The largest national park East of the Rocky Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses approximately 244,000 acres in Tennessee and 276,000 acres in North Carolina for a total of 520,000 acres or more than 800 square miles. Often called the “Crown Jewels of the Appalachian Mountains,” the Smokies were also referred to as the “ Land of Blue Mist” by the Cherokees.
The Most Visited National Park in the United States
Full of breathtaking scenery and a multitude of recreational opportunities, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, drawing more than 10 million visitors annually (in comparison, less than 5 million people visit Grand Canyon National Park each year). The park, which has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, lies within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the country’s population.
Established in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts 140 native species of trees, 4,000 species of plants, more than 850 miles of scenic hiking trails, and 700 miles and rivers. An estimated 1,500 black bears live within the park's boundaries (your best chance of seeing a black bear is at open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley). Other animals that inhabit the park include the Eastern cottontail rabbit, red wolf, groundhog, red fox, coyote, bobcat, river otter, white-tailed deer and wild boar.
Abundance of Recreational Activities
An abundance of campsites, hiking trails, waterfalls, picnic areas and historic sites can be found throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fishing is permitted year round - a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license is required. Guided horseback rides are available in season. Scenic drives through the park include Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), Cades Cove Loop Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Little River Road and The Foothills Parkway, among others. Popular campgrounds within Great Smoky Mountains National Park include Cades Cove, Cosby, Elkmont, Look Rock, Balsam Mountain, Deep Creek and Smokemont. All campgrounds are open from mid-May through October (weather permitting). Approximately 100 backcountry campsites are also spread throughout the park (a free permit is required).
Plan Your Visit
Before you embark on your exploration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit one of the 3 visitors centers within the park’s borders: Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Cades Cove Visitor Center near Townsend, Tennessee; or Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina.
Note: No fee is charged to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (certain secondary roads, campgrounds and visitor facilities are closed during the winter).
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Celebrates 75th Anniversary! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates a major milestone in 2009 - the 75th anniversary of the park's establishment on June 15, 1934. Several major events have been planned for the celebration such as a Governor's Proclamation ceremony during the week of April 20, 2009; three events on Anniversary Weekend, June 13-15, 2009, to showcase the resources of Cades Cove, Sugarlands and Oconaluftee; and rededication of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 2009, at Newfound Gap.
Country music superstar Dolly Parton will serve as the celebrity ambassador for the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009. Parton is one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's most famous neighbors. Her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, which welcomes more than 2.5-million guests annually, is located near the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To commemmorate the national park's 75th anniversary, Dollywood unveils a new show, Sha-Kon-O-Hey!, on Saturday, May 9, 2009. The 45-minute musical production, the most elaborate in Dollywood's 24-year history, incorporates scenic elements and stage effects never before seen at the theme park. Sha-Kon-O-Hey! captures the spirit of the mountains and the rich heritage of the people who call them home as it takes audiences back to a time of great change in the Smoky Mountains in the 1930s.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trivia
At 6,643 feet above sea level, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains.
