Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains are the most visited national park in the United States, a soft, blue-hazed range of the southern Appalachians draped in the richest temperate forest in North America. Ancient rounded peaks, misty coves, cascading streams and a stunning diversity of life, from wildflowers to black bears and elk, make the Smokies a place of quiet, layered beauty straddling Tennessee and North Carolina.
Fast facts
- Established: 1934
- Size: about 522,000 acres (2,110 km²) along the TN–NC border
- Visitors: the most-visited U.S. national park
- Biodiversity: one of the most biodiverse temperate areas on Earth
- Gateways: Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina
- Managed by: National Park Service
The landscape
The park is a sea of forested ridges rolling to the horizon, their signature blue haze rising from the trees themselves. Elevation ranges from lowland coves to the 6,643-foot (2,025 m) Clingmans Dome, stacking cove hardwood forest, hemlock and spruce-fir like a slice of Canada in the South. Rushing streams and waterfalls thread the hollows, and black bears, elk, salamanders and spring wildflowers abound.
Best time to go
Spring brings wildflowers and rushing water; fall paints the ridges in famous color and draws the biggest crowds. Summer is warm, green and humid, with afternoon storms, while the higher elevations stay cooler. Winter is quiet and often snowy up high, with bare trees opening long views, though roads may close in ice.
Getting there and around
Gatlinburg (TN) and Cherokee (NC) are the main gateways, linked by US-441, the Newfound Gap Road, which climbs over the crest. There is no entrance fee, but you now need a parking tag to stop in the park. A vehicle is the practical way to reach trailheads, Cades Cove and the scenic roads that lace the park.
Things to do
Hike to waterfalls and summits, Laurel Falls, Chimney Tops, and the tower atop Clingmans Dome, and drive the wildlife-rich Cades Cove and Cataloochee valleys for elk and bears at dawn and dusk. Long-distance hikers walk the Appalachian Trail along the crest, and historic cabins and mills recall the mountain communities that once lived here.
Top 12 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park →
Staying safe
This is dense black-bear country, so store food properly and never approach or feed bears. Mountain streams run cold and fast and can flash-flood, weather and fog change quickly at elevation, and trails can be steep and slick. Carry layers and a map, and watch for ticks in the warm months.
Know before you go
There is no entrance fee, but a parking tag is required to park anywhere in the park, and backcountry camping needs a permit and reservation. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions, parking rules and closures with the National Park Service before your trip.
- Coordinates
- 35.6341, -83.5060
- Magnetic declination
- 6.4° W (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 18
Park entrances
Visitor centre
Ranger stations
On the trail 148
Trailheads
Route
Campgrounds
Huts and shelters
Picnic sites
Sights 90
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Heritage sites
Points of interest
Peaks 30
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Spring, Fall (foliage)
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- On the North Carolina–Tennessee border; main gateways are Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC, with US-441 (Newfound Gap Road) crossing the crest.
- Water
- Abundant streams; filter or treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Little to no cell service in much of the park. Carry a map.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Contact park rangers; life-threatening emergencies: 911.
- Permits & regulations
- No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required to park in the park; backcountry camping needs a permit and reservation.
- Leave No Trace
- Use bear-proof storage, stay on trails, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October This month
November
December
- Below-freezing nights
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Gatlinburg station, 6 miles (9 km)9 km (6 miles) away at 1,454 feet (443 m)443 m (1,454 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
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Gorges State Park
Temperate rainforest on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, with 26 waterfalls, deep river gorges and the Foothills Trail.
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Cumberland Trail State Park
Tennessee's linear state park: a long footpath along the Cumberland Plateau through gorges, waterfalls and rock houses.
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Table Rock State Park
A granite dome above the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, with a tough summit climb and the 76-mile (122 km) Foothills Trail.
-
Caesars Head State Park
A granite overlook on the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the trail to 420-foot (128 m) Raven Cliff Falls.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
Looking for somewhere closer to home?
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