Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Tennessee’s biggest landmark and attracts over nine millions visitors per year. Established in June of 1934, it is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern United States. All across the globe the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the breathtaking landscape of its ancient mountains, the superiority of its bits and pieces of Southern Appalachian mountain culture and of its wilderness haven. Over 10,000 species have been documented in the park. Scientists believe an additional 90,000 species may live in National Park. In addition, over 1,400 flowering plant species and at least 4,000 species of non-flowering plants have been identified in the park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers numerous activities for persons of all ages. The park itself has more than 800 miles of hiking trails, so get those hiking boots on, strap on a backpack, and trek across any of the trails you so choose! There are several beautiful waterfalls that are accessible to hike and sometimes viewable from the road. It is safe to say you will find a waterfall in just about every stream in the National Park. Rainbow Falls, Ramsay Cascades, Abrams Falls, and Laurel Falls are just a few of the major waterfalls that you can find.

Enjoy a picnic with your family in one of the many valleys during your hiking trip or go sightseeing for all the wildlife in the area, and experience nature in its truest, untouched form. Try horseback riding if your legs are too tired from walking and bring a rod and reel to the adventure and catch a few fish. The more adventurous types can even mountain bike up and down the many trails of the park. Visitors can also camp out in the park. Start a fire and cook a fresh filet while the sun sets on your spectacular night of fun! Be sure to get a backcountry camping permit from a ranger station or one of the visitor centers.

During the fall, The Great Smoky Mountains are packed with traffic. Why? The fall foliage brings thousands of visitors year after year. Expect an incredible burst of gold, red and orange colors from trees such as birch, poplar, dogwood, hickory and oak. In mid-September, colors begin turning for American beech, mountain maple and yellow birch (the highest elevations- 4,500 to 6,000 feet). At about 4,000 feet, leaves are typically at their peak colors in the first two weeks of October. Around mid-October, you can see a blast of color when the rest of the trees (such as red maple, scarlet oak, sugar maple and sweet gum) join the rest of the fall colors.

Make sure that you and your travel companions make a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether you want to catch a glimpse of a beautiful waterfall or experience the burst of colors in the fall, the Smoky Mountains are filled with beauty that visitors of all ages can enjoy. A huge plus is that due to deed restrictions imposed when the Park was established, there are no entrance fees. Call Cabins For You today to book a cabin with beautiful mountain views for your trip.