Great Smoky Mountains A
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Great Smoky Mountains A. .. NATIONAL PARK North Carolina "and Tennessee ABOUT THIS BOOKLET Great Smoky Mountains Take time to read through this booklet early in your visit. It will answer many of your questions and help you to know the park better. The brief topics will introduce the plant and NATIONAL PARK animal life, describe the climate and seasons, provide a geo logical sketch, and give you a quick glance at man's beginnings here. You will want to become familiar with the map on page 14. Try to memorize the symbols in the lower right corner, for they will help you to locate visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, and other places of interest. CONTENTS The distance tables for roads and trails on pages 10-13 will Page help you to plan and time your hikes or motor trips to favorite About This Booklet 3 areas in the park. Welcome 3 A Highland Wilderness 3 Get Acquainted First 3 A HIGHLAND WILDERNESS How To Enjoy the Park 5 Road Distances, Table 10 The Great Smoky Mountains, which lie along the common The Seasons 10 border of Tennessee and North Carolina, form a majestic Trail Distances, Table 12 climax to the Appalachian Highlands. With outlines softened Map 14 by a forest mantle, the mountains stretch away to remote hori Plants 18 A smokelike mist rises zons in sweeping troughs and mighty billows that recede to from the dense Animals 21 evenness in the distance. And shrouding the mountains is a plant growth. How the Mountains Were Formed 24 smokelike mist that rises from the dense plant growth. The Man in the Smokies 26 mountains get their name from this deep-blue haze. Other Publications 28 Arnold Guyot, the naturalist and geographer, in describing How To Reach the Park 28 these mountains after exploring the Appalachians more than want to drive to the visitor center in the headquarters area, views to a magnificent panorama from Heintooga Overlook. Where To Stay 28 a century ago, said: "By their number, their magnitude, the where exhibits offer a sample of what to expect later on when Then, drive east to Soco Gap, turn right on U.S. 19, and Help Us Protect the Park 30 continuity and general elevation of the chains, and of the base you really explore the mountains. And you will surely want return to the park by way of the Cherokee Indian Village. Administration 32 upon which they repose, they are like a massive and high to take the delightful drive to Cades Cove. There you will Back in Cherokee, you may end the day with a visit to the America's Natural Resources 32 citadel which is really the culminating region of all the follow an 11-mile loop road past open fields, homesteads, and Cherokee Indian Village, where native Cherokee people demon Appalachian System." little frame churches where pioneer people lived and worshiped strate their handicrafts and relate the story of their past in the almost unnoticed for a century. From May through October, The park's boundary wraps around 800 square miles of Great Smoky Mountains. This is an excellent prelude to your you will see the miller grinding corn at Cable Mill. If you mountain wilderness; much of it is virtually unspoiled. Many evening at the outdoor theater and Kermit Hunter's drama of wish, you may take home a bag of the fresh water-ground meal peaks rise above 6,000 feet, but this is not high enough to the Cherokee, Unto These Hills. from Becky Cable's store. We strongly urge you to avoid the transmountain road on Deep within almost every American is an urge to explore escape the enveloping forests. A great variety of trees, shrubs, weekends during the summer season. Heavy traffic at these the great out-of-doors. To gratify this urge, millions of people herbs, and other plants are fed by the fertile land and nourished You may also have time to drive the scenic mountain roads times has proved that leisurely weekday crossings are much come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. by the heavy rainfalls and rushing streams. to Newfound Gap and to Clingmans Dome, where a half-mile more enjoyable. They hike along its winding mountain trails, pitch their camps walk will take you to an observation tower. If so, be sure to in its forests, and view some of the most luxuriant plantlife view the Chimney Tops from the parking overlooks between HOW TO ENJOY THE PARK in eastern North America. GET ACQUAINTED FIRST Chimneys Campgrounds and the loop tunnel. After return The National Park Service welcomes you to the Great ing from Newfound Gap, you may wish to visit Gatlinburg's festive main street after dark. The Trails Smokies. Here, as in all National Parks, the superintendent We suggest that after you have registered and are settled If you are staying on the North Carolina side of the park, The most rewarding experiences in the Great Smoky Moun and his staff want you to experience the satisfaction and in camp, or in a hotel or motel, you first take a motor trip to you should drive to Oconaluftee Visitor Center to see the 19th- tains are found along the trails. Therefore, we urge you to inspiration that may be gained from exploring these splendid some of the points of interest closest to your accommodations. century pioneer farmstead and enjoy the interesting story of deny yourself the comforts of your automobile and trade the forests and ancient mountains. Your special care in observing (Places to stay within and near the park are discussed on the mountain people as depicted in the museum. paved highway for a woodland trail, where rhododendron and a few simple rules will help us to protect the park for you and page 28.) mountain-laurel garland the way. for future generations. If you are staying on the Tennessee side of the park, you will From a point 1 mile south of Oconaluftee Visitor Center, you might travel the Blue Ridge Parkway north past many fine More than 650 miles of horse and foot trails wind along 2 3 4 5 The self-guided nature trails are designated by symbols on If you camp along the trail, except at designated campgrounds the map. They are also listed and described on the back of the or camping areas (see map, pages 14-17), you must obtain a Natural is/ Program. fire permit. If you hike at any time from November through March, for your own safety a park ranger must check your Appalachian Challenge gear and clothing before setting out. The famed Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia, enters the park at Davenport Gap near the eastern Fish and Fishing boundary. Straddling the boundary line of two States, it zig The variety in the native fish life of park waters ranges from zags a course for 71 miles along the crest of some of the high the small colorful darters to the gamy brook trout. More est peaks in the Smokies and leaves the park again at its south than 70 forms of fishes are found here. west terminus, Fontana Dam. Many visitors enjoy hiking short Approximately 600 miles of streams add to the beauty of the distances from Davenport Gap or Fontana Dam. Other trail park, and many of the streams offer opportunities for recrea points accessible by car are Newfound Gap and Clingmans tional angling for rainbow and brook trout. The native brook Dome. trout inhabits only the cooler waters at higher elevations. In But if you wish to accept the challenge to hike the full dis certain streams that are managed on a "Fishing for Fun" plan, tance, you can cover the 71 miles in 6 to 8 days. Trailside park visitors may fish the year around but are required to shelters and campsites, which are marked by symbols on the release all trout they catch which measure less than 16 inches. map, are spaced about a day's journey apart. Each shelter, The regular season extends from May 16 through August 31. closed on 3 sides, provides bunks for at least 6 persons. State licenses, but not trout stamps, are required and may be There's a fireplace in front and water is available nearby. secured for periods of 1 to 10 days at reduced rates. Angling Since fuel is scarce, you are advised to carry primus-type regulations are posted on streams and may be obtained at park stoves. Each shelter is normally restricted to 1 night's use. ranger stations. Mountaintop islands in a sea of clouds. (Courtesy, Paid A. Moore, Tennessee Conservation Department.) crystal-clear streams and waterfalls, past forest giants that were some of the park trails. You are invited to join a group, under living before the white man came to this area, through the the guidance of a park naturalist, and come along. Groups wild beauty of spring flowers or autumn colors, and into high depart from several points throughout the park at regularly mountain meadows. In many places trails lead unexpectedly scheduled intervals. from the dimly lighted undergrowth to bright vistas that open Choose the walk that best suits your interests and your on mile after mile of rolling mountain slopes. The sudden schedule by consulting a copy of the Naturalist Program. This ness of the views and the slowness of their coming into focus is an informative folder of naturalist activities covering the seem to add to their splendor. A seasoned hiker has said, summer season. You can get a copy at the Oconaluftee and "If nature is loved by what is best in us, then it is here where Sugarlands Visitor Centers and at all ranger stations.