Great Smoky Mountains
National Park

Located in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park consists of more than 500,000 pristine acres with sparkling waterfalls and cascading streams, picturesque mountain views, over 4,000 species of plants and an abundance of wildlife. The park hosts 9,000,000 visitors annually.

In addition to the beautiful scenery and majestic mountain views, visitors will discover an array of outdoor activities that include hiking on over 800 miles of trails, horseback riding, biking, fishing and camping.

Visit the Park in autumn for an amazing display of natural beauty as the leaves change from green to dazzling golds, reds, oranges, & purples.

If you're planning a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg, Tennessee are all conveniently located near the Park. Visit our Gatlinburg Cabins, Pigeon Forge Cabins or Sevierville Cabins pages to find the accommodations for your Smokies vacation.

Popular Park Destinations

Cades Cove
The most visited spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cades Cove is a 6,800-acre valley with large open fields surrounded by forests, a variety of wildlife and pioneer buildings that date back to the 1800s, including a working grist mill, churches, barns and log cabins. The best way to experience the Cove is on Cades Cove Loop Road, a one way paved lane that circles around the valley. Cades Cove Loop is open to autos, bicycles and hikers.

Clingmans Dome
At 6,643 ft, Clingmans Dome is the highest peak in the Park and the 2nd highest peak east of the Mississippi. The average viewing distance from the observation deck is around 22 miles, but on a really clear day you can see up to 100 miles (and into seven states).

Deep Creek
North of Bryson City, North Carolina, Deep Creek has a campground and picnic area. Visitors can go horseback riding, grab a tube and hit the water or hike along several trails (if you’re up for a 1-mile hike checkout the falls: Juney Whank, Tom's Branch, and Indian Creek).

Fontana Dam & Lake
At 480 ft tall, the Fontana Dam, on the Little Tennessee River, is the highest dam east of the Rockies and is a major source of energy for the area. Fontana Lake is a popular place for recreational water activities including boating, skiing and fishing. Fontana Dam and Lake are located near Fontana Village, North Carolina.

Mountain Farm Museum
Located next to the Park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center, the Mountain Farm Museum is a typical 1880s Smoky Mountain farm. Consisting of buildings moved from other areas of the Park, the farm has a log farmhouse, barn, springhouse, apple house and a blacksmith’s shop. In the summer, the farm has live animals and a crop in the field as well as demonstrations of blacksmithing, syrup making and plowing.