Imagine hills decorated with reds, yellows, oranges, and greens, and a slight mist hovering above them even in the golden sunlight. As you can see, this is a picture of Smoky Mountains.
There are a high number of tourists going to the Smoky Mountains in the fall season, and in 2021 it was the most visited national park in the United States with 14.1 million visitors.
The Smoky Mountains National Park has 7 entrances or places to visit. All these places have beauty, things to do, activities, and views. Visitors love to stay in these places near the Smoky Mountains.
Additionally, if you want to explore the Smoky Mountains from multiple points of view, you’ll have to start with the smaller towns associated with them. Involving with every city will nourish your hungriness of fun, outdoor activities, and scenic views.
1- Gatlinburg, TN
(Famous for small mountain town charm, snow skiers, hikers, and nature lovers, Attractions & Entertainment, or Outdoor Adventure.) If you want a gorgeous view of this town with smoky mountains, you must ride on Glass Elevator –Gatlinburg Space Needle. It is an observation tower above 400’ft. For Ticket pricing, check here-https://www.gatlinburgspaceneedle.com/pricing/.
Also, in this place, you can visit Hollywood Star Cars Museum and Ole Smoky Moonshine to see the distilling process up close while learning about the history of moonshine production. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a popular destination for Smoky Mountains visitors.
2- Pigeon Forge, TN
(Famous for Local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, sub shops, outdoor adventure, white water rafting, attractions, entertainment, hotels and motels, cabins, chalets and homes, resorts, and rental condominiums). Other than that, you can see 4 falls in this area.
- Laurel Falls
- Abrams Falls
- Ramsey Cascades
- Grotto Falls
For more info, click here https://www.pigeonforge.com/top-4-waterfalls-in-the-smokies/
3- Sevierville, TN
(Famous for Parrot Mountain & Gardens, check here for more info-https://smokymountainsbrochures.com/coupons/parrot-mountain-gardens/) Outdoor Adventure, Monster Truck Rides, check here-https://www.visitmysmokies.com/attractions/monster-truck-rides/ Scenic Helicopter Tours- https://www.visitmysmokies.com/attractions/scenic-helicopter-tours-sevierville/, Forbidden Caverns, check here- https://smokieslodge.com/blog/reasons-visit-forbidden-caverns-sevierville-tn/, hotel room, grab a bite to eat, Motels, and Cabins). It is the best place to enjoy with families, and celebrate holiday vacations. It is a gateway to the Smoky Mountains area.
A few of the family fun things to do in Sevierville include Smokies Baseball, NASCAR SpeedPark, Forbidden Caverns, Rainforest Adventures, and Ripley’s Old Mac-Donald Mini Golf Farm.
1639 Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
4- Townsend, TN
( It is a traditional American small town, which gives you quick access to many of the popular day hikes, and bicycling and horse riding opportunities. There is no doubt that Townsend is one of the most popular and historic natural resources anywhere in the world, as it serves as the gateway to Cades Cove.
There are multiple places where you can view wildlife and enjoy the natural surroundings in this picturesque valley surrounded by an 11-mile loop. Also, you can do water activities, and land activities, like hiking, motorcycling, horseback riding, and many other outdoor activities. Check here for more info- https://www.tnvacation.com/smokies/townsend
5-Bryson City, NC
(Popular small city surrounded by mountains on every side, Whitewater Paddling, food, and lodging. https://mysmokymountainguide.com/brysoncity/.
North Carolina’s Bryson City is a small town. Wildflowers, streams, and part of the Appalachian Trail are all found in this gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A train ride through the park is available via the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, as is a museum dedicated to Smoky Mountain trains. White-water rafting is popular on the Tuckasegee River. Fly fishing gear and 18th-century fly rods are on display at the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians.
You can do Fontana Lake Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting with Rail Ride, Mountain Biking, and horseback Riding.
6- Cherokee, NC
(Famous for Sequoyah National Golf Club, Helicopter Tours, and Oconaluftee River Rafting. For more information, visit https://visitcherokeenc.com/#points-of-interest. The town has museums and a replica village to preserve its Native American heritage. The city has exotic gardens and a thriving casino. If you plan to travel here, you can visit these points-
- Museum of the Cherokee Indians
- Soco Falls
- Mingo Falls
- Oconaluftee Indian Village
- Harrahs Cherokee Casino
For getting more pieces of information, click here https://www.expedia.com/Cherokee.dx6058529
7- Maggie Valley, NC
(Famous for family resort Town, Motorcycle ridings, rallies, live music, foods, and stays. Read more about Maggie Valley here- https://www.romanticasheville.com/maggie.htm. Maggie Valley is a town in North Carolina. There are wildflowers and black bears to be found in the forested Great Smoky Mountains National Park nearby. Waterfalls can be seen along Deep Creek Trail. There are slopes and trails at Cataloochee Ski Area. Also, you can see vintage motorcycles and rare cars on display at the Wheels Through Time Museum. Along the Haywood County Quilt Trails, barns and buildings are decorated with quilt blocks, which look amazing.
The sight of the Smoky Mountains is wonderful.
“I visited Smoky in the summer. This place has its own beauty. It is soothing to look at the expanse of green hills and the beauty of the mist that clings to them. Most people plan to visit The Great Smoky Mountain in the fall. It would be amazing to see how the beautiful Smoky Mountains became colorful in the fall. I am on the way to reach there…”
- Adam, Visitor
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Border is divided into Tennessee and North Carolina, based on length. Visitors can access the Smoky Mountains through 4 visitor centers- Cades Cove, Oconaluftee (Tennessee side), and Sugarlands, Clingmans Dome (North Carolina side). The park is dotted with waterfalls, including Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow, and Mingo, which attract 200,000 visitors each year.
In the southeastern United States, the Great Smoky Mountains national park includes parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. A division of the Appalachian Mountain chain, the Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Clingmans Dome, Mount Guyot, and Mount Le Conte are some of the highest mountains in eastern North America. This park lies along the northeast-southwest border of the two states. Between Georgia and Maine, the Appalachian Trail runs through the park.
Here is the website link to get an address for the Great Smoky Mountain Visitor Center.
Places to most visit in the Smoky Mountains are here.
There are 4 entrances to visit The Great Smoky Mountains, National Park.
Clingmans Dome
In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingmans Dome stands at 6,643 feet, and it is the highest peak. East of the Mississippi, it is the third-highest mountain in Tennessee. Clingmans Dome Road ends after seven miles, with scenic pullouts offering endless views of the ridges and valleys.
The trail from the parking lot to the observation tower may be short, but it is very useful at the point of hiking. Also, from the height, you can see a very beautiful smoky mountain depth view.
Cades Cove
If you are interested in Wildlife Viewing, camping, picnic, or horse riding, Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains is an excellent place for you. You can start with the Cades Cove Visitor Center is a perfect place to learn about the history of Cades Cove.
In Cade Cove, you can see the mountain wildlife. You might see 6 ft long, 3ft tall Black Bears, nearly two-dozen species of Snakes (Read more about snakes on Reptiles in the Great Smoky Mountains), Elk (You might see in the early morning or evening time), White-Tailed Deer (It is estimated that approximately 6,000 dears live within the park), Raccoons, Chipmunks & Squirrels, and Coyotes
There are several hiking trails around Cades Cove.
Abrahams Fall Trailhead– This 4.2-mile trail intersects with Little Bottoms Trail. A side trail leads to Abrams Falls, sometimes called the Cades Cove waterfall, which makes it a 5.2-mile round-trip hike.
Located close to the parking area on the right, the Rich Mountain loop is another trail in Cades Cove. This is one of the best day hikes in the area.
Anthony Creek Trail (3.5 m) and Crib Gap Trail (1.6). Starting from the Picnic Area. https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7008041/anthony-creek-trail
Best Picnic Areas in the Smoky Mountains
- Chimneys Picnic Area https://mysmokymountainguide.com/gsmnp/chimneys-picnic-area/
- Metcalf Bottoms
- Greenbrier https://www.pigeonforge.com/greenbrier-cove/
- Big Creek https://www.pigeonforge.com/hike/big-creek-trail/
- Cades Cove
Newfound Gap Road: 31 Miles of Scenic Mountain Landscapes drive road.
