Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 10 Reasons to Visit this Ancient Wonder
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of those places where you don’t really need a reason to visit – you just do! It is one of the ancient wonders of the world which will transport you to a whole new world of experiences. For a city girl like me, a visit here has not only been a memorable one but it is one of those places that has earned a spot on the “Return” list.
Come along with me and share my experiences.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a place where there are no real words can be found to describe it accurately. It was established in 1934 and has been referred to as a living mountain range. It is continuously shaped by the forces of nature – wind, water and erosion. The natural beauty of the mountains, the tranquillity of the woods and the wildlife here makes this, one of the most visited natural parks in America, drawing over 200,000 visitors per year – a Park that continues to ‘live’ in a time capsule of the 1800s.
Where is Great Smoky Mountains located
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.
There are major entrances to the Smokies from either of the States. More information is listed below on Useful information.
For now, join me on our journey.
The Foothills Parkway – Gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Foothills Parkway gives you easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a road corridor that is outside the Park, providing you with magnificent views of the mountains and wildflowers.
Our visit here was before the New Leg of the Parkway was open, in early autumn. (The New Leg takes you from Townsend, TN, to Wears Valley, with a short ride into Pigeon Forge, TN, and Gatlinburg, TN – from US 129 to US 321 in Walland).
Have a look at the following scenic guide offered by google.my.maps
Crisscrossing of the Ancient Mountains is a sight to behold…
The beauty of the mountains comes through as you drive up…when you see, as far as you can, ridge upon ridge of endless forest. It was one of the prettiest sights, that I had ever witnessed – the crisscrossing of the mountains in the distance as it blends into the blues of the skies, which makes it particularly picturesque.
No two views are the same…
There are many ‘pull-over’ areas throughout the drive that gives you breath-taking views of the mountains. Stop as many times as you can – we, stopped at every pull-over site, because no two sites were the same and it afforded great photo opportunities.
Capture the sights of the Wildflowers – The Great Smoky Mountains Natural Park is home to approximately 1600 species of flowering plants.
The Great Smoky Mountains are not just mountains…there is an air of tranquillity here which you must simply experience yourself.
This mountain range is also covered with the ever-present morning fog which gives it the name, “Smokies”.
The importance of the Great Smoky Mountains was aptly described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was quoted as saying:
“There are trees here that stood before our forefathers ever came to this continent; there are brooks that still run as clear as on the day the first pioneer cupped his hand and drank from them.”
Activities to do at Great Smoky Mountains
This ancient mountains with its ancient wonders provide a myriad of activities for both young and old. There are many reasons why one would visit this ancient wonder and I have listed my top 10 reasons below.
10 Reasons Why you should Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park aka The Smokies
1 | History of Mountain Culture at the Great Smoky Mountains
The Smokies has a long history of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, specifically a community of native Americans called, Cherokee. It is a small community that is preserving its 18th century way of life.
We visited Oconaluftee Indian Village, in Cherokee, a town on the reservation in western North Carolina. We had a taste of their 18th century lifestyle. A guided tour of Cherokee dwellings, a look at how their ancient jewellery and beads were crafted, their primitive tools – all with live demonstrations. The highlight was the cultural dance that tells the tribal story.
If you are visiting this part of the world, pay the Cherokee Village a visit, it takes you to a different dimension.
Oconaluftee Indian Village | Cherokee Historical Experience
Below is a picture of a Native American, one of the elders of the Cherokee tribe, from the Oconaluftee Indian Village.
2 | A natural habitat of Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains is a natural habitat to a huge diversity of wildflowers, plants and animal life which are not found elsewhere. It was a wonderful experience to see the varieties in various colours, all in one place.
3 | Wildlife of Great Smoky Mountains
3.1 | The Great Smoky Mountains is home to approximately 1500 black bears
We did not see a bear on our visit, however, it is said that the chances of seeing a bear is highly likely in Cades Cove, (on the western side of the park) and Cataloochee Valley, (on the park’s east side).
3.2 | Best time to see black bears
Spring and Summer are the best months to see the bears, especially in the early morning and at dusk.
3.3 | Federal Law Requirements
The bears live throughout the Park and federal law requires all visitors to properly store their food in the trunk of their vehicles and place all garbage and food scraps in bear-proof trash cans.
3.4 | Elks
An animal associated with the American West. Sightings of these are rare. We were fortunate to see them on our way to Cherokee, North Carolina.
4 | Wildflowers of Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains is home to approximately 1600 species of flowering plants.
During the spring months (mid-April to mid-May) and early summer (late May to mid-July), are the best times to see wildflowers here such as rhododendron and flame azalea.
The Mountains are also covered with healthy shrub flowers on higher elevation which we were able to capture on our visit.
Wet and humid climates, as well as a broad elevation range, are two of the most important reasons for the park’s renowned diversity.
5 | Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains
For the fishing enthusiasts, there is about 700 plus miles of fishable streams in the Park which offers a selection of brook, brown, or rainbow trout.
6 | Waterfalls of Great Smoky Mountains
There are many waterfalls throughout the Park with larger falls such as Grotto, Laurel and Rainbow which are well worth a visit.
7 | Hiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains
For the hiking enthusiasts, there are several hiking trails to explore – part of the Appalachian Trail is here.
8 | Highest point of elevation of the Appalachian Trail
The Smoky Mountains has the highest point of elevation of the entire Appalachian Trail at 2019 metres (6625 feet) – near Clingman’s Dome.
9 | Camping in Great Smoky Mountains
There are many camping sites available, from backcountry to horse campgrounds. Backcountry camping requires a permit and reservations in advance. Backcountry campers are also advised to check weather conditions against their itinerary before arrival.
Bear activity, in addition to weather, can cause sites, roads, trails and shelters to close. The park can accommodate large groups of campers (minimum party size of 7) at several sites. Group campers must use tents only and they must reserve a spot in advance.
10 | Historic Buildings in Great Smoky Mountains
There are about 90 historic buildings in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A collection of log buildings, houses, barns, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved. Best places to experience these are at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Oconaluftee and along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
My conclusion of the Great Smoky Mountains
Being in the midst of nature, the Smokies was truly an experience for a city girl like me. I enjoyed waking up to the sounds of the birds, the freshness of the morning dew, a walk in the trails looking for the footprints of black bears, and the sighting of elks were experiences that I would never forget. These are also experiences that encourages me to revisit this ancient wonder and is on my “return” list.
Travel tips and Useful Information on Great Smoky Mountains
Getting to Great Smoky Mountains
The Park sits on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN
As the Park sits on the borders of two states, it offers various possibilities of access. The most popular entrance to the Park is via Sugarlands, the north side of the Park. I accessed the following from the official website of the mysmokymountain:
Access via Foothills Parkway
The Foothills Parkway gives you easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a road corridor that is outside the Park. The New Leg of the Parkway takes you from Townsend, TN, to Wears Valley, with a short ride into Pigeon Forge, TN, and Gatlinburg, TN – from US 129 to US 321 in Walland.
Visitor Centres
There are four Visitor Centres:
Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Oconaluftee, and Sugarlands
You can check the official website of the visitor centres by clicking: https://www.mysmokymountainpark.com/park/visitor-centers
What you need to know about the Weather in Great Smoky Mountains
- Weather at The Great Smoky Mountains:
**The weather here includes severe storms—tornadoes, strong winds, and hail—that can occur especially during the spring and summer months with March having the widest temperature swings. You can expect snowfall at any time during this month.
**Great Smoky Mountains National Park weather is also dependent on elevation. The base of a mountain can be 10 – 20 degrees warmer than temperatures at higher elevations, so prepare accordingly.
Safety tips to think about when at Great Smoky Mountains
If you are hiking, riding or camping, it is a good idea for you to have the following considerations in mind:
i) Map of the Great Smoky Mountains
Bring a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map. Even better if you can get one that has the hiking trails, and camping sites dotted. You can purchase one from the Visitor Centre.
ii) Park Rangers of the Great Smoky Mountains
Ask Great Smoky Mountains Park Rangers for additional safety tips when hiking or camping.
iii) Compass and network
Ensure you have a compass with you and you have a hand-phone that is fully charged. Take a charging device as a precaution.
More ways to experience Smoky Mountains
In and around the Smokies are attractions and activities which one could explore for experiences that will last a lifetime!
Gatlinburg is one of the busiest towns that has a great selection from accommodation to restaurants and souvenir shops plus loads of attractions to choose from. Visit the Titanic Museum, Anakeesta Theme Park or Dollywood. If you are seeking adventurous activities, you could always do a helicopter tour, a 3-hour jeep tour from Foothills Parkway or a mountain zip lining activity. There are more choices available here for you to peruse and purchase an Adventure Pass giving you money saving options to 30 attractions and more.
If you prefer a quiet getaway, exploring on your own terms, like us, you could do that too. Whichever way you would like your adventure to be, there is always something for everyone seeking a memorable vacation at The Smokies.
Notes:
This is not a sponsored post and all opinions expressed are my own. All photos are my own and are all rights reserved. Please do not reproduce them. All prints are available upon requests.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and my adventure here will inspire you to travel to this ancient wonder.
Is this post valuable to you in planning your visits to The Smoky Mountains National Park? If so, let me know in comments below or via Contact Form, I would love to hear from you.
Have a splendid adventure!
January 2021, Update.
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[https://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/great-smoky-mountains-national-park]
[https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/historicbuildings.htm]
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“There are trees here that stood before our forefathers ever came to this continent; there are brooks that still run as clear as on the day the first pioneer cupped his hand and drank from them.”
Franklin Roosevelt
