Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Vacations

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Other Guides for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Parks and Outdoors Destinations Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Southeast Parks and Outdoors States/Provinces

Parks and Outdoors Travel Destinations
Moss-covered stream in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Moss-covered stream, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (Adam Jones/Photodisc/Getty)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Highlights

By Travel Expert: Johnny Molloy
  • The most visited of all U.S. National Parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits astride the Tennessee-North Carolina border amid the majestic southern climax of the Appalachian Highlands. The Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few places in the East are in their league as an outdoors-recreation destination.
  • This national park literally has hundreds of miles of trails for equestrians, including the only sections of the Appalachian Trail open to horseback riders. Also, five auto-accessible horse camps make riding the Smokies even easier. More than 40 backcountry campsites also welcome equestrians.
  • The Foothills Parkway was created for scenic driving. It begins at the western end of the park, near Chilhowee Lake, and travels atop Chilhowee Mountain. Look Rock observation tower is a must-stop. A short hike leads to a 360-degree vista. Continue past numerous other overlooks. Look Rock Campground makes for a good overnighting venue next to the Foothills Parkway. A disjunct section of the parkway travels a short distance on the eastern end of the park.
  • Nearly 500 miles of fishable streams criss-cross the Smokies, from the upper prongs of Forney Creek at over 4,000 feet to the mouth of Abrams Creek, where it spills into Chilhowee Lake at less than 900 feet. Brook trout are the only native trout, but after the logging days of the late 19th and early 20th century, both brook and brown trout were stocked. Now, these three species, along with smallmouth bass in the lowest streams, thrive here.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Overview

Cloaked in mystery, the Great Smoky Mountains were once known by the Cherokee as sha-cona-ge, "land of the blue mist" (or smoke). According to Cherokee legend, people and animals originally lived in the sky above the ocean. When the sky became overcrowded, a water beetle was sent to find land but could not, so it dived to the bottom of the ocean and...

Read Entire Review

Hotels

expert favorite hotel
LeConte Lodge
250 Apple Valley Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Distance: 28.3 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel Active and Adventure travel
expert favorite hotel
Abrams Creek Campground
Happy Valley
Maryville, TN
Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Distance: 31.2 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
from: $98 compare hotel rates
Hilton Knoxville Airport
2001 Alcoa Highway
Alcoa, TN 37701-3163 Map
Hotel Class: 3 class stars
Distance: 0.0 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
All Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels
advertisement

Great Hotel Deals in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

compare rates

Attractions

expert favorite attraction
Fontana Lake
Map
Distance: 11.5 Miles (from destination center)
Description: Fontana Lake, bordering the south side of Smoky... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
expert favorite attraction
Nantahala River Gorge
Nantahala National Forest
c/o Wayah Ranger District, 90 Sloan Road
Franklin, North Carolina 28734
Distance: 16.6 Miles (from destination center)
Description: The Nantahala River Gorge, a nine-mile stretch of... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel Active and Adventure travel
expert favorite attraction
Trout Streams
Distance: 20.5 Miles (from destination center)
Description: Literally hundreds of miles of trout streams... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
All Great Smoky Mountains National Park Attractions

Feature Articles

More Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Feature Articles (4)
See All Feature Articles on Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Trip Ideas

GORPTravel Trips

See All GORPTravel Trips

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

Hiking and Backpacking | Horses and Riding | Road and Rail Journeys:
» All Parks and Outdoors Guides
advertisement
take me fishing
Select a state:
advertisement

Travel Interest Guides

spring driving guide
Spring Driving Guide
Top itineraries, family-friendly asphalt-obsessed exploration, global four-wheel touring, tips, photos—it's all here.
interactive gift guide guide
Interactive Gift Guide
Surprise your active-minded, travel-obsessed mom with some of the best gear ever profiled in Outside magazine.
family guide
Family Guide
Our esteemed travel experts have chosen the best places, hotels, and attractions to make your summer family outing the best ever.
beach guide
Beach Guide
Whether you dive, kiteboard, windsurf, or just strive to perfect the art of sun-bathing, our experts have got the spot.