Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains -The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), right by Gatlinburg TN, is the most visited (10 million visitors yearly) park in the National Park System. It covers 520,000 acres of well-maintained trout fishing streams, waterfalls, wildflowers, hiking trails, nature trails, and wildlife. The Park is so popular that it has inspired the development and growth of several adjacent towns of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Townsend and Sevierville. These tourist towns offer lodging, fine dining and attractions for millions of yearly visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Lodging accommodations include hotels or motels, or even luxury Smoky Mountain cabin rentals. All are very convenient to the Park.

The idea for a national park originated the late 1920s and, with the support of groups from Asheville and Knoxville TN, which wanted to preserve the natural scenery of the Smoky Mountains area. Most of the land was held and harvested of trees by lumber companie, with the rest consisting of small farms. On June 15, 1934, Congress established the Park.

Over the next 16 years, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many of thestone bridges, trails, and campgrounds that travelers still enjoy today. The wealthy Rockefeller family donated the final $5 million needed for the Park to be developed and President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Park in 1940.

The GSMNP today maintains about 77 pioneer structures, and over 1,100 front country campsites, 800 miles of trails, 700 miles of streams, 100 backcountry campsites, 11 picnic grounds, and 3 official visitor centers. The abundant wildlife protected include the American black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey. Trail and Park maps, guidebooks, and videos are available at the welcome center bookstores.

Cades Cove, about 30 minutes from Gatlinburg, TN, is the most visited part of the National Park--and for good reason. Almost 3 million delighted visitors each year visit the Cove to observe the pineer homesteads, the Smoky Mountains that serve as backdrop to the Cove, and the plentiful whitetail deer, wild turkey and American Black Bear that populate the area. The visitor center sells a self-guided tour book at the entrance to Cades Cove. The Cove’s 11-mile loop road takes about one hour to complete in your car, and encircles the Cove. If you stop to explore at each point of interest, some of which involve a short walk, it could take several hours longer, o depending on traffic. You can also take up an entireday if you stop at the Cable Mill and visitor center or include the 5-mile round-trip hike to Abrams Falls. (More about Cades Cove)

Trout Fishing – Fly fishing in the Park requires a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. The licenses, not available in the Park itself, can be purchased from nearby outfitters in the small towns adjacent to the Park. Fishing is allowed year-round in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park one-half hour before sunrise and up to one-half hour after sunset. You must know your fish, because there are some restrictions and penalties for certain fish.

Hiking Trails – The very best part of the Park is the more than 800 miles of well-maintained hiking trails. Park and trail maps can be bought at any of the three visitor centers in the Park.

Smoky Mountain Cabins - Tennessee Cabin rentals