Surrounded by mountain peaks, the valley once served as hunting grounds for the Cherokee. Finally, drink your way through Smoky Mountain country with a Moonshine and Wine tour. Pick up a tube at the campground, and after a short drive inside the National Park, walk your tube to the river put-in. The main Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance on the southern border, Oconaluftee is right outside of Cherokee, NC. Hen Wallow Falls is a popular day hike, located just 2.1 miles from the Cosby Picnic Area. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. >> Can You Just Drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park? This rock-strewn path gains about 1,500 feet in elevation en route to the 80-foot-high cascading falls named for the rainbow that often appears in the mist. From the original Appalachian Trail to breathtaking wildflower walks, there are 150 Smoky Mountain trails covering 800 miles of pristine backcountry. There are three main entrances into The Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Gatlinburg, TN entrance From interstate highway I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville) to TN-66 South. Hello and Thank you. North of Asheville Craggy Gardens Milepost 364.4: Breathtaking views await you here at elevation 5,640 feet. Or try the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which winds nearly 6 miles through old-growth forests alongside gurgling mountain streams. From hiking on 150 trails covering 850 miles to cycling, fishing and horseback riding, GSMNP delivers recreational options aplenty for all fitness levels. Check with the Natl Park service for details because its a popular event. Winter snow and ice close some of the driving routes, including the popular road to Clingmans Dome, the park's highest mountain (elevation 6,643 feet). **You really should reserve at least 4 hours (or more in summer or fall) just for Cades Cove. Plan to unplug when visiting the park: There are no cell towers, making reception limited or nonexistent except at higher elevations where visitors can sometimes detect signals. Lodging options in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge range from resorts to chain motels. With some outdoor experience and careful planning, you can head out into the woods for a couple of days to experience these mountains in a unique way. A hike through the Great Smoky Mountains whether it be on the Appalachian Trail itself, a wildflower walk, or a trip to one of the many waterfalls will leave you with a smile and a lasting impression. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails Cherokee is on Native American tribal land. The Cades Cove Loop, located a few miles beyond the Townsend Park entrance, is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Three major Tennessee cities are within an easy drive from GSMNP: Chattanooga is 108 miles southwest; Knoxville, just 32 miles north; and Nashville, 194 miles northwest. By Caroline Eubanks. Into the mountains I go to lose my mind and find my soul John Muir. Like many of our nations national parks, Great Smoky Mountain was established on land already inhabited by Indigenous peoples and white settlers. Spend the night at Buckhorn Inn, a bed and breakfast that opened in 1938. The reservation is a big part of the local Smoky Mountain tourist economy, with campgrounds, hotels, and attractions. The eastern part of town is closest to the parks most incredible waterfalls: Meigs Falls and Spruce Flats Falls. Whitewater rafting is a pants-wetting, heart-racing thrill and its so much fun! The Sugarlands Visitor Center features a 21-minute movie about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nature exhibits, hiking (see below), park exhibits, gift shop, restrooms, and plenty of free parking. What Other Smoky Mountains Entrances Are There? TN Well look at these in more detail below. September 17, 2014 Many of you may not know about the secret entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For those who want a little bit of excitement without, If youd rather leave the navigation to a pro, join a guided paddleboard tour with, For breakfast, get an early start and head to, For dinner in Gatlinburg, you can find a top-notch meal off the beaten path at, You cant leave Sevierville without eating (and drinking) at, A visit to North Carolina isnt complete without eating some barbeque, and, If youre interested in having a few more amenities at your disposal, check out. Both have their own visitor center, so you can pick up a park map, ask a park ranger for hiking recommendations, and use a real restroom before venturing off into the mountains. If the thrill of whitewater doesnt sound like your cup of tea, no worries. Thanks to the lumber boom and an influx of tourists, it grew to become the second-largest town in the county and included a hotel, a store, a church, a school, and a post office. Just outside the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the easy 1.1-mile Fighting Creek Nature Trail gives you an introduction to the park's wildlife, with possible sightings of black bears, elk, whitetail deer and more. Joey Hadden/Insider. Parking tags are also nonrefundable, so if you buy a weekly tag and then leave after 5 days, the park will not refund you for the 2 days you didnt use. And it's a great way to experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains - drive-thru style. Chartered by Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) offers near-endless outdoor fun from hiking (you can find trails for all ability levels) to boating, cycling, fishing and horseback riding. All the businesses and hotels are run by tribe members and include some interesting tourist stops of their own, like the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. But the area remains open for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or a winter walk through the high-altitude spruce-fir forest. On a clear day in Wears Valley, you will be able to see Mount LeConte in the background with the colorful leaves blanketing the treetops. And the park isnt very dog friendly. For the best chance of spotting elk, wildlife biologist Joe Yarkovich offers this insider tip: Arrive about an hour before sunrise or a couple of hours before sunset. For anglers, Cataloochee Creek teems with wild trout. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Elkmont got its start in the mid-1800s as a small settlement of homesteaders, hunters, and loggers. Please try again. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Use your common sense, and follow park safety guidelines. Other National Park Service sites may require an entrance pass or fee. There are two main entrances, one in Cherokee, NC and another in Gatlinburg, TN. There are three entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Gatlinburg, and every one takes you into a section of the 800 square miles of unspoiled Appalachia. Revisit the 18th century at the Oconaluftee Indian Village amid re-creations of traditional Cherokee dwellings, sacred ritual sites and workshops. Porters Creek is particularly vibrant in March and April. Built in 1959, the observation tower allows visitors a 360-degree panorama of the Smokies. You might be tempted to fly into Nashville, TN (BNA), but thats a 4 hour drive to the Sugarlands entrance to the park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park also has some regulations around backcountry camping, including storing food, building fires, and wildlife safety. In addition to the more than 800 miles of trails, there are almost 400 miles of roads crisscrossing the park. Visiting the park during the week can help you have a quieter experience. Or consider visiting in early November, when youll catch lingering fall colors and no crowds perfect. A Tennessee classic, Dolly Parton's Dollywood amusement park thrills with all the twists, turns and spins expected all served with a heaping side of country music. Top Places to Visit on the Blue Ridge Parkway From natural wonders to an art gallery/shop, these are highlights of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Take a seat on a bench in the clearing and soak in the scenery. (PDF file - 368 kb in size) Campground Maps Maps of the following developed campgrounds are available for downloading: Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, Look Rock, Smokemont. Of those that began the journey, 4,000 died due to disease, hunger, and exposure. Neighboring Cherokee is an essential stop for learning about the Native people who were forcibly removed from this land in 1838. Cascading waterfalls, roaming wildlife and a view that stretches out over 500,000 acres this is the countrys most-visited national park. You will be asked to register or log in. The Parkway's speed limit is typically 45 miles per hour (less in some places). The main park entrances are located along U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) in the towns of Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, . If you want to park your vehicle anywhere in the park, say to go for a hike or stop for a picnic longer than 15 minutes, you need a parking tag. Every trip to the Smokies begins with a drive on the Newfound Gap Road, so pack a picnic and see highlights along the way, including the Sugarlands Visitor Center, Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome Road, Ocanaluftee Valley and Mingus Mill. July 15, from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Oconaluftee Visitor Center Training Room, near the Cherokee entrance to the . This is the helpful, locals backdoor into the western part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches over 500,000 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina, and is known for its wildlife and . Youll be driving around like a pro in no time! Within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are two options: camping or hiking up to LeConte Lodge. Guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals, naturalist talks, and balcony showers. Sugarlands Visitor Center Gloria Wadzinski. Depending on your trip plans, an interagency pass may save you money. Because of the caverns deep, solid, limestone formations, the caves can pick up on sounds on the other side of the globe. All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. A scenic drive is a great way to see the far-off corners of the park or a fun way to sightsee on a rainy day. Traffic in Gatlinburg is always terrible. Cammerer Fire Tower is a Smoky Mountain classic. For simplicitys sake, though, here are a few options for great 2-3 day routes: Remember that backpacking, like camping, requires lots of planning. The Ramsey Cascades Trail is located near Greenbrier and . Good displays of wildflowers can be seen along the first 1.5 miles of trail. Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers more than 500,000 acres so theres a lot to see. What does that mean? Gatlinburg, Tennessee: With a fun, Orlando-like theme park vibe coupled with a country twang Gatlinburg and the adjoining town of Pigeon Forge flaunt attractions of every variety. Anything else I should know about visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park? The 8-mile, one-way, gravel road provides beautiful views of Cades Cove. History From I-40 at the North Carolina exit 20. And if walking through a dim, ghostly, forgotten tunnel is a little too spooky for you, theres a bypass around the tunnel that lets you access the same trails. Travel Tip: Weekends during peak fall color season get busy, too. Cozy up at Sky Ridge Yurts, located just across the river from rafting outfitters like Nantahala Outdoor Center. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. One mile before you get to the trail, stop at the Noah Bud Ogle self-guided 0.7-mile nature trail for a walking tour of an authentic mountain farmstead, with one of the park's last remaining, fully operational tub mills. Also most of the campgrounds close at the end of October too. Lastly, the locals that live nearby and want to make spontaneous trips to their local national park can get Annual parking passes ($40). In 1994, Elkmont was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. >> Cades Cove Visitor Center is located about halfway around the full loop. again. (865) 436-4178 If the splashes from your ride arent enough, you can take a dip in the natural swimming hole along the river. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park occupies over 500,000 acres of land. The ones you can book, sell out months out. Black bears, deer, elk and other wildlife roam this peaceful valley. The menu at Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen changes frequently, but diners can expect thoughtful dishes like local rabbit and foraged vegetable pasta. It simply gives you the right to park anywhere in the park without getting towed or ticketed. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. For times when you want a hotel that isn't competing with your to-do list. Summer brings the crowds, and theres no trying to deny it. Natural Retreats - Over 60 Smoky Mountain cabin rentals offer guests the feeling of seclusion with modern amenities and proximity to restaurants and cultural experiences nearby. This charming accommodation offers beds in cute, rustic log cabins as well as meals in a shared dining room. Youll just have to be patient or visit at an off-peak time or day. Depending on where youre staying in or near the park, there are tons of options when choosing a rafting guide. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park in the southeastern United States, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. This is the main entrance on the northern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our blog has more information about the hiking trails in Wears Valley in the Smoky Mountains. In terms of places to stay, there are two great options: Little Arrow Resort, in Townsend, has safari-style tents, Airstreams, tiny houses, and full-sized vacation homes that sleep up to 12. Limited Wi-Fi may be available at some locations. TYPE. Euro-Americans later dubbed them the Great Smoky Mountains. How do I get around Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Make sure youre familiar with all of the parks guidance before heading into the backcountry being unprepared isnt fun, and can negatively affect wildlife and other park visitors. The Oconaluftee Cherokee, along with some members of the Cherokee Nation who hid in the mountains to avoid relocation, became the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. Omg! As part of every stay, guests are served decadent breakfasts and four-course dinners with views of Mount LeConte. The next town north of Gatlinburg is Pigeon Forge, made famous as the home of Dolly Parton and her Dollywood amusement park. We have a few tips for avoiding crowds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but its impossible to miss 100% of the traffic. Find out What Are The Most Dangerous Creatures in the Smoky Mountains? No, parking tag sales are not limited to a certain number per day, and they dont guarantee you a parking spot. Cammerer Fire Tower is a Smoky Mountain classic. cheers!! We will be traveling with our teen daughters, in April. Knoxville is 45 minutes from the small town of Townsend on the north side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Wears Valley entrance (also referred to as the Wears Cove entrance) is a secret spot, typically where many of the locals will go to enter the national park. >> Does My Parking Tag Guarantee Me a Parking Spot? Parking tags are required to be associated with a specific license plate number. There are gates on this road that could close access, but the National Park map doesnt label this as a road that will close every winter. Learn more below. Honestly, this route doesnt provide a lot of advantages that the Townsend entrance doesnt already offer. If you buy a day pass in the morning, you cant give it to someone else to use in their car in the afternoon. Pack a rain jacket, lace up your hiking boots, and get ready for a Smoky Mountain adventure! The town of Cherokee is on tribal lands; Bryson City, further west, is not. >> How Long Does It Take to Drive Through GSMNP? This route is narrow but paved, and it provides access to the Little Greenbrier School, a historic building on the National Register of Historic Places. Click the link below to download! We will do some day hikes and driving thru the park.no backpacking. Provided by Touchpoints Contact Info Mailing Address: 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Phone: (865)436-1200 Contact Us Whether youre driving the entire way or coming from a nearby airport, youll pass through either Cherokee, NC; Gatlinburg, TN; or Townsend, TN. Completed sections of the Foothills Parkway are open year-round, weather permitting. The road never made it past the tunnel at the end of what is now Lakeview Drive. Your email address will not be published. If you want a no-fuss meal, Smokies Cuban Cafe is a local favorite in an unassuming strip mall, known for its Cuban sandwiches, ropa vieja, and signature sweet (and strong) cafecito. Subscribe and well send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. The Old Mill Restaurant is one of the most famous places to eat here, with family-style meals like fried chicken and collard greens, all served on dishes made at the Old Mill studios. Eventually, with the development of the park, Elkmonts residents headed elsewhere. The 5-mile (round-trip), moderate Abrams Falls hike leads you through a gorgeous pine-oak forest to the 20-foot waterfall. I mean its beautiful and one of my favorite times to visit, but its still super crowded. Find your One-Way Rental. For outdoor recreation and an adrenaline rush, go white-water rafting on the Nantahala River in nearby Bryson City. Great Smoky Mountains sees, generally, three types of visitors: The Daily parking tag ($5) is for those that only allowed a single day to explore the vast amazingness that is the Great Smoky Mountains. Are there hikes located at/near Sugarlands Visitor Center? Foothills Parkway West runs from Walland to Chilhowee, while Foothills Parkway East travels from Cosby to I-40, Exit #443. When you stay in Wears Valley, youre only a few short minutes from the Pigeon Forge Parkway, so when youre ready to spend time experiencing the exciting things to do in the area, you wont have to drive too far. You'll also find vending machines at visitors centers. }, How to Get to Bellagio from Milan in 5 Easy Steps, The Closest Beach to Columbia, SC: 20 Great Ocean & Lake Beaches. Reservations are required (recreation.gov) from May through October, with limited first-come, first-served sites also available from November through April. Unlike many national parks that have a single, tiny gateway town near the parks entrance, Great Smoky Mountains is surrounded by several little Appalachian mountain towns that are full of character. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world, Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in the Adirondacksthe Birthplace of the American Vacation, Whats New at the Jersey Shore This Summer, A Complete Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park, The Best Places to Stay Near Acadia National Park, Where to Watch the Chicago Fourth of July Fireworks 2023, The Best Camping in Wisconsin, From National Lakeshores to State Parks. There is one way to get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park: drive. There's no need to pull out your wallet at the park entrances: GSMNP has no entry fee. Getting to the Road To Nowhere requires a winding six-mile drive on Lakeview Drive out of Bryson City. Bryson City is the hub for the North Carolina Smokies and is popular with families riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, as the best-known route snakes through the mountains between Bryson City and Dillsboro. AARP Membership-Join AARP for just $12 for your first year when you enroll in automatic renewal. Its the first place to get a park map for those entering from Gatlinburg, and its the only real restrooms at the crossroads of the park. The Tennessee-North Carolina state line bisects the park, as does the famous Appalachian Trail hiking trail, so we suppose you could also hike into the park if you prefer. We recommend making a full day of it. This is where many of the locals go to enter the park. All rights reserved. >> Does Great Smoky Mountains National Park have an Entrance Fee? Hikers flock to Cades Cove to access popular trailheads, including the 5-mile (round-trip) moderate Abrams Falls hike that leads through a gorgeous pine-oak forest alongside Abrams Creek to the namesake 20-foot waterfall that cascades into a long, deep pool. The pass is valid at over 2,000 National Parks and 10% of the sale proceeds are donated to the National Park Foundation, helping to keep our parks beautiful! 2 reviews 3 helpful votes Which entrance 14 years ago Save Hello, We have never gone to the park and we have 5 days for a visit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Rent a pontoon boat on Fontana lake, on GSMNP's southern border, or hike its surrounding trails. Since its bordered by National Park and National Forest lands, the shoreline is mostly undeveloped, making this lake a campers, paddlers, and anglers paradise. Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not charge an entrance fee. Well, lucky for the foodies out there, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is surrounded by quaint Appalachian towns that know how to feed a hungry hiker. The road pops out onto Little River Gorge Road inside the park between The Sinks and the Elkmont Campground. Its beginning to look like the junky strip areas of Pigeon Forge. Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Day Bike or walk the Cades Cove Loop Road during motor vehicle-free days, Wednesdays from May 3 to September 27, 2023. After about 4.5 miles, youll take a left onto Elkmont Road. Nearby, the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park's elevator whisks you up to the SkyBridge for some exhilarating (maybe nerve-racking for some) sightseeing at cloud level on this pedestrian bridge stretching 680 feet across a deep gorge, at a height of 140 feet. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. While falls our favorite, you can expect some highlights during every season. While exploring dark, subterranean crevices might be more of a turnoff for the more claustrophobic traveler, this is a rather comfortable, roomy experience! If youll be flying to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then rent a car, the closest airport is McGhee-Tyson just south of Knoxville, Tennessee. In North Carolina: Escape the crowds on the busier Tennessee side and relish in the Smokies wild beauty in the isolated Cataloochee Valley in the park's less-visited North Carolina section. Their sole purpose is to defray the cost of your wear-and-tear on the parks roads, trails, and other infrastructure. more information on current conditions Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. The 1.4 mile walk to Sutton Ridge Overlook offers spectacular views. However, back in North Carolina, another group of Cherokee, who considered themselves separate from the Cherokee Nation, were allowed to stay. The permanent tents have porches overlooking the forest, fire pits, full-sized bathrooms, WiFi, televisions, and kitchens (some come with kitchenettes, others offer full set-ups). The 57-room inn has rustic guest rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a hearty daily breakfast included in every stay. 1. With impressive swaths of wilderness, legendary whitewater rivers, scenic waterfalls, and quaint nearby towns, there is no shortage of things to do in the Smokies. Nearly evenly split between eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, the park has 62 species of mammals including iconic black bears, bobcats, coyotes, red wolves and an estimated 200 elk roaming its 522,427 acres. Today, you can take a guided 1-mile walk through the cave system, witnessing subterranean streams, waterfalls, and geologic oddities. In the meantime, please feel free How to Get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrances, Isolated Areas with Developed Campgrounds, Closest Airports to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Visitor Centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Site by, 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel, 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple, 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America, 12 Epic Things to Do in Smoky Mountain National Park (& MASSIVE Travel Guide). 5 Things You Dont Know About the History of Wears Valley, 5 of the Best Scenic Drives in the Smoky Mountains, 7 of the Best Spots in the Smoky Mountains for First-Time Visitors.
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