Great Smoky Mountains Tennessee: Travel Guide and Vacation Rental Accommodations

Great Smoky Mountains Tennessee

The Great Smokies Mountains provides a phenomenal breathtaking view of East Tennessee.  The seemingly endless range of mountains surround the area and one can barely take in all the beauty!  Do you want more from your vacation, in fact, endless opportunities for being fascinated and thrilled with nature's great treasures?

The Great Smoky Mountains offer such a chance to truly experience wildlife, art-driven by its natural habitat, adventurous mountain trails, hiking, skiing, biking, rafting, fishing, and festivals and town activities throughout the towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Wears Valley.  The Great Smoky Mountain Region of Tennessee - you'll barely make a dent in this vacation in only a few days and you'll be staying longer or planning to come back for more! Guaranteed!

Outdoor enthusiasts consider the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee a haven and paradise. When you visit this National Park, you will have lots of opportunities to create memories in nature. It offers wooded trails that pass through stunning waterfalls and lead to spectacular mountain peaks. The Great Smoky Mountains is home to over 200 varieties of birds, 80  types of amphibians and reptiles, 67 native fish species, and 65 mammal species. Indeed, this destination is perfect for Nature-lovers.

If you have a strong inclination for the outdoors, you should make this place your next vacation destination. The Great Smoky Mountains have several hiking trails, waterfalls, caverns, adventure parks, and other nature attractions. Here are the top experiences in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

 

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Experience the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee

Cades Cove

This isolated valley amid the Great Smoky Mountains is where the early Southern Appalachian settlers took their abode. Pieces of history are still standing in Cades Cove, such as churches, cabins, and a gristmill that can be traced back to the 1800s. 

There is also a one-way loop road that stretches for 11 miles surrounding the valley, where you can spot wild turkeys, bears, and deer. Beginners and advanced hikers can choose among several hiking trails in Cades Cove. 

 

Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap is a mountain pass that is 30 miles long and sits at 5,046 feet elevation. Drive along this scenic route to see spectacular mountain views and make a stopover at several attractions, including the Smokemont Campground and Nature Trail, the Ben Morton Overlook, and Mingus Mill.

 

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

This trail stretches six miles long and leads to two of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountain: Grotto Falls and Rainbow Falls. Be amazed and take pictures of the mossy green rocks and boulders along the way. Also, see a bevy of wildlife in the area, including black bears, deer, and bear. 

 

Alum Cave Trail

Hiking via the Alum Cave Trail is rather challenging, but the views of distinct geological landmarks and sweeping mountains will reward you at the end of the day. You will pass through a forest filled with old-growth hardwood and splendid rosebay rhododendron blooms. 

A notable rock formation along the trail is the narrow natural tunnel called the Arch Rock. The hike ends at the Mount LeConte summit.

 

Tuckaleechee Caverns

Incredible cave complexes are to be found in the state of Tennessee. Under the Great Smoky Mountains, Tuckaleechee Caverns features a large subterranean space that could accommodate a football stadium. There are stalagmites standing as high as 24 feet inside the cave. You can also find the Silver Falls, which is 210 feet high.

 

Chimney Tops

Chimney Tops is a short climb just for 4 miles, but do not be too complacent because you will have to scramble over rocks to reach the bare rock summit. The difficult trail is not advisable for children or beginner hikers. The views at the summit of Chimney Tops are picture-perfect. On your journey to the summit, stop by a stream where hikers go for a picnic. 

 

Laurel Falls Trail

Laurel Falls Trail got its name from an evergreen shrub, which is prevalent in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trail that leads to a stunning waterfall is characterized by a steep incline and rocky pavement. Still, it is popular throughout the year, especially during summer. 

 

Clingmans Dome

Clingmans Dome stands high at 6,643 feet, making it the highest point in Tennessee. The vista from the top affords you to see over 100 miles with clearing. It is a paved but steep trail to the summit. Make sure to wear a jacket as you go up high to protect yourself from the cold. 

 

Foxfire Adventure Park

Yes, there are many hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. But, if you visit this outdoor destination, you must also experience gliding down a zipline, walking over a roped sky bridge, or climbing a cliff. Foxfire Adventure Park is a must-visit attraction in Sevierville, Tennessee, that offers fun activities for the whole family. Here, you can find one of the fastest and longest ziplines in the United States, the Goliath Zipline. 

 

Ocoee River

The Ocoee River is among the best river systems in Tennessee for rafting adventures. In 1996, it was the venue for the whitewater paddling sport in the Olympics. If you think floating along the rapids is freaking fun, you should book a whitewater rafting tour on the Ocoee River. 

The Nantahala Outdoor Center offers rafting trips to the Ocoee River. Experienced skippers will guide you on the trip and provide you with first aid if needed. 

 

More of The Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains is the mountain range that runs right through the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, stretching Northeast from the Pigeon River to the Southwest at the Little Tennessee River. The mountain range covers approximately 187,000 acres of Cove and Northern Hardwoods, Spruce Trees, and a wide variety of various wildflowers. The Great Smokies got their name as a result of the vapor that rises off of the vegetation on the mountains, creating the fog that many see hanging over the tips of the mountains. Clingman's Dome, located at 6,643 feet above sea level, is considered to be the highest point of the Rocky Mountains. Filled with over 50 types of mammals, hundreds of varieties of fish, and several dozens of different kinds of reptiles, the Smokies are a nature lovers paradise. 

First inhabited and fully populated by the Cherokee, it wasn't until the 17th Century that the English began to stake their claim on the magnificent mountain land. This brought about grave dissension in the land since the Cherokee possessed the legal rights to the land. in 1776, the Cherokee joined forces with the British during the French and Indian war. In response, the American Army attacked the Cherokee territory to obtain rights of the land. full control of the land was given over to the Americans by the year 1805.

 

 

The success of the area's steady economy is due to its tourism. There are many cities and towns scattered throughout the Great Smokies offering each its own unique fingerprint to the whole mountain range. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Knoxville, Cosby, Marysville, and Wears Valley are Tennessee Cities along with the range. The North Carolina Towns of the Smoky Mountains are Asheville, Cherokee, Bryson City, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, and Dillsboro. The Great Smokies specialize in everything outdoor and are sure to please any nature enthusiast! A perfect place to try one's hand at fly fishing while experiencing the mountains "stream up" -well, there's nothing like it! Whether you enjoy meandering down the river valleys in an inner tube or caving in caverns for crystals inside of the mountains, the treasures of the Smokie's raw natural habitat are waiting to be uncovered. Pigeon Forge is a great place to look into for go-cart rides, horseback riding, zip-lining, and mountain adventure helicopter rides. The local Pigeon Forge Zoo is another attraction that visitors frequent while in the Smokies. If amusement parks are what you are looking for-Dollywood and Splash Mountain offers a variety of fun and exciting roller coaster rides and water ride adventures. Gatlinburg is a teeming resort townhome to Ripley's Museum and Aquarium, the Space Needle, Ober Skiing, and the Sky Lift-just to name a few. Wears Valley, known as the "peaceful side of the Smokies" is the best area for spending time hiking, biking, and wildlife watching with such attractions as the Okeechobee Cavers and Metcalf Bottoms. Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where millions of visitors frequent every year to see one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. The Great Smokey Mountains are a natural habitat calling for human discovery and awe.

You have to come and see the Great Smoky Mountains for yourself -  Make your next vacation absolutely unforgettable!

Map of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee

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