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The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is situated along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the Southeastern United States. The park is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and is often referred to as ‘The Smokies’. 

The national park is one of the most popular parks in the United States, attracting some 11 million visitors each year. 

The smokies get their name from the cloud of fog that hangs over them constantly. 

In this article, we’ll look at some of the things that you can do when you visit the Great Smoky National Park.  

Hiking In The Smokies 

It is no surprise that one of the main reasons that people head to the Great Smoky National Park is so that they can go hiking.  

There are over 140 easy to moderate walking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. These start at just 0.8 miles and some are as long as 32.7 miles. They range from 1,055 feet through to 6,643 feet above the sea level. There really is hiking here that suits everyones abilities. 

When you are planning a hike in the Smokies, go prepared. Pack plenty of food and water for the hike, wear appropriate clothing, and take a map and GPS. Check out your walking routes before you head off on your journey.  It’s always smart to let a family member or a friends know where you are hiking as well.

We’ll look at a couple of the trails in more depth later, but you can read more here about some of the other things you can do in the smokies. 

Sugarland Visitor Center 

When you arrive at the Smokies, head over to the Sugarland Visitor Center. From here you can check out a range of different exhibits and resources. You can also use the center as a starting off point for lots of different trails including Gatlinburg Trail, Cataract Falls, and Fighting Creek Nature Trail. 

Clingmans Dome 

One of the places that are most visited in the national park is Clingmans Dome. Clingmans Dome is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi. The mountain reaches a peak of 6,643 feet and provides gorgeous panoramic views. 

Alum Cave Trail  

This difficult trail is not for the faint heated. The elevation that you’ll need to climb is 2,763 feet taking you to the top of the 6,593 foot summit where you’ll see some of the best views of the whole park. The highlights of the route include Alum Cave itself and the Eye of the Needle. 

Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail 

Explore the national park by car and drive along the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. Although it is not suitable for every vehicle as the roads are quite narrow, you’ll see beautiful views of old forests and historic buildings. 

Synchronous Fireflies 

There are quite a few different species of fireflies in the smokies, but one of the most amazing is the synchronous fireflies whose mating ritual is spectacular. If you want to see this spectacle, then the best time to see it is between late May and the middle of June. 

For more information, visit this link: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Happy Travels!