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Split between Tennessee and North Carolina, this Appalachian park protects old, rounded ridges whose name comes from the bluish mist that drifts across them on most days. It is one of the most visited national parks in the country and is known for remarkable biodiversity, including salamanders and black bears. Preserved log cabins, churches and mills recall the mountain communities that lived here before the park was created.
On the Tennessee side, Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg is the usual first stop. Cades Cove, a broad valley circled by a one-way loop road, is a favorite for spotting deer and bears among historic buildings. The narrow Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail passes streams and old homesteads, and Elkmont, along the Little River, is known for its synchronous fireflies in early summer. Newfound Gap Road crosses the crest, and a spur leads toward Kuwohi, the park's highest peak, where an observation tower overlooks the ridges. Hikers follow the Alum Cave Trail toward Mount LeConte, while the Chimney Tops trail is a shorter, steep climb to an overlook. In North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center adjoins the Mountain Farm Museum, and nearby Mingus Mill still grinds corn.
The Smokies suit families, hikers and anyone who enjoys scenic drives. Vehicles parked longer than fifteen minutes need a parking tag. Gatlinburg, Townsend and Cherokee are the main gateway towns.
WiserMap travel guideSmoky Mountains Tennessee Cades Cove Elk and Alum CaveExplore Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Cades Cove, Kuwohi, Alum Cave, Cataloochee elk, parking tag rules, seasons and a four-day itinerary.Read the guide
The lowest drivable pass through the park on Newfound Gap Road, on the Tennessee and North Carolina state line at over 5,000 feet. Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park here in 1940 at the Rockefeller Memorial, and the Appalachian Trail crosses it. The overlook gets busy, and it is often much colder than the valleys.
The highest point in the park and in Tennessee at 6,643 feet, formerly called Clingmans Dome and renamed in 2024 with its Cherokee name. A steep paved half mile path leads to a concrete observation tower with 360 degree views. The road is closed in winter, and a parking tag is required to park at the lot.
A popular trail that follows a creek through rhododendron thickets to Arch Rock, a natural tunnel, then climbs to Inspiration Point and the Alum Cave Bluffs. Strong hikers continue to the summit of Mount LeConte and LeConte Lodge. The bluffs are about 4.6 miles round trip, and the trailhead lot fills by early morning.
A short but steep trail off Newfound Gap Road climbing to a viewpoint that faces the rocky Chimney Tops pinnacles. The final scramble to the summit was closed after the 2016 wildfires. It is about 3.3 miles round trip, with around 1,400 feet of gain. Go early, as the trailhead parking is small.
A broad valley ringed by mountains with an 11 mile one-way loop road past historic log cabins, churches and a working grist mill. It is one of the best places in the park to see black bears, deer and wild turkeys. Traffic is slow. The loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays in summer for cyclists and walkers.
A narrow, winding one-way road near Gatlinburg through old forest and past rushing streams, historic cabins and a grist mill. Trailheads along it lead to Grotto Falls, where the trail passes behind the waterfall. It is closed in winter and is not open to buses, trailers or RVs. Allow about an hour.
Elkmont was a logging town and later a resort community of summer cabins, some restored by the park as a historic district. The Little River Trail follows the stream from here. Elkmont is famous for synchronous fireflies in late May and early June, which require a lottery-based parking pass to see.
The main visitor center on the North Carolina side near Cherokee, with exhibits on the history of the Smokies. Behind it, the Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of historic log farm buildings including a farmhouse, barn and apple house. Elk often graze in the nearby fields, especially at dawn and dusk.
A grist mill built in 1886 just north of Oconaluftee, powered by a water turbine rather than a wheel, fed by a long wooden flume. In season, a miller demonstrates grinding corn and sells cornmeal. It is a short walk from the parking area. Check seasonal opening dates, as the mill is not staffed in winter.
A remote valley on the eastern edge of the park, reached by a winding partly gravel road, with preserved homes, a schoolhouse and churches from a former farming community. Elk were reintroduced here in 2001 and are often seen in the fields in early morning and evening. Stay in your car or keep well back from elk.
A creek area near Bryson City, North Carolina, known for easy walks to three waterfalls: Juney Whank Falls, Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls. In summer, people float the creek on inner tubes rented outside the park. There is a campground and picnic area. Expect cold water and slippery rocks.
The main visitor center on the Tennessee side, just outside Gatlinburg, with a natural history museum, a short film, ranger programs and park maps. The short trail to Cataract Falls starts nearby. Buy a parking tag here if you do not already have one, since tags are required to park anywhere in the park.
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