Great Smoky Mountains National Park

With almost ten million visitors a year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks as the most popular national park in the United States. The park was established in 1934 to protect the last remnant of the southern Appalachian forest, which once covered more than four million acres but was virtually eliminated by logging and fire. It has been designated a Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, covering an area of more than 800 square miles in two states -- North Carolina and Tennessee. 

The name "Smoky" comes from the bluish mist, which envelops the mountains and fills the valleys, giving the park its distinct feature. The park is renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources, which includes 1,400 flowering plants, 200 bird species, and 50 kinds of mammals. 

Visiting the Park

Start off your visit to the park by stopping at one of the visitor centers or writing ahead to obtain information. The park's three visitor centers include: Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, TN, which is open year-round and offers an orientation program and natural history exhibits; Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near Cherokee, NC, which is also open year-round and its exhibits focus on mountain life of the late 1800s; and Cades Cove Visitor Center, near Townsend, TN, (closed in winter), sitting among preserved historic buildings representing isolated farming communities of the 1800s. Sugarlands and Oconaluftee are connected by the Newfound Gap Road, a scenic drive across the Smokies that connects Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN. The drive includes numerous scenic pullouts with mountain views and a variety of forest types as you ascend approximately 3,000 feet up the spine of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Newfound Gap Road is bisected by the 2,160-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Camping and Accommodations

Overnight facilities at Great Smoky Mountains NP include ten developed campgrounds as well as a number of backcountry campsites. During summer and fall, sites at Elkmont, Smokemont, and Cades Cove may be reserved. For reservations call 800-365-2267 or visit the reservation web site. Reservations are accepted only for May 15-Oct. 31, and sites may be reserved up to five months in advance. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-serve. 

The LeConte Lodge, accessible only by foot or horseback, sits atop 6,593 Mt. LeConte and provides the only lodging in the park. Reservations are required and can be made by phone (423-429-5704) or by e-mail at at reservations@leconte-lodge.com.  The lodge is open mid-March to mid-November. 

Recreational Opportunities

The National Park Service maintains more than 850 miles of walking and hiking trails in the park that cover every degree of difficulty, ranging from paved walking paths to steep mountain trails. .During the summer and fall, the park provides regularly scheduled ranger-led interpretive walks and talks, slide presentations, and campfire programs at campgrounds and visitor centers. Other park activities include sightseeing, fishing, auto touring, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Environmental education programs, including workshops and hikes, are offered through the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and the Smoky Mountain Field School (both charge fees). 

The peak months for park visitation are June to August and October during spectacular autumn color. Lowest visitation occurs in winter months, November to February, and early spring. 

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To help you plan a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, see the trip planner page, which includes general park information, maps, contact information for nearby tourism offices, park photographs, and a variety of other resources on the park and surrounding area. You can also contact the park headquarters directly at:

107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1200

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