Great Smoky Mountains
Mountain
Why pick this one
Great Smoky Mountains spans 522,427 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, with hiking, camping, wildlife watching, and historic sites.
Best for
- hiking and waterfall viewing
- camping in developed campgrounds or backcountry sites
- wildlife watching for elk and black bears
- scenic auto touring through Cades Cove
- exploring Appalachian cultural history and historic buildings
- visiting diverse ecosystems and viewing wildflowers
Look elsewhere if
- the visit requires Laurel Falls Trail, which is closed for rehabilitation
- the visitor needs a compact attraction within one city
- the visitor requires guaranteed trail access without checking current conditions
Specialties
- hiking
- camping
- wildlife watching
- auto touring
- historic-site exploration
- waterfall viewing
- scenic drives
What makes them different
- Covers 522,427 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina
- Offers 10 developed campgrounds plus backcountry camping
- Documents more than 22,000 species, including species found nowhere else on the planet
- No entrance fee; parking tags are required for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes
- Includes the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove scenic loop
Distilled from this business's own website.
Contact & Location
- Website
- http://www.nps.gov/grsm
Services
- park access
- developed camping
- backcountry camping
- picnicking
- shuttle transportation
- visitor information
- educational programs