Great Smoky Mountains
National Park,
Tennessee
Over 500,000 acres make up the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with part of the Appalachian Trail
passing through its center. The area was home to Cherokee Indian tribes, and many of the historical structures, including log cabins and churches, still stand
throughout the park. You’ll find a plethora of creeks,
bogs, and streams that interlace with each other and
form a pathway to several enormous waterfalls, all of
which are perfect for a day hike to view. There are over
2,000 miles of streams and rivers to be exact, and fishing is permitted within the park as well.
Millions of tourists make their way to the park, either
through the Gatlinburg, Tennessee or the Cherokee,
North Carolina entrances. The Great Smoky Mountains
National Park has attracted more than twice as many
outdoor enthusiasts than the Grand Canyon in recent
years, and once you catch a glimpse of the cascading
waterfalls and lush forests, you’ll understand why so
many people flock to this attraction.
52 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
You may notice large, natural slabs of slate and sandstone
scattered about in the mountains, which are thousands of
years old, and form an inner water source for higher elevations. Some parts of the mountainside have even been
mined into, and caves are plentiful, which is a fun feature to
add to any hike or camping trip. Not many animals are easily spotted because the forest is so dense, but the open areas,
like Cades Cove, offer up possible sightings of turkeys, black
bears, woodchucks, deer, and elk. You may even run across
a red wolf or a wild boar.
Cades Cove is a 4,000 acre clearing in the valley that holds
a rich pioneer history. Preserved homes and other structures, like churches and an old mill, stand throughout the
area, and it is the most visited part of the park for these reasons. You may take a self-guided tour (45-50 minutes by car)
through Cades Cove. Self-guided tours through this area are
often more rewarding, because you can take your time and
appreciate what you choose to observe. Just grab one of the
guide books at the entrance and go!