522,427 acres
Park Size
12,855,000
Annual Visitors
850 mi
Trail Miles
940
Campsites
About Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects 522,427 acres of the ancient Appalachian Mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The park is renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. The mountains are called 'smoky' because of the natural fog that often hangs over the range. The Smokies are home to the largest block of old-growth temperate deciduous forest remaining in North America, and host more than 100 species of native trees—more than in all of northern Europe.
Park Highlights
- Clingmans Dome
- Cades Cove
- Newfound Gap
- Roaring Fork Motor Trail
- Cataloochee Valley
- Laurel Falls
Activities
Wildlife
Visitor Information
Free (no entrance fee)
Entrance Fee
Spring, Fall
Best Seasons
Visitor Tips
- Visit Cades Cove early morning or evening for wildlife and to avoid traffic
- Fall foliage peaks mid-October to early November
- Synchronous firefly viewing requires lottery tickets
- Parking tag required ($5/day or $40/year) starting 2024