Great Smoky Mountains National Park Information

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: An Overview

The Smoky Mountains are among the oldest mountains in the world, formed roughly 200-300 million years ago. Today, the park bearing the name of these mountains encompasses more than 521,000 acres (more than 800 square miles). Just over half of these acres lie within the state of North Carolina, with the rest residing in Tennessee.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently receives more than 9 million visitors a year, making it the most visited national park in the country. The Grand Canyon, the second most heavily visited national park, only receives 4.4 million visitors per year!

June, July, August and October are the most popular months for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. The park receives more than a million visitors during each of these months.

Although the Smokies may seem to be overcrowded with these numbers, it’s still easy to escape civilization. The park boasts more than 800 miles of trails, including roughly 71 miles of the Appalachian Trail which runs along the crest of the park. Yes, there are a few trails with extreme crowds during the summer, but these are usually the shorter trails near Gatlinburg, Cades Cove or along Newfound Gap Road. Go to the more remote sections of the park or take a longer trail and you're likely to find virtual solitude.

You'll find that the hiking trails in the Smokies offer a great amount of diversity. For one, elevation in the park ranges from 840 feet at the mouth of Abrams Creek on the western edge of the park, to 6643 feet at the summit of Clingmans Dome. There are also more than 2100 miles of streams in the park, making for numerous picnic spots, or maybe even a swimming hole during a hot summer day.

The Smokies are also home to more than 1600 species of flowering plants. During spring, wildflowers explode during the brief window just prior to trees leafing out and shading the forest floor (from about mid-April thru mid-May). Excellent places to view spring wildflowers can be found on the Porters Creek, Schoolhouse Gap, the Rich Mountain Loop and Husky Gap trails, to name just a few. Click here to see an extended list of trails known for abundant wildflowers.

During the early summer period (from about mid-June to mid-July), awesome displays of mountain laurel, rhododendron, flame azalea, and other heath family shrub flowers can be enjoyed, especially on the higher elevation balds. For Catawba rhododendron, take the relatively short hike to Andrews Bald. Although somewhat of a longer trek, hikers going to Gregory Bald will be amply rewarded by the spectacular displays of flame azalea near the summit.

Click on this link for recommendations on when and where to see wildflowers:

http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/blog22_wildflower_hikes.htm

There are 66 species of mammals, including black bears, elk, fox, bobcats, coyotes, and river otter that live within the park borders. There have even been reports of mountain lion sightings, though none have been formally confirmed.

Based on a study conducted in 2006, biologists estimate that approximately 1,500 black bears live in the park, a density of approximately two bears per square mile. The following National Park link will give you some better understanding of bear behavior and what to do if you see one on the trail:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/black-bears.htm

Additionally, there are over 245 varieties of birds, 83 native fish species, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians (data is from the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory).

The following are a few other key facts about Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934.
The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the only major national parks that does not charge an entrance fee.
There are three visitors centers located within the park: Sugerlands (Gatlinburg), Cades Cove, and Oconaluftee (Cherokee, NC).
There are 10 campgrounds with a total of 1000 sites within the park boundaries. Additionally, there are more than 100 backcountry campsites, including shelters.
The park maintains 78 historic structures located in five historic districts.
The park was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations on October 26, 1976.
It was also designated a World Heritage Site on December 6, 1983.

In the Smokies, the average annual rainfall varies from approximately 55 inches in the valleys to over 85 inches on some peaks, more than anywhere else in the country except the Pacific Northwest. During wet years, over eight feet of rain falls in the high country.

For more information on the park, or to help plan your trip to the Smokeys, visit the park website at: www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

Please check these national park pages for seasonal and temporary road closings: