Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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COMPLIMENTARY $2.95 2017/2018 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE OFFICIAL PARTNERS This summer, Yamaha launches a new Star motorcycle designed to help you journey further…than you ever thought possible. To see the road ahead, visit YamahaMotorsports.com/Journey-Further AD AD Some motorcycles shown with custom parts, accessories, paint and bodywork. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. ©2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. BLEED AREA TRIM SIZE PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME LIVE AREA Blanketed in lush forests and shrouded by mist, the Great Smoky Mountains FUN FACTS Zion National Park beckon visitors to explore the mysteries of Established: The park was created in is the result of erosion, its ancient landscape. Walk in the woods 1934 to protect the last of the southern sedimentary uplift, and and stand beneath towering hemlocks. Appalachian forest, which once covered Stephanie Shinmachi. Feel the cool spray of a waterfall splashing more than 4 million acres, but was vir- against moss-covered boulders. Gaze upon tually eliminated by logging and fire. 8 ⅞ a landscape of gentle blue ridges stretch- Land Area: The park is 521,895 acres. ing to the horizon. Number of Visitors: More than 11 mil- The Cherokee described these moun- lion people visit annually—the highest 8 ⅜ visitation of any national park. tains as shaconage, meaning “blue, like Lowest and Highest Elevations: The smoke.” The bluish mist, which clings lowest elevation in the park is 870 feet 7 ⅜ to the mountainsides and fills the val- at the mouth of Abrams Creek, and the leys, gives the park its name and remains highest is 6,643 feet at the summit of among its most distinctive features. Clingmans Dome. 5 ⅞ Among the oldest mountains in the Plant and Animal Species: The park’s world, the Smokies teem with a wondrous abundance and variety of plant and 5 ⅜ diversity of life. Over 17,000 species of animal life have earned it the U.N. plants and animals have been documented designations of International Biosphere in the park! Punctuating this phenomenal Reserve and World Heritage Site. Sci- 4 ¾ biodiversity is one of the nation’s largest entists estimate up to 50,000 different AD types of plants and animals live in Great collections of historic log buildings. The Smoky Mountains National Park. When homes, schools, mills and churches of the Discover Life in America was founded mountain people are preserved here for in 1998, fewer than 10,000 had been you to discover and enjoy. Experience one identified; however, researchers have of America’s greatest wilderness areas and added more than 18,500 new species discover the heritage of natural and cultural to the park, including over 950 that diversity it preserves for all time. were previously unknown! Sights: Some of the more popular sights include Clingmans Dome, Mount LeConte, the sheer rock pinnacles of Chimney Tops, the 100-foot waterfall Ramsey Cascades, and the scenic and PHOTO historic sites at Cataloochee Valley, Ca- des Cove and Oconaluftee. OP! Hiking and Horseback Riding: Send us your stories and photos and Approximately 800 miles of horse and you could be a part of our guide! hiking trails crisscross the park. Be a part of the Oh,Ranger! world! Camping: The park has 1,008 devel- oped campsites and 100 primitive sites. Join the community at nationalparks.org Caption 2 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | APN Ads_fullpage.indd 2 4/28/16 1:01 PM CONTENTS Welcome 2 What’s New! 6 American Park Network® publishes OhRanger.com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor Plan Your Visit 8 guides for public lands all across America. American Park Network is an official partner of Park Regulations & Safety 14 the National Forest Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Hiking Society and Who’s Who at the Park 16 the Student Conservation Association. Preservation 18 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief MARK J. SAFERSTEIN History & Culture 21 Associate Publisher & Executive Editor Joel S. Saferstein Sights To See 25 Savings can take you to sights. Group Sales & Partnerships Director Centerfold Map Savings can take you to amazing sights. Alex Frenkel amazing EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Gatlinburg, TN 29 Managing Editor: Kate Morgan Editors: Nell Alk, Monette A. Bailey, Cherokee, NC 33 Scott Deckman, Cinnamon Janzer, Julie McCool, Renee Sklarew, Andy M. Smith Proofreader: Shannon Kronstadt Lodging & Dining 35 Graphic Designers: Mario Arce, Dennisse Cruz, Mike Dion, Yamileth Recinos, Tatiana Hurtado Things To Do 38 DIGITAL Technology Managers: Scott Falconer, Josh Eckstein Just for Kids 44 ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING Walking & Hiking 45 (212) 581-3380 [email protected] Business Development: Sharon Burson, Camping 47 Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Craig King, Kristi Rummel Nature & Wildlife 48 Operations Manager: Matthew Price Photography 52 American Park Network 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 If You Only Have a Day 56 @OhRanger ©2017 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network Cover Photo: Black bear cub by are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. cchoc/iStock. PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce PEFC/29-31-75 www.pefc.org The publisher of this guide and the advertisers herein are not GET THE APP! geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce affiliated with, or endorsed by, the National Park Service. IT’S FREE! DOWNLOAD NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Distribution requests For answers to all your GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; [email protected] questions, go to OhRanger.com Some discounts, coverages, paymenta Berkshire plans Hathaway and features Inc. subsidiary. are not available © 2017 in GEICO all states or all GEICO companies. installation/sponsorship GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO [email protected] PLAN YOUR VISIT WHAT’S NEW! WHY PARKS MATTER There is nothing so American as our national parks. – Franklin Delano Roosevelt ® Access to parks is one of the things that’s truly great about life in America. Not just na- tional parks, like FDR stated, but all parks. Parks afford everyone, regardless of race, income, Mark, Joel & Alex – Support parks, stay healthy! social status or age, the opportunity to escape Take a deep breath in a park and you’ll immedi- the concrete jungle and step into the wild. It ately know the value of greenspace. doesn’t matter whether it’s a small step into a Health & Wellness Studies show a high local park or a giant leap into the backcountry. correlation between time spent in parks and The effect is the same. Time in nature feels improved health (and, in my view, happiness). good. Other values that parks bring may be You move more when you’re outside, which de- less obvious. Since we take care of the things creases stress, makes you more fit and reduces we value, I’d like to highlight a few other ben- the risk of many health issues, such as diabetes, efits we all receive from public lands: high blood pressure and heart disease. Exercise Economic Impact America’s federal, state (which parks inspire) also positively impacts your and local parks and public lands generate $200 cholesterol levels. A few years ago, I started bi- billion in annual economic activity and support cycling to work every day. A year later, my over- more than one million jobs! You might help a all cholesterol went down while my HDL—the AD dozen businesses during a weekend hiking trip. “good” cholesterol—went up. The results of Imagine the impact of a week-long national park a small change in your exercise routine can be adventure. Parks raise property values, too! amazing! Parks invite this change. Conservation Trees produce the oxygen The value of parks is undeniable, so follow we need to survive, but did you know that FDR’s lead and support our public lands. It’s they also help save money? It’s estimated that the all-American thing to do. (Congress, take trees in cities save $400 billion in costs to re- note!) You’ll save the country money while im- tain stormwater. A single tree can store 100 proving our nation’s health—and your own, too. gallons or more, which helps keep streets from Not a bad combination! flooding and reduces the need for artificial stor- age facilities. A tree can also absorb as much as three tons of carbon gas during its lifetime. [email protected] Five national parks GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! One iconic American road trip VisitUtah.com/itineraries Parks are about enjoying nature, but what if you want to share a great picture or are awaiting an important email? If you’re looking to add connectivity to your park, or if you already have Wi-Fi and would like help adding content or generating sponsor revenues,