How long is the smoky mountains

However, certain roads and services may close during inclement weather. The best source for updated road conditions is on the National Park's Twitter account. However, please note that some areas of the Park, including Cataloochee Valley, may require driving on dirt or gravel roads. Given the Park's large size, there are remote back country areas that are only accessible by hiking trail. PETS: Dogs are allowed in picnic areas and along roads as long as they are on a leash.

However, dogs and other pets are not allowed on the National Park trails. This policy is in place for many large national parks that have extensive back country areas because of the threat domesticated pets pose to sensitive wildlife and habitats. Dress in layers to be prepared for changes in weather conditions. And, see our map below showing top Park attractions near Asheville. A handful of Cherokee remained in the hills and managed to survive. In the late s, the Qualla Indian Reservation was established along, what is now, the National Park's southern boundary.

The creation of the National Park began in the early s with a simple idea: a wealthy family in Knoxville, Tenn. At the time, the National Park Service was looking for park sites in the East having already opened parks in the West. Rockefeller Jr. After more than 17 years of efforts by those passionate about the project, the Park was officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Named for low hanging fog produced in early morning hours, the Smokies offer incredible outdoor adventures with a touch of Southern Appalachia culture.

The large grassy field near the visitor center is actually a top place for viewing the Park's famous elk and other wildlife. Here, you'll have access to the trail head for the Oconaluftee River Trail, a great wildflower hike in spring. You can explore inside the mill from 9 a. Visitation More than This figure does not include the approximately 11 million travelers on the Gatlingburg-Pigeon Forge Spur. Highest visitation of any of the 59 national parks.

The second most heavily visited national park is Grand Canyon with 4. Great Smoky Mountains is one only a few national parks that does not charge an entrance fee. Developed Campgrounds 10 campgrounds with a total of sites, recording more than , camper nights in Backcountry Campsites More than sites, including shelters. More than 77, overnight visits in Here are our favorite points of departure for exploring the park.

Hiking Mount LeConte could be the bucket-list item for the Smokies. LeConte Lodge sits close to the summit of Mount LeConte, at 6, feet the third highest peak in the park. There is no driving to the summit; hiking in is the only way to get there. Built on the site of a tent camp erected in around to house visiting dignitaries, LeConte Lodge hosts day trippers as well as overnight guests. Spectacular sunrises and uninterrupted nature at LeConte Lodge welcome hikers to the only National Park Service lodging in the park.

Wears Valley , just outside the Tennessee side of the park, has pastoral views and its own lesser known park entrance. The other Tennessee park gates, especially the one in Gatlinburg, get congested at peak times of year. But the Wears Valley entrance just south of Townsend is where many locals enter the park. Synchronous fireflies light up late spring with their annual stupendous display of nature.

At least 19 species of fireflies live in Great Smoky Mountains and the males and females of one species synchronize their bioluminescent flashing. But plan ahead: A free lottery determines who gets to ride the shuttle into the park on certain dates to view the night lights. This national park contains more than cemeteries from tiny plots with just a few headstones to hundreds.

Not all of the burial places in the park are marked, but keep an eye out for periwinkle. According to local author Gail Palmer , European settlers planted periwinkle on graves to keep away evil spirits. North Carolina : Located just outside Cherokee, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the starting point for most visitors entering the park from North Carolina. In addition to a sizable bookstore and information desk, the center offers exhibits on Smoky Mountains history, in particular the Cherokee Indians and the early European settlers and their ancestors.

Behind the visitor center, the Mountain Farm Museum gives insight into the lives of the people who once farmed the region, with hands-on exhibits and historic buildings brought from elsewhere in the park.

Beyond the mill, Highway starts its forest-flanked climb into the heart of the mountains. The former site of the Smokemont lumber village renders the first opportunity for camping, hiking, and horseback riding through outfits like Smokemont Riding Stables. The road continues its ascent to Newfound Gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina border elevation 5, feet , where a viewpoint looks out over much of the Smokies. A stone monument marks the spot where FDR dedicated the park in A side road leads to Clingmans Dome, at 6, feet the highest point in the park, third highest peak in the eastern United States, and the highest place along the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.

The North Carolina side features several off-the-beaten-track diversions where the quiet side of the Smokies is there for the taking. Among the many 19th-century buildings that remain are two churches, the school, and several private homes.

The lush valley also supports a herd of wild elk. Another journey into the past is the drive along Heintooga Ridge Road and the one-way continuation along gravel Balsam Mountain Road that leads into a remote section of the park that few people ever explore and is closed in winter.

The Roaring Fork portion is closed in winter.