The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most favorite National Parks in the United States, alongside the Grand Teton National Park. It is the best place to visit if you appreciate the beauty of nature. You stand a chance of coming across more than 1000 wildflowers species and the biggest salamanders population.
While on your trip, you will come across old log cabins, traditional barns, churches, and gristmills. Part of the Appalachian trails traverses the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is part of the more than 800 miles of hiking trails. Therefore, it goes without saying that hiking is one of the most common activities in the extensive park.
How to Prepare for the Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Plan the Timing for Your Trip
A view of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in summer
You can tour the Great Smoky Mountains National Park any time of the year for amazing activities specific to the season. Most hikers, campers, and bird watchers visit during summer since the weather is warm and navigating through the park easier.
Like at the Arches National Park, you should expect more congestion during summer and consequently be prepared to pay more for accommodation and other amenities. The landscape is all flowery and beautiful, with wild animals basking on the rocks and birds and butterflies flying around.
You could also visit during winter, especially if you are on to the winter hiking and backpacking challenge. You will enjoy better rates and less human traffic, but again, some areas might be inaccessible.
Plan Your Itinerary
Amazing activities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
After setting the date for your trip, you should plan the itinerary. You need to set your priorities so that you can enjoy your choice of activities to the maximum as opposed to moving around haphazardly.
Check out the attractions on the Parks official website to guide you when coming up with the itinerary. If this is your first trip to the park, you can consult with friends who have been here before. This is also where you come up with a tentative budget for the trip.
We highly recommend using the services of experienced guides when visiting any National Parks for ease of navigation and safety.
Book Accommodation
Log cabins offer affordable yet relatively comfortable accommodation options.
Plenty of accommodation options exist in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, depending on your budget and preference. The park is home to a few front-country and more than 100 back-country camping grounds. If camping is not one of your favorite activities, you can opt for the old-school log cabins and lodges within the park.
The nearby towns offer exquisite accommodation options for you if you prefer to spend the nights away from the wild. You can choose from the many hotels, apartments, cabins, and bed and breakfast motels.
If you are visiting in summer, make your accommodation arrangements way in advance because they get full pretty fast.
Get the Permits and Passes
A hiking trail at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Winter.
The permits you need at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park depend on your choice of accommodation and the activities you intend to do.
While obtaining a back-country camping permit, you need to specify the type of camping. You can obtain the permits online, but remember to print them and have them with you all the time since park rangers demand to see the permits at random places.
You will also need an Appalachian trail thru-hiking permit if you intend to traverse through the park. This permit can also be obtained online, and you must indicate your date of entry and tentative date of exit.
Special permits are also available for activities such as weddings, ash scattering, and filming.
Pack Your Essentials
A map is one of the essential tools when visiting a national park
The items you need for the trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park depend on the season and your activities. However, there are some essentials that you must have irrespective of the season, and these are:
- Identification documents
- First aid kit
- A map of the park
- Weather-specific and comfortable clothes
- The right shoes
- Water bottle and enough food and snacks, especially if you are camping
- Phone charger and power bank
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
- Flashlight and batteries
- Bug repellent cream
Amazing Attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Clingmans Dome
The man-made observation tower at the Clingmans dome.
The Clingmans Dome is one of the best attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park but can be a challenge to the elderly and those not fit enough. It is the highest point in the park and has an observation tower from where you get a 3600 view of the National Park.
The paved trailhead is only one-half mile, but the steepness makes it a difficult hike. There are no resting points when going up to the dome, but this is because it is a short distance. You need to have strong muscles to survive the climb.
Thru-hikers on the Appalachian can detour to the dome for an exciting and refreshing experience.
Cades Cove
A lush green field with orange lilies in Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most popular places for visitors in Great Smoky Mountain National Park because of the many attractions found here. You get to interact with a wide range of wildlife at close range, including the white-tailed deer, groundhog, skunk, raccoon, and black bear, among others.
Being the most populated area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you must prepare adequately. You will come across crazy human traffic, which also translates to limited resources, hence the need to plan and make reservations in advance.
You can tour Cades Cove by taking a scenic drive through the 11-mile track leading to the amazing historical sites and architectural structures.
Newfound Gap Road
The winding road through the forested area
The Newfound Gap Road is located at the lowest point of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offers the most scenic drive through the park. Here, you will come across several forest ecosystems, including the evergreen spruce-fir and Northern hardwood forests.
Plan your visit to the Newfound Gap during winter because the region receives more snow than the surrounding areas. There have been cases where the rest of the places in Great Smoky Mountain National Park are merely raining, but the Newfound Gap is snowing heavily.
However, all is not lost since winter sports such as cross-country skiing and winter hiking take place here under supervision and after getting a go-ahead from the weather forecast station.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
A one-way trail winding up the mountain
This is a six-mile-long trail whose name is derived from the fork-shaped mountain stream. It is a one-way scenic drive that you can only hack with a car, as it is too narrow for trucks and RVs. With the appropriate vehicle, the drive is therapeutic as the road winds through the mossy green rocks and the beautiful view of the water gushing through the mountains.
You cannot turn back once you set out on the road; hence, you must have all the essentials, including a guide map. You could also pack picnic items to enjoy while gazing at the beautiful scenery.
Laurel Falls Trail
Scenic Waterfalls dropping on rocks
Laurel Falls Trail is the other popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains, where you will come across huge crowds of hikers almost daily. The parking space is, however, limited, and it would help if you seek alternative transport or hike to the trail to avoid wasting time looking for parking space.
The moderate hike will lead you to the spectacular waterfall, a round trip distance of approximately 2.6 miles. An average hiker will take around two hours to complete the round trip.
While part of the trail is paved, there is a rugged section that can get slippery during the rainy season. You should also be wary of bears and keep a safe distance from wild animals.
Conclusion
As you plan to visit the National Parks in the United States, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park should be top on your priority list. You will need several trips to explore the park conclusively, but even then, you will still come across new and exciting attractions.
We would like to hear about your experience at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the comment section and get to interact with you more. You could also share your preferred adventures so that we can highlight them.
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