Great Smoky Mountains
Cades Cove
Surrounded by beautiful mountain vistas and featuring lush open meadows, many visitors see deer, bear, wild turkey, coyotes, and other wildlife roaming freely in their natural surroundings.
More Info
Clingmans Dome
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.
More Info
Fall Experiences
The park usually experiences an autumn leaf season of several weeks as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from high elevation to low.
More Info
Foothills Parkway
For spectacular mountain views in any season, plan a road trip along the Foothills Parkway. From this scenic roadway, you’ll see the Smokies rise all around you, and each curve brings another far-reaching vista.
More Info
Newfound Gap
At an elevation of 5,046 feet, Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
More Info
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
An exuberant mountain stream gave this area its unusual name. Roaring Fork is one of the larger and faster-flowing mountain streams in the park.
More Info
The Sinks
The Sinks in the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the few waterfalls in the national park that you can actually drive to and enjoy, without hiking.
More Info
Synchronous Fireflies
For a short time each spring, natural fireworks spark the forest darkness in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These mysteriously synchronized lights—flashing together as one, from just above ground level, up into the trees—mark the da...
More Info
Picnic Spots
Check out the eight best spots to unpack your cooler and eat outdoors. For sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check with the park service before you head out so you’re informed about any changes to what’s open.
More Info
Kid Friendly Hikes
Get youngsters outdoors on kid-friendly trails in the Smoky Mountains. Whether your kids are young walkers needing the easiest footpaths, or older children eager for more adventure, every family can find the right trail.
More Info
Smoky Mountain Sunsets
For all you sunset hunters out there, Tennessee is the place to be. The colorful Smoky Mountains and unique locations give the sun many places to truly set in style.
More Info
Black Bears
7 Fun and interesting facts about black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains. Learn more about these popular animals and their behavior.
More Info
Waterfall Hikes
The Smoky Mountains are known for their peaceful and otherworldly hiking trails. Especially around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, you can find many wonderful hiking trails designed for expert trail adventurers, newcomers, and everyone in between....
More Info
Scenic Drives
Nothing clears the heart and the mind like a leisurely drive through scenic terrain. There’s a lot of great hiking in the Smoky Mountains, but for those who fancy an afternoon drive, here are some of the most scenic roadways in the area.
More Info
Elevations
Elevations in the Smoky Mountains vary over 5,000 feet from the highest point to the lowest. Listed below are the elevations of some of the most popular and recognized areas of the Great Smoky Mountains.
More Info
Elkmont
Today’s tourists weren’t the first to discover the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. A century ago, Knoxville elites flocked to the Elkmont area. Today, their abandoned summer homes are a ghost town you can explore....
More Info
The Smoky Mountain Angler
Wade trips take you into the streams and rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Float trips get you out onto local waterways.
More Info
Fly Fishing the Smokies
This outfitter guides anglers all over the Smokies in Tennessee and North Carolina. A wade trip or a drift boat trip includes all gear.
More Info
Sugarlands Visitor Center
The Sugarlands Visitor Center is the perfect place to start your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. Located just a short drive from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the center offers a variety of exhibits and programs that will introduce you to the park's nat...
More Info
Mt. Leconte
Mt. Leconte is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains. The mountain is known for its stunning views and its many hiking trails.
More Info