advanced. Families bring children along for short nature walks, while adventurers backpack deep through the Appalachian Mountains on trails for serious hikers only.

Along the way, visitors see the abundant waterfalls that fill the park’s rivers and streams and bring hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Pigeon Creek Trail features Mingo Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the region at 120 feet. Other popular waterfalls range from 20 to 100 feet, though smaller waterfalls occur throughout the park.

Wild Animals

Love for the park is also a result of the many species that call the park home. There are more than 17,000 documented animals and insects with double to quadruple that number waiting to be discovered. In particular, the ever-declining population of the black bear is largely within the confines of the park. Rangers take precautions and great care to protect the bears from further decline and promote education on black bears. Though typically found in the back country, black bears can make a rare appearance in more developed areas as well. Elk, deer, turkey and other animals are common throughout the park. Noted viewing areas provide visitors with safe ways to observe wildlife in its natural habitat.

Location

The location of the Smokies makes the park more accessible and allows park visitors to feel a part of the national spirit. Encompassing two states, the park has multiple entry points. Mountain communities in North Carolina and Tennessee provide charming stops upon arrival and when leaving the park to find souvenirs and homemade gifts. One town in Tennessee is home to Lookout Mountain, which has a view of seven states. These cultural experiences just outside the park make the national designation that much more cherished by visitors.

Historic Designations

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is so beloved that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which designates it as a natural landmark of international importance. It is also an International Biosphere Reserve, designated in 1976, for its vast natural splendor and importance to the environmental climate of the Appalachian Mountains.

History runs deep in the park, and there is evidence of tribes from over 9,000 years ago. Artifacts from prehistoric times are available for viewing in the visitor’s centers, and rangers maintain almost 80 different historical sites throughout the park. During the popular logging and then conservation eras in the 1800s, residents built homes, schools and community buildings that still stand today. Visitors can even experience the park’s history without leaving their vehicle with an auto tour. These historical connections people experience in the park help make it so popular.

Ecological Diversity

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a generally temperate climate with large amounts of rainfall (up to eight feet per year). The most popular areas of the park are in the lower areas of the mountains and the foothills. However, the park also has snow at almost any point in the year. The highest elevation in the park is almost 7,000 feet. On the highest mountains in the park, snowfall is prominent due to the high altitude. Visitors can even find glaciers in the higher altitudes. Warm-weather plant and animal species dominate the lower altitude areas of the park, while plant and animal life typically found in colder climates dominate the higher altitudes.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park exemplifies traditional community and environmental preservation in the American Southern region. The large number of visitors to the park each year is a direct result of all the park has to offer, including charm and a piece of American history. There are plenty of ways to create an adventure, and outdoor experts and newcomers alike are able to enjoy the frontiers and beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Best Winter Scenery in The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

Whether or not you have ever walked the Great Smoky Mountain trails of Tennessee, there is nothing quite like visiting these trails in the winter. During the coldest months of the year, the Great Smokies get a healthy coating of snow, drastically changing the look, feel and landscape of the mountain trails. Visiting in the winter offers a very refreshing change from what may have otherwise been a drab and dull winter. If you choose to visit the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee during the winter, here are the best winter spots that offer the best scenery.

Laurel Falls Trail

Laurel Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a result, visiting this trail during the peak season makes it hard to find a parking spot. However, visiting during the winter months makes this trail much more enjoyable. You are also greeted by some of the most breathtaking scenery you have ever seen.

The Laurel Falls Trail was first established in 1932. It helped provide fire crews with easier access to the Cove Mountain area in case of a forest fire. By the 1960s, this spot became a popular hiking area because of its amazing views. Another thing that made it a popular trail was that it was paved in 1963 to prevent erosion. This has made it a go-to spot for families with young children and an easy place to hike during the winter.

Despite being paved, there are some high drop-offs along the trail that make it perfect for sightseeing. If you follow the trail for 2.3 miles, you eventually come to the 80-foot waterfall after which the trail was named. This is a beautiful site to see no matter what time of the year it is.

Rainbow Falls Trail

The Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fan favorite. Located in Sevier County, Tennessee, this trail ascends Mount Le Conte. No matter what time of the year you hike up the Rainbow Falls Trail, you are in for some fantastic scenery because Mount Le Conte is the sixth-highest mountain on the east side of the Mississippi River.

The first part of the Rainbow Falls Trail is a steady climb. Thankfully, there are some great opportunities along the way to stop for picnics and take in the scenery. Further along the trail, as you come up to LeConte Creek, you come across two footbridges. The view from there is always amazing, but even more so in the winter. Just 2.7 miles from the start of the trail, you come across a waterfall that is 80 feet high. Few things in life are as grand as laying your eyes on this beauty during the winter. Don't climb the rocks near the waterfall because, even during the summer months, they are slippery.

Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

Another trail that leads up Mount Le Conte is the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. Hiking this trail in the snow is simply wonderful. During the early hours of the morning, it's unlikely that you will encounter other hikers, which really adds to the charm. One great thing about this trail is that it's covered in evergreens. This breaks up the scenery to create a view that you usually don't see during the winter. Just don't go down this trail expecting to find a cave. In fact, this trail got its name from a very unusual concave that formed along the trail, creating an overhang that goes right over the trail and heads up to a bluff.

This is an example of a trail that isn't too difficult to hike during the winter. The hardest part of the trail is near the natural arch. Here, there are stone steps that lead up to the rest of the trail. This part of the trail is known for getting really icy. There are cables that you can use to help climb the trail, but these get icy as well. Just take it one step at a time, and make sure of your footing before moving on.

Chimney Tops Trail

Chimney Tops is another popular area in the Great Smoky Mountains. This area is most well known for being one of the very few summits of bare rock. As you may know, most of the summits in the Great Smoky Mountains are covered in trees. Natural weathering has cleared and exposed the rock by stripping away soil. One reason why this is such a popular place to visit during the winter is because it doesn't require any kind of special gear to climb. Also, on clear days you can see the Sugarlands Valley to the north of the trail. Finding a clear day in the winter isn't too difficult.

Before heading out during the winter months to hike the trails of the Great Smoky Mountains, remember that it can be risky business hiking in the winter. Two of the most serious risks that you will face include dehydration and hypothermia. The best way to prevent running into any problems is to stay dry. This is a tip that is particularly helpful in the winter because the rise in elevation makes the air cooler than what most people expect. However, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy the Great Smokies in the winter; you just have to be more careful than normal. In the end, it's worth it because the winter scenery in the mountains is like nothing you have ever seen. Pictures don't do it justice. You have to see it with your own eyes!

Gatlinburg's Finest Swimming Holes are Waiting for You!

Trying to escape the summer's heat while enjoying nature's beauty and majesty? Then look no further than Gatlinburg Tennessee. With six spectacular swimming areas within a few minutes’ drive, you can escape the hectic beach scene and make a cool mountain stream your next vacation destination.  

The Greenbrier Area
If you are staying in town, a ten-minute drive will take you to a popular site for swimmers and tubers. The West prong of the Little Pigeon River is the home of a multitude of spots to cool-off in your own private pool. Go northeast on highway 321 for approximately eight miles until you come to Greenbrier Road. A right turn will put you alongside the water. Park along the road and explore the lazy, crystal-clear river on your left. Chase frogs, catch butterflies, or skip stones with your kids, but most of all, enjoy one of the cleanest rivers in the area. Due to the close proximity to town and easy access, weekends can get a bit busy. Plan appropriately.

The Sinks
Little River is the place to head for a gorgeous waterfall and a thrilling river swim. Thirty minutes from town, just off highway 71, this local favorite is well worth a stop. The brave and fearless can climb up rocks and jump fifteen feet into the river below. Those not looking for thrills can swim in the deep pool that surrounds the cliff. Whether you are looking to get wet or just want to enjoy the beauty of the Smokey Mountain National Park, the Sinks is a great place to spend the day. Water shoes are recommended. Children should not be left unattended, as the current can be quite swift in spots. Care should be taken near the falls and on the rocks. The Sinks can also become busy during peak times. Take 71 South until you come to Little River Road and turn right; the falls are eleven breathtaking miles ahead and on the left.

Midnight Hole
For those who don’t mind making an easy one and a half mile hike, Midnight Hole might offer the best bet for those who want both excitement and calm in one picturesque swimming area. Big Creek funnels between two giant boulders where it pools into a large swimming area surrounded by pristine hardwood wilderness. The more adventurous can climb one of the boulders and jump ten feet into a deep pool. Those looking for a gentle swim or an easy wade have plenty of space because of the large ponding area beyond the rocks. You’ll need to drive to the Big Creek trail-head, which is an hour East of Gatlinburg. From the parking lot, Midnight Hole is 1.5 miles. Continue on another half mile to enjoy the incredible Mouse Branch Falls; a forty-five foot cascading waterfall well worth the effort.

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
This is the ultimate family-friendly Tennessee swimming hole. Charcoal-grill equipped picnic areas; fully-equipped toilet facilities; nearby shops and antique stores – Metcalf Bottoms has it all. Let’s not forget the Little Greenbrier River and the multiple near-perfect holes to let your little fish splash to their heart’s content. The picnic grounds are only thirty minutes from Gatlinburg. Take Highway 71 into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Look for the Sugarlands Visitor Center, where you will turn right on Little River Road. At approximately ten miles, you will come to Wear Cove Gap Road; a quick right will put you at the entrance to the picnic grounds on the left.

Abrams Falls
If hiking and swimming are your passions, then this stunning waterfall will be a dream come true. The 2.5 mile hike to the falls is no beginner jaunt. Expect an above average difficulty getting to this hole; flip-flops should stay in the backpack. The view is well-worth the effort. A torrent of water rushes down a wall of rocks where it meets up with one of the Smokey’s most idyllic swimming holes some twenty-feet below. Dense brush and tall trees frame the pool, making the picture complete. Caution should always be observed when swimming in a mountain stream; the Abrams Falls swimming hole is no exception. Because of the volume of water pouring over the falls, the current can be over-powering in spots. Stay in calmer, outer-banks of the pool and away from the falls. It's nearly a two hour drive from Gatlinburg to the trail-head. Follow the same directions for the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. Continue on Little River Road until it turns into Laurel Creek Road; this will become Cades Cove Loop Road and will take you to Abrams Falls Road, which is a right turn.

The Townsend Y
Having nothing in common with 'The Y' in any other American city, this gem of swimming hole is the result of the confluence of the Little River and the Middle Prong of Little River. Just inside the Townsend entrance of the park, the Townsend Y offers easy access and hours of family fun. Although, there aren't any facilities available, there is plenty of room to throw down a blanket and spread out your picnic fare. Shallow pools and gentle flowing water make it ideal for little ones. Don't expect any cliff diving or deep-water plunges, but there is plenty of water to cool off on a hot Tennessee summer day. The Townsend Y is on your way to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area; you'll find it right after you turn on Little River Road.

The Gatlinburg area offers a wide variety of entertainment options for any local resident or visitor. Its swimming holes are some of the finest in the country. Be sure to use caution and keep a close on those little-ones. If you’re up for an adventure, then grab a large tube of water-proof sun-screen and a pair of water shoes, as you head out for the vacation of a life-time. There’s no place like it for a swim.

Fun Activities for Children in Gatlinburg

At last, the best moment of your life has come; you are going on vacation. Or better still, you just want to have some great fun with your children during the weekend. Do not start a fresh search; just settle on visiting the Gatlinburg area. This area and its environs have something for everyone in the family. Whether it is the history of the area, interesting animals to see, or exciting activities to indulge in, you are sure to have fun. Some of the kids’ activities that your children can participate in any time you visit this area are discussed below.

Alpine Slide at Gatlinburg

This activity combines a ride of a Scenic Chairlift up the mountain with a great fun filled wandering, weaving and dipping descent. There are two 1800-feet tracts that pass through ski trails and woods. You can use either of these tracks during this activity. Each sled has a breaking device that helps you to control your own speed. As kids ride down the mountain through straight-aways, curves and hairpin turns directly into the valley, they have the opportunity to slow or accelerate the lift. Only those who can walk are allowed to take this ride. Also, all kids below six years will have to take the ride accompanied by a paid adult.

Flyaway Indoor Skydiving

This is another must-participate activity for your children. It is a vertical wind tunnel that will allow your kids to have a first-hand experience of the freedom of human flight. You can locate this tunnel at a traffic light number five in Pigeon Forge. Before you begin this activity, you have to attend a twenty-minute training class, receive a helmet, suit, and any other required safety equipment. Each flying session consists of five flyers and an instructor. Anyone weighing at least 40 lbs is free to undertake this activity.

Ice Skating

You and your children can enjoy participating in this activity. This indoor ice arena is usually open throughout the year for anyone interested in ice skating. The arena covers an area of 140x75 feet and is located at the center of Ober’s enclosed mall. The facility has over 400 pairs of rental skates for children, men and women. Take an hour in the afternoon and participate in this exciting activity. Although skating for children under the age of four is free, those under six years can only skate with a paid adult.

Chair Swing
Do you want to explore that wonderful breezy experience? Then going for a chair swing will give you just that. The speed of this swing increases with time and you get to enjoy being spinned through the air. The swing chair will give you a near-flying experience. For you to take part in this activity, you must be able to sit up straight, have a good upper body control, and measure at least 42 inches in height.

Amaze'n Maze

This activity goes beyond just getting lost. No matter the age of your children, their navigational skills can be sharpened using this activity. A kid will have the opportunity to compete against his or her friends, family and the clock. In this activity, your kid can win a prize if he or she emerges the best. Just before entering the maze, all guests are issued with a passport. This passport is usually stamped at major checkpoints as they work their way to the exits and clock their time for prizes. This is a great activity for the entire family.

Blue Cyclone Rapids

The activity will present you with thrilling excitement. Each participant has to take a good hold of the handles of an air-inflated raft as he or she plunges from a height of over 60 feet into a dark hole. This hole pushes white water waves as a participant races down a fiberglass chute that is fully enclosed. The participant has the opportunity to ride high on the chute’s sidewalls. This will help him or her to achieve a maximum speed of 30 mph and pull 2.9Gs as he or she turns and twists through over 600 feet of water. For a child to ride alone, he or she must be above seven years of age. Otherwise, he or she will have to ride with a paid adult. The weight range for riders is between 75 and 400 pounds. Most importantly, you must be able to walk for you to take this ride.

Mini Golf Courses

This outdoor miniature course is made of 18 holes. You can set a series of hazards and obstacles and ask your kids to try to put through them. Irrespective of your skill level or age, you can be sure to have great fun.

Kiddie Land and Rides

This entertainment point consists of ladders, tunnels, a web crawl, chutes for sliding on, cars, trains and swinging bridges. This is a must-visit place if you have very young children. Once you purchase a ticket, your kids can visit this area unlimited number of times during the same day. Adults should accompany children under the age of six years.

Aerial Tramway

Riding the Aerial Tramway gives you the best view of the glorious Smoky Mountains. It is a cable car that regularly departs from downtown Gatlinburg and takes you on a breathtaking and spectacular 2.1-mile ride up to the Amusement Park and Ski Resort. Irrespective of your age, you can use either of the two counter-balanced cars available in this area. These cars can carry a total of 120 passengers. While on this trip, you can park your car downtown and take this tram to your target destination. This is not only convenient for you but also makes the entire experience a pleasant one. Most importantly, you have to ensure that before you board this tram, all strollers have been folded.

Monster Truck Rides

For a thrilling and powerful experience, this is the best activity for the entire family. Your adrenaline levels are likely to go up while on this ride. A participant can climb into the truck’s bed and enjoy that bumpy ride or just sit next to the driver and watch him or her maneuver around the course.

Apart from these activities that you and your children can participate in, you can also visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Rain Forest Adventures Discovery Zoo, and WonderWorks Interactive Experience among others. A visit to this place will bring great excitement to all your family members.

Favorite Gatlinburg Hiking Trails

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, boasts breathtaking scenery, extraordinary waterfalls and a multitude of hiking trails.

For hikers accompanied by children and for newbies to the sport, Grotto Falls is the ideal place to get started. A unique feature of this adventure is the opportunity to walk behind a 20 foot waterfall. Hikers are treated to an unusual aura as they watch and listen to water cascading around them. Grotto Falls is a favorite haunt for salamanders. Especially in springtime, Trillium Trail is adorned with an awe inspiring display of wildflowers as far as the eye can see. This approximate three mile trek requires two to three hours to complete.

Situated on an actual Cherokee Indian Reservation, Mingo Falls, accessible via Pigeon Creek Trail, features a 20 foot waterfall that is said to be the tallest waterfall in the Smoky Mountains. Encompassing four-tenths of a mile, this trail's skill level is ranked moderate. To many visitors, part of the difficulty stems from the fact that a 159 step stairway must be ascended at the beginning of the trail which is estimated to occupy a 10 minute span of time. In addition to beautiful scenery, hikers have the opportunity to visit an authentic Cherokee Indian settlement.

Following the negotiation of a wooden bridge, the trek to Abrams Falls passes through the floor of Cades Cove Valley. The highlight of this is the site of a 20 foot tall waterfall whose water flows at an mindboggling rate of speed. No swimming is allowed in the pool at the base of Abrams Falls because of the dangerous currents its waterflow speed creates. While in the area, visitors are urged to take the time to visit a cabin erected by the hands of John and Lucretia Oliver. This ediface is deemed to be one of the earliest structures built in the Smoky Mountains.

Abrams Falls also features opportunities to sight black bears, white-tailed deer, groundhogs and raccoons. Visitors are urged to give a wide birth to any skunks they may encounter.

Cades Cove Valley is also home to Little Greenbrier School, an 1800s building that served as a one-room schoolhouse and as the worship center for a church.

Hikers are encouraged not to miss the chance to visit a working grain mill. Mingus Mill is a turbine powered grain grinding mill that has been in operation since 1886. Cornmeal is still sold there today.

For older hikers or those who are physically handicapped, Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail offers a half mile circle that is accessible by wheelchair. A guidebook is made available to visitors containing information relative to special points of interest along the way including the opportunity to view the exterior of several early 20th century structures that were used by the rich and famous as second or vacation homes.

Porter's Creek Trail is deemed to be an easy two mile trek amidst some very interesting attractions including the remnants of a Model T vehicle and a burial site. Visitors have the unique opportunity to enter a barn and cabin once frequented by Great Smoky Mountain Hikers Club members.

At an elevation estimated to be 6,643 feet lies Clingmans Dome that is the highest point in the entire state of Tennessee. Hikers who successfully reach the dome are rewarded with a 360 degree view of awesome scenery that is 20 to 100 miles away. Visibility varies depending upon fog density and other atmospheric conditions. Clingmans Dome over-look is often dubbed “the flying saucer of Tennessee.”

Featuring a unique growth area for spruce trees, at one point, Clingmans Dome intersects the world renowned Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine.

The two and a half mile hike around Laurel Falls is a mecca for photography buffs. Named in honor of the profusion of mountain laurel shrubs, Laurel Falls offers a unique opportunity for hikers to rest their feet and have fun at the same time. Some 30 canopy trees are the scene for a zipline adventure of a lifetime achieved at speed rates estimated to top 40 miles per hour.

Hiking around Laurel Falls is worth time for those desiring a relatively easy trek along mostly paved trail; however, prominently displayed signage is present cautioning hikers of dangerous conditions they will encounter should they elect to wander off the clearly marked pathway.

Hiking trails through the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are rated on a scale of difficulty ranging from 0-5 easy, 5-10 moderate and 10+ for trails that should only be negotiated by experienced hikers and others are deemed to be in top-notch physical and mental health.

Ranked slightly above 10, specifically 10.59 on the difficulty scale is Middle Prong Trail commencing as a gravel trail along the banks of one of the Little River branches. This trail requires hikers to climb for 2.3 miles. The trail continues for another 1.8 miles before connecting with other more strenuous trails in the area.