Great Smoky Mountains Info

Your whole family will enjoy spending time together in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most popular activity families enjoy doing together is going for a hike. We want to share some of the best kid friendly Smoky Mountain hiking trails your whole family will enjoy, no matter what age they are. Here are 6 Smoky Mountain hiking trails that are kid friendly:

What’s one of the most important things to know before you go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park? The parking tag requirement! You’ll need one if you plan to park your vehicle longer than 15 minutes, but there are certain exceptions you should know about. Keep reading for a list of ways to avoid paying for parking at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The weather is getting warmer, which means there is more time to spend outdoors. Going for a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great way to enjoy the fresh air. Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced hiker, we want to make sure that every visitor has a safe and fun time. With that being said, here is a list of 3 tips for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this spring:

While exploring the Little River Trail in the Elkmont section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll come across a 20-foot cascade known as Huskey Branch Falls. Although the waterfall is not marked with official signage, it is about 2.1 miles from the trailhead and is easily recognizable as the trail crosses directly over it via a small wooden footbridge. The falls are named after Sam and Alice Huskey, a couple who owned and operated a historic establishment in the Sugarlands called the Skyuka Inn. Keep reading for a fascinating, nearly forgotten family history behind Skyuka Inn and Huskey Branch Falls:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Some animals have a large population, such as the black bear. We are going to tell you about a smaller creature that is not seen as often. Simply read on to find out more. Here is a list of 4 fun facts about the Indiana bat in the Smoky Mountains:

The leadership for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is very important. The group helps make decisions that potentially impact visitor experience at the popular tourist attraction. People are always working to keep the Smokies fun and safe! We are excited to tell you about a new change to the park's leadership. Read all about Charles Sellars and his new role as superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

You’ll find an amazing and diverse collection of wildlife in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including the flying squirrel! This includes both the rare and endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel, which lives in high-elevation spruce-fir forests, as well as the more common southern flying squirrel. These unique creatures represent a significant and protected part of the park’s diversity, particularly in the high-elevation ecosystems. Here are 4 fascinating things to know about the flying squirrels in Tennessee:

Before Great Smoky Mountains National Park became a popular tourist destination, it was home to the Cherokee Indians. The people formed communities that lived life in the beautiful scenery. The National Park Service (NPS) works hard to preserve the history and legacy of the tribe, as you can see by the names of popular places. You should check them out on your next visit to the area! Keep reading to learn about a few of the places in the Smoky Mountains that are named after the Cherokee Indians:

Many visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park hope to catch at least one glimpse of the park’s famous black bear! It has been estimated that about 1,500 bears live in the park, which is equal to a population density of roughly two bears per square mile. Therefore, your odds are pretty good if you plan to spend any significant amount of time in the park! If you want to increase your chances of seeing a bear, there are several locations where sightings are especially common! Here are the top 4 places to see bears in the Smoky Mountains:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an amazing variety of scenic wonders, including more than 100 waterfalls and cascades! These range from easily accessible roadside spots where you can pull the car over to remote destinations that require a bit of hiking! Some of the most popular waterfalls in the park include Abrams Falls and Rainbow Falls, but nearly every river and stream in the park features a waterfall! While there is never a bad time to visit, here are the 3 best times of the year to see the waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place for wildlife viewing. While people no longer live in the area, many kinds of animals call the Smokies home. They come in all different sizes. The bigger animals are easiest to spot! The North Carolina side is heavily populated with elk. We would love to tell you more about these majestic creatures. Here are the top places to see elk in the Smoky Mountains:

One of the best parts about visiting the Smoky Mountains is seeing all the breathtaking views it has to offer. No matter what time of the year you visit, you are guaranteed a gorgeous sight. Whether it is snow-covered mountaintops in the winter, or wildflowers blooming in the spring, you want to make sure you bring your camera when you come to capture the beautiful scenery. To help you plan your visit, we’ve come up with a list of 5 unbeatable views in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

After experiencing a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll be left with some amazing memories to last a lifetime! Whether you explored the natural and historic wonders of Cades Cove, felt the refreshing mist of the 100-foot-tall Ramsey Cascades, or ventured to the high mountain peak of Kuwohi, you’ll always cherish this spectacular time in the Smokies! If you’re looking for some additional ways to remember your adventures, check out these top 4 ways to commemorate your visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has miles of trails, and all of them have unique names. You may be wondering where they came from. Let us tell you about a few of the interesting origins. Here is a list of 4 Smoky Mountain hiking trails and how they got their names.

In the years before the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established and became a popular tourist destination, a lot of people built their lives here and called it home. Their legacy remains throughout the park in meaningful ways. Read on to learn more! Here is a list of 4 people who lived in the Great Smoky Mountains: