Great Smoky Mountains
America's Most Visited National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains straddle the Tennessee–North Carolina border and draw more visitors than any other national park in America - for good reason. Ancient rounded mountains draped in a blue haze, over 1,500 species of flowering plants, hundreds of miles of trails, historic Appalachian cabins, and the best fall foliage in the Eastern US.
Gallery
Why Great Smoky Mountains?
Fall Foliage
Mid-October brings one of the most spectacular fall color displays in North America across 800 square miles.
Black Bears
Over 1,900 black bears live in the park - sightings are common, especially in spring and fall.
Clingmans Dome
The highest point in the Smokies at 6,643 feet offers 360-degree views above the clouds.
Historic Cabins
Cades Cove preserves 19th-century Appalachian homesteads, grist mills, and log churches in a stunning valley.
Top Experiences
- Clingmans Dome sunrise or sunset tower walk
- Cades Cove loop road at dawn for wildlife
- Alum Cave Trail to the summit of LeConte
- Laurel Falls (most visited waterfall in the park)
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Gatlinburg SkyBridge and SkyLift Park
Expert Travel Tips
No entrance fee - the Smokies are one of the few free national parks
Cades Cove is best on Wednesday and Saturday mornings when it's car-free
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are touristy but convenient bases
Fall weekends are extremely congested - arrive before 8am or after 4pm