Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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COMPLIMENTARY $3.95 2019/2020 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE

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PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME S:7.375” SO TASTY EVERYONE WILL WANT A BITE. BlanketedT:8.375” in lush forests and shrouded by mist, the Great Smoky Mountains FUN FACTS beckon visitors to explore the mysteries of Established: The park was created in its ancient landscape. Walk in the woods 1934 to protect the last of the southern and stand beneath towering hemlocks. Appalachian forest, which once covered 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. a landscape of gentle blue ridges stretch- Land Area: The park is 522,427 acres. ing to the horizon. Number of Visitors: More than 11 mil- The Cherokee described these moun- lion people visit annually—the highest 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 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. 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 diversity of life. More than 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- biodiversity is one of the nation’s largest entists estimate up to 50,000 different 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 ©2019 Preferred Brands International. reserved. rights All 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 1,000 that were diversity it preserves for all time. 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: TASTY BITE® is all-natural Send us your stories and photos and Approximately 800 miles of horse and and perfect for the trail. Look you could be a part of our guide! hiking trails crisscross the park. for the yellow pouch in the Be a part of the Oh,Ranger! world! Camping: The park has 1,000 devel- international food aisle.* oped campsites and 100 primitive sites. tastybite.com *Keep wildlife wild; Don’t feed the animals. | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 1

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FINAL Client: Tasty Bite APPROVAL SIGNATURES ROUND(s) 3 Filename: 19tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd SIZE / Date: 4-2-2019 2:32 PM MECHANICAL SPECS (w x h) FONTS & IMAGES PROOF FORMAT Job #: 2967 Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Fonts TRAFFIC Insert Date: 4/1 Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Knockout (HTF49 Liteweight), Acumin Pro Condensed (Light), Pubs or Loc: PROD. Oh Ranger Viewing: 5.375” x 8.375” Acumin Pro (Black, Regular, Bold) Magazine Description: None Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Images STUDIO Scale: 1” = 1” Print Tasty Bite Final 032919-CMYK.psd (CMYK; 448 ppi, 494 ppi; AD Notes: None ACTUAL SIZE (w x h) 66.93%, 60.7%), Tasty_Bite_Logo.ai (17.81%), Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product.psd (CMYK; 536 ppi; 55.95%) CW Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Mekanism Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Inks CD 640 Second St Viewing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black SF, CA 94107 5.375” x 8.375” BM 415.908.4000 Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Gutter: None Designer: Dustin Page Printed at: None CLIENT CONTENTS

Unforgettable Adventures. Welcome 1

American Park Network® publishes OhRanger. What’s New! 4 com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor guides for public Plan Your Visit 6 lands all across America—and operates Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi in parks and public lands. American Park Network is an official partner of the National Park Regulations & Safety 14 Forest Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Who’s Who at the Park 16 Foundation, American Hiking Society and the Student Conservation Association. Preservation 17 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief MARK J. SAFERSTEIN History & Culture 18

Associate Publisher & Executive Editor Joel S. Saferstein Sights To See 21 Group Sales & Partnerships Director Centerfold Map Alex Frenkel EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Gatlinburg, TN 25 Editors: Monette A. Bailey, Daniel Johnson, Jacqueline Kehoe, Amanda McConnon, Cherokee, NC 29 Julie McCool, Danielle Taylor, Wendy Willis Proofreader: Scott Tabor Production Manager: Mario Arce Lodging & Dining 31 Graphic Designers: Karla Aldana, Dennisse Cruz, Tatiana Hurtado, Yamileth Recinos Things To Do 33 DIGITAL Technology Manager: Scott Falconer Walking & Hiking 38

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING Camping 40 (212) 581-3380 [email protected] Just for Kids 41 Business Development: Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Craig King, Kristi Rummel Nature & Wildlife 43 Feel-Good Savings. Operations Manager: Matthew Price American Park Network 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 Photography 46 Heed the call of adventure with great insurance coverage. @OhRanger If You Only Have One Day 48 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on RV insurance. ©2019 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network Cover Photo: Sunset over the Smokies. are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. (iStock)

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FOR MORE INFORMATION For answers to all your Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or Distribution requests questions, go to OhRanger.com in all situations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC [email protected] 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship [email protected] PLAN YOUR VISIT WHAT’S NEW! WE’RE ALL CONNECTED

As a young man, John Muir, the naturalist known as, “Father of the National Parks,” Mark, Joel & Alex – connecting in parks! had an accident that left him temporarily blinded. It changed his life forever. When he science. I often find inspiration in parks. In its regained his sight, he emerged into the light traditional form, yoga was about joining with ever-determined to pursue his dreams of the collective universe. So, too, is Muir’s quote, exploration. Fortunately for the world, Muir’s best illustrated by an example from Yellowstone. trials led him to help move Congress to set When wolves were reintroduced there after a aside Yosemite, one of his many contributions 70-year absence, the rampant elk population to our nation’s preservation movement. could no longer leisurely nibble on willows, graze When faced with adversity, we have but in open meadows or congregate by the rivers. In two choices. We can either rise above our a short period of time, the forests and meadows circumstance or succumb to our demons of began to regenerate. Song birds appeared. doubt, fear, resentment and apathy. While Beavers flourished, building dams, which Muir was lucky to have his sight return, his created habitats for otters, muskrats and ducks. subsequent efforts drew strength from hope, Cooler waters, shaded by more trees, attracted compassion, kindness and love to rise up different species of amphibians and fish. Tree from personal adversity. roots stabilized the river banks, diminished AD Lately, it feels like we’re all dealing with erosion and even changed the geography of the too many hurdles. Every hour, “breaking” park! Indeed, pick out anything by itself and we news spews forth accounts of tragedy and quickly find that everything is connected. divisiveness. It was with this backdrop that I Now is the time to seek out connection— SOMEWHERE was preparing to teach a restorative yoga class, whether in a park, a yoga studio or anywhere to create a safe environment for my students you find inspiration—to find strength to rise up BETWEEN and provide an hour’s worth of peace and quiet and overcome the obstacles that face us all… to carry out into the world. What theme would capture their imagination and neatly underscore STUNNING our human need for connectedness? When teaching, I try to use examples that marry ancient tradition with contemporary and SURREAL

GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! VISITUTAH.COM 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, please let us know at [email protected].

4 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOURYOUR VISITVISIT

GETTING TO GREAT KY 75 VA SMOKY MOUNTAINS 81 The beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway runs Nashville 40 • 40 NORTH from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia TENNESSEE CAROLINA SEE INSET to the southern entrance of Great Smoky 26 Mountains National Park. U.S. 441, known SC 75 AL GA • in the park as Newfound Gap Road, is a Columbia • Atlanta high mountain road that cuts across the 75 INSET 81 Knoxville ridge near the center of the park, providing • 40 TN 40 129 441 NC outstanding scenic views. Gatlinburg Maryville 321 Townsend• • 75 Great• Smoky Mtns. Car: From the north, take I-40 from Asheville 40 National Park • Knoxville, Tennessee (about 25 miles 19 • Cherokee 26 129 away), to TN 66 at exit 407, then U.S. 441 19 441 South to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Drive two miles south on U.S. 441 to Park Air: McGhee-Tyson Airport (TYS), the Headquarters and Sugarlands Visitor Cen- nearest major airport to the park, is located ter. Traffic along these U.S. highways is 45 miles west of Gatlinburg, between often choked with holiday and weekend Knoxville and Alcoa, Tennessee. The Ashe- travelers, causing delays of one or more ville Airport is south of Asheville, North hours. Consider using U.S. 321 from I-40 Carolina, and about 60 miles east of the at exits 435 or 440 in Newport to avoid park. The Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Avia- this congestion. tion Center (GKT) is located 12 miles north From the south, take U.S. 441 North to of the park in Sevierville, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina, then drive two serves private aircraft. miles north on U.S. 441 to Oconaluftee Bus: There is no public bus service Visitor Center. to the park. However, Rocky Top Tours From the west, take U.S. 129 South in Gatlinburg provides bus tours of the to Maryville, Tennessee, then take U.S. park and operates shuttle service from 321 North to Townsend, Tennessee, and McGhee-Tyson and Sevierville Airports to CHONDOLA RIDE | TREE CANOPY WALK | ZIPLINES then on to the park’s west entrance. Drive Gatlinburg. west about seven miles through the park Train: Amtrak service is not available RAIL RUNNER MOUNTAIN COASTER to Cades Cove. to the area. The nearest rail station is 115 TREE HOUSE VILLAGE PLAYGROUND & GEM MINING From the east, take I-40 West from miles southeast in Greenville, S.C. Asheville, North Carolina (about 40 miles MEMORIAL FOREST & VISTA GARDEN WALKS away), to U.S. 19, then U.S. 441 to the GETTING AROUND THE PARK SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | CLIFF TOP GRILL & BAR park’s southern entrance near Cherokee, Travel through the park by automobile, by North Carolina. Or, you may take the Foot- bicycle or on foot. The city of Gatlinburg’s QUAINT SHOPS & SCENIC VIEWS GALORE hills Parkway from I-40 at exit 443, then trolley service operates a daily shuttle, U.S. 321 into Gatlinburg and the Park Head- June through October, to three popular loca- quarters and Sugarlands Visitor Center. tions in the park. The service runs between 576 Parkway Gatlinburg, TN

6 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | 865-325-2400 | ANAKEESTA.com PLAN YOUR VISIT “This experience has

elevations in the park are cooler. Late changed me forever.” PACKING ESSENTIALS spring and early fall bring mild days and Don’t hit the trail without: cool nights, with temperatures in the • Topographic map & compass + GPS low 70s during the day and mid-40s at • Whistle night. Summers in Great Smoky Moun- tains National Park are warm and humid. • Flashlight or headlamp At lower elevations, high temperatures • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat range from 55 to 90ºF. At higher eleva- • High-energy food & plenty of water tions, high temperatures are in the low • Appropriate clothing & extra layers 50s to the mid-60s. Winter is often cold, • Waterproof matches dropping below zero at higher elevations, • Insect repellent and occasionally snowy. • Pocket knife • First-aid kit PARK VISITOR CENTERS • Sturdy footwear Three year-round visitor centers and one seasonal visitor contact station are downtown Gatlinburg and Sugarlands Visitor located within the national park. At the Center, Laurel Falls Trail and Elkmont Camp- two main visitor centers, Sugarlands ground at minimal cost to the rider. For more and Oconaluftee, park rangers are on information, please call (800) 588-1817 or hand to answer questions and provide visit gatlinburgtrolley.org. information on roads, weather, camping, backcountry conditions, backcountry HOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES camping permits and first aid. Ranger- The park is open daily, year-round. guided walks, maps and books are AD Entrance to the park is free! available at all visitor centers. The Sug- arlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove PARK ROADS visitor centers are all open year-round. Newfound Gap and other roads some- The Clingmans Dome contact station is times close due to winter storms. Cling- open April to November. For more in- mans Dome Road is closed in winter. formation, please call the park’s main For updated road and weather informa- phone number, (865) 436-1200. tion, please call (865) 436-1200. Once you Sugarlands Visitor Center is located hear a voice, dial ext. 631 for road infor- near the park’s main northern entrance, mation or ext. 630 for a weather forecast. two miles south of Gatlinburg along Current road conditions are also available at Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441). This re- Twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS. modeled center offers a free 20-minute orientation film that provides an in-depth WEATHER look at the Smokies and the many rec- Always be prepared for changes in reation opportunities available. Natural weather by dressing in layers and car- history exhibits include mounted speci- Conserving Lands. Transforming Lives. rying rain gear. Rain falls frequently mens of park animals in recreations of throughout the year; March and July their habitats and reproductions of jour- are usually the wettest months. Higher nals kept by the first park naturalists. - Serve, support, learn more at

8 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | THESCA.ORG PLAN YOUR VISIT

Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS at the park’s main southern entrance, two Several tourism information centers miles north of Cherokee on Newfound Gap outside the park provide national park in- Road (U.S. 441). This state-of-the-art visi- formation in partnership with the National tor center provides interactive exhibits and Park Service and feature Great Smoky a museum collection of artifacts and stories Mountains Association-managed book- that connect people to the human history of stores. The Gatlinburg Welcome Cen- the Smokies. - ter is on U.S. 441, better known as “The Cades Cove Visitor Center is located Spur,” at the entrance to Gatlinburg, Ten- off U.S. 321, about 12 miles southwest nessee, and the Aquarium Welcome of Townsend, Tennessee. The visitor Center is located in downtown Gatlinburg center, which is situated among numer- at traffic light #5. Park information is also ous preserved 19th-century farms and available at the Sevierville Visitor Center, historic buildings, emphasizes the cul- located at 3099 Winfield Dunn Parkway tural history of the Smokies. A book- in Kodak, Tennessee, and the Townsend store and information on programs Visitor Center, located at 7906 East La- and services are provided. There is no mar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, telephone service. Tennessee. From April to November, the visitor contact station at the Clingmans Dome SPECIAL SERVICES - trailhead offers park information, a book- Park activities and facilities that are fully store and shop and public restrooms. - accessible to visitors with disabilities are

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Park Headquarters and General Information nps.gov/grsm or (865) 436-1200

Emergencies 911 or (865) 436-1230

Backcountry Reservations (865) 436-1297

Special Services - (865) 436-1200

Lost and Found (865) 436-1216

Road/Weather Conditions (865) 436-1200

In-Park Lodging with Dining LeConte Lodge (865) 429-5704

Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (865) 436-4178 Cherokee is a sovereign nation with its own beliefs, art, and over eleven Cherokee Indian Reservation Visitor Center (800) 438-1601 thousand years of culture to explore. You’d better make your

Sightseeing Tours/Rocky Top Tours (865) 429-8687 stay overnight. Legendary vacations start right here: VisitCherokeeNC.com | 800.438.1601 10 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | VisitCherokeeNC.com VisitCherokeeNC.com

VisitCherokeeNC.com VisitCherokeeNC.com PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT indicated throughout the guide by the Creek Horse Camp and the group camps Camping and Picnic Supplies: Lim- (828) 488-2155, in Bryson City, North Car- - symbol. at Deep Creek and Cataloochee are also ited picnic and camping supplies are olina, 10 miles southeast of Oconaluftee Services: The park film is equipped for accessible. available at Cades Cove and Elkmont Visitor Center. use by the vision and hearing impaired. Trails: Walks near Cades Cove, campgrounds. You will find a complete se- Postal Services: Park visitor centers Please inquire at the front desk for an as- Oconaluftee and Sugarlands visitor cen- lection at numerous stores in the gateway have mailboxes, but do not sell postage sisted listening device before entering the ters are best suited for wheelchairs. communities near the park. stamps. Post offices are found in gateway theater. Inquire at visitor centers or ranger Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is spe- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: communities. stations for parking permits for visitors cifically designed to accommodate There are electric vehicle charging sta- Religious Services: In the summer, with disabilities. visitors with disabilities. For more in- tions at the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee A Christian Ministry in the National Parks Facilities: The Oconaluftee, Sugarlands formation, see the “Walking & Hik- Visitor Centers. sponsors nondenominational Chris- and Cades Cove visitor centers are wheel- ing” chapter, inquire at visitor centers, Emergencies: In case of an emer- tian worship services on Sundays at chair-accessible and have restrooms that call (865) 436-1200, or consult Access gency, please call 911. For emergency several locations. are wheelchair-accessible. Additional ac- America Guide to the Eastern National messages, please contact the park com- Service Stations: Gas, diesel fuel and cessible restrooms and picnic sites are lo- Parks, available at bookstores. munications office at (865) 436-1230. The repair services are available in Gatlinburg cated at the Chimney Tops, Cosby, Metcalf names of people with emergency mes- at the park’s main northern entrance, in Bottoms, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Deep sages waiting for them are posted at visi- Townsend, Tennessee, and at the park’s Creek and Collins Creek picnic areas. tor centers or campgrounds. main southern entrance in Cherokee, Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont Gift Shops: Postcards, publications, North Carolina. If your car breaks down on campgrounds are wheelchair-accessible. VISITOR SERVICES DVDs and CDs are sold at visitor centers. the road, contact a park ranger or call the Reservations for these sites can be made Many shops selling a variety of gifts, in- park’s dispatch at (865) 436-1230. by calling (877) 444-6777. Level sites— Banking Services: Banks in the gate- cluding native crafts, are found in gateway available first come, first-served—are lo- way cities of Gatlinburg, Townsend and communities. cated adjacent to accessible restrooms. Cherokee have 24-hour ATMs, foreign Kennels: The nearest kennels There are accessible campsites at Big currency exchange (except Gatlinburg) are in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Se- Creek, Cosby and Deep Creek. The Big and other services. vierville, Tennessee; and Cherokee, MORE INFORMATION North Carolina. FEDERAL RECREATION LANDS PASSES Lost and Found: Report lost items and PARK NEWSPAPER turn in found items at visitor centers or The award-winning quarterly park A federal recreation pass is helpful if you plan to visit many national parks, forests or other contact Park Headquarters, Great Smoky newspaper, Smokies Guide, offers cur- federal lands. For information, call (888) 275-8747 or visit store.usgs.gov/pass Mountains National Park, 107 Park Head- rent information about National Park Ser- Type Cost Availability Details quarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; vice naturalist walks, programs and other (865) 436-1216. activities. It is available at park visitor cen- Annual $80 General Public This one-year pass is available on site, by Medical Services: First-aid facili- ters and campgrounds. Pass $20 Seniors age 62+ phone or online (see above). ties are available at Park Headquarters Senior This lifetime pass is available on site $80 U.S. residents age 62+ and visitor centers. Medical emergency BOOKS AND MAPS Pass or via mail order. ID required. services are available at the follow- Great Smoky Mountains Association Active U.S. mili- Military This one-year pass is available on site. ing locations: LeConte Medical Center, sells park-related literature at visitor cen- Free tary members and Pass ID (CAC Card or DoD Form 1173) required. dependents (865) 446-7000, located on Middle Creek ters in the park and at some welcome Road in Sevierville, Tennessee, 15 miles centers outside the park. Hiking maps, Access U.S. residents with per- This lifetime pass is available on site or via Free Pass manent disabilities mail order. ID and documentation required. north of Gatlinburg; Blount Memorial Hos- USGS topographical maps, guides, books pital, (865) 983-7211, on Highway 321 in and other items are available. To order ma- Volunteer 250 cumulative Inquire locally to obtain informa- Free Maryville, Tennessee, 25 miles north of terials, visit smokiesinformation.org or Pass volunteer service hours tion about this one-year pass. Cades Cove; and Swain County Hospital, call (888) 898-9102.

12 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 13 PLAN YOUR VISIT PARK REGULATIONS & SAFETY PARK REGULATIONS and to prevent hypothermia. This potentially & SAFETY fatal condition occurs when the body loses iStock heat faster than it can generate it. You can make the most of your visit to run. Instead, slowly back away, always the Smokies by planning ahead and becom- watching the bear. If a bear follows you, ing acquainted with some simple safety pre- change direction or stand your ground. Talk cautions and park rules. loudly or shout at it and make yourself look as large as possible to try to intimidate the PARK REGULATIONS bear. Never turn your back or run away. Help protect the park, and yourself, by ob- To reduce your risk of poison ivy and serving the following NPS regulations: ticks, stay on trails and avoid brushy areas. Alcoholic beverages are permitted only PARK SAFETY Wearing a hat, long pants and a long-sleeved in designated picnic and camping areas. Pos- Please review and observe the following shirt helps considerably. If you think you’ve session of open alcoholic beverages in motor tips, which are designed to enhance your brushed against poison ivy, remove and iso- vehicles is prohibited. Approximately 20 percent of the park’s 2,900 safety and enjoyment. late the clothes you wore until you can wash Bicycles, mountain bikes and motor- miles of streams support trout populations. Feeding the bears is illegal! It makes them. Apply insect repellent to ward off ticks, cycles are allowed on paved roads and in them bold and potentially dangerous. Keep a and check yourself and your clothes for ticks campgrounds, but are prohibited on trails and fires. Cutting trees or branches for firewood clean camp and deposit garbage in park trash after hiking. If a tick attaches itself to you, administrative roads behind locked gates. is strictly prohibited. cans or dumpsters. remove it with tweezers and then wash the Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets. Fireworks are not allowed in the park. Bears cause significant property damage area thoroughly with antiseptic or soap and Skateboarding is prohibited in the park. Fishing is allowed within the park from every year trying to get food, so be sure water. Seek medical attention if part of the Camp in designated areas only. To camp sunrise to sunset. A valid Tennessee or North to “bearproof” your food, toothpaste and tick remains in your skin. Ticks can transmit overnight in the backcountry, you must obtain Carolina state fishing license is required and cosmetics. If you are car camping, keep Lyme disease, which is characterized by a backcountry permit. Permits are available may be purchased at sporting goods stores in food stored in the trunk of your car or in a skin changes, flu-like symptoms and joint online at smokiespermits.nps.gov or by con- gateway communities and at the Gatlinburg strong food locker. If you must store food inflammation. tacting the backcountry office. Permits cost Welcome Center at the north entrance to in the passenger compartment, cover it so Be careful when walking around $4 per person per night.Federal law allows town. Fishing with any natural bait is prohib- that bears can’t see it; they have learned to streams and waterfalls. Mist and moss people who can legally possess firearms united, so use single-hook artificial lures. Before identify packaged food. If you are backpack- make rocks and logs extremely slippery. Stay der applicable laws to possess firearms in the you cast any lines, pick up the Great Smoky ing, suspend your food and food garbage on on trails. Don’t drink untreated water, which park. It is the responsibility of visitors to un- Mountains Fishing Regulations brochure at the cable system located at all backcountry may contain impurities and parasites that can derstand and comply with all applicable state, any visitor center. Check at a ranger station to campsites. Keep your tent, sleeping bag and make you ill. local and federal firearms laws before entering learn which stream segments will be closed. other gear clean and free of food odor. Food Swimming is not recommended be- the park. Please visit nps.gov/grsm for more Pets must always be leashed. They storage regulations are strictly enforced at cause streams contain submerged rocks, information. Hunting is strictly prohibited. are allowed along paved roads, in park- the park. logs and debris, and flash floods may occur Beginning in March 2015, only heat- ing lots and in campgrounds accessible If you see a bear or other wildlife, with little or no warning. treated, bundled firewood that displays a to motor vehicles. Pets are not permitted keep your distance. Park regulation pro- Don’t leave valuables in your car. They USDA or state Department of Agriculture on trails (exceptions: Gatlinburg Trail and hibits visitors from approaching, disturbing are an easy target in a locked or unlocked car. certification stamp may be used in park Oconaluftee River Trail), in public buildings or displacing wildlife. Please keep a mini- If you must carry these items with you, place campgrounds. It is sold in local communities or in the backcountry. Service animals are mum distance of 50 yards. Bears may dis- them in your trunk before you park your car. and through concessions at Cades Cove, allowed throughout the park. play signs of aggressive behavior such as Storms can take you by surprise and Elkmont and Smokemont campgrounds. Vandalism, or the removal of rocks, charging, making loud noises or swatting temperatures on the Smokies’ ridges are of- Fires are allowed in established fire rings or plants or any natural feature, is strictly prohib- the ground—all indications of the bear de- ten much cooler than in the valleys. Dress in fireplaces. Campers may also collect dead ited.Please don’t feed, approach, chase or manding more space. If this happens, don’t layers and always carry rain gear for comfort and down wood found in the park for camp- harass park wildlife.

14 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 15 PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT WHO’S WHO AT PRESERVATION THE PARK

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS The NPS plays a dual role in Great Smoky The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), the The NPS is the federal custodian of the ASSOCIATION Mountains National Park: it preserves the park’s latest threat, is a tiny insect native to park. It preserves the Smokies’ natural hab- Founded in 1953 and operating book- park’s natural environment and the historic Asia that was discovered in the park in 2002. itat, which was once heavily farmed and stores both inside and outside the park, relics of the mountain settlers. Spread in part, by larger insects and on birds’ logged, and maintains the park’s historic this nonprofit organization produces feet, HWA suck the sap from the base of man-made features. The NPS also helps the park newspaper and other publi- SMOKIER SMOKIES tree needles which drop off, impairing new visitors have a more enjoyable stay in the cations, funds staff positions for the Air pollution has caused regional haze growth. A park team controls HWA with in- park. Contact the superintendent at: Great park’s library and archives, sponsors re- and decreased visibility from the park’s secticides and the release of tiny predator Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park search projects, purchases items for liv- scenic overlooks. Researchers believe the beetles, which hold the best hope for long- Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; ing history demonstrations and funds emissions rise at night and, mixing with air, term control. Early results show promise. (865) 436-1200, or visit nps.gov/grsm. visitor center exhibits. For more informa- settle across the park’s ridges. Visibility has The “Save Our Hemlocks Action tion, please call (865) 436-7318 or visit significantly improved, however, over the Team” is a group of scientists, land manag- GATEWAY COMMUNITIES smokiesstore.org. past 15 years due to emissions reduction. ers and others organized by the Southern Great Smoky Mountains National Ground-level ozone pollution is one of the Appalachian Man and the Biosphere con- Park’s gateway communities of GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS most serious air pollutants. Concentrations sortium. These experts pool their resources Gatlinburg, Cosby, Pigeon Forge and INSTITUTE AT TREMONT in the park are among the highest in the to survey and monitor impacts of HWA, Townsend in Tennessee; and Bryson The Institute is a nonprofit environ- eastern U.S. During high ozone-pollution conduct outreach activities and look at so- City, Cherokee, Maggie Valley and mental education center offering resi- episodes, visitors (especially seniors and lutions to reduce a potential disaster. For Fontana Dam in North Carolina, offer dential and non-residential programs children) may wish to refrain from strenu- information, visit samab.org. lodging, dining and other services and at- such as photography workshops, wil- ous outdoor activities. Acid rain, produced tractions. Innkeepers, restaurateurs and derness adventure camps and citizen by sulfur and nitrogen by-products in the air SAVING ANIMALS merchants help make your stay in the science programs. All programs em- combining with water vapor, damages sen- Peregrine falcon reintroduction efforts Smokies comfortable and enjoyable. For phasize exploration and understanding sitive plant foliage and affects the chemi- in the Smokies have resulted in recovery more information about local chambers of the park’s natural and cultural re- cal balance of streams and soils. Air-quality of a small population, after the birds nearly of commerce, visitor bureaus or depart- sources. Please contact the Institute at monitoring data is on display at the Sugar- vanished from the eastern United States ments of tourism, please see the “Lodg- (865) 448-6709 or visit gsmit.org. lands and Oconaluftee visitor centers. by the mid-1960s as a result of widespread ing & Dining” chapter. pesticide use. Between 1984 and 1986, 13 APPALACHIAN TRAIL IMPERILED FIRS AND HEMLOCKS peregrines were released in the Greenbrier FRIENDS OF GREAT SMOKY CONSERVANCY In the case of the Fraser fir, the threat is a area of the park. In June 1997, a nesting pair MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a tiny insect called the balsam woolly adel- was observed at Peregrine Peak and pro- This nonprofit organization is dedicated private, nonprofit organization dedicated gid (BWA). This native of Europe was inad- duced three young. At least two active fal- to raising private and corporate contribu- to maintaining and protecting the Appala- vertently introduced to this country at the con nests are known in the park. tions to help the park meet some of its chian Trail, 70 miles of which run through turn of the 20th century. Adelgids drink the The success of the park’s brook trout critical funding needs. The goals include the park. The organization publishes infor- Fraser fir’s sap, killing it within six to eight restoration efforts have made it possible assisting with natural and historic re- mation about the trail, conducts research years of initial infestation.More than 91 per- for visitors to catch the only native trout source projects, and helping to improve projects and assists in trail maintenance. cent of the mature Fraser firs in the park species in the park. Logging and non-na- visitor facilities and services. For informa- It represents more than 60 volunteer trail have died since BWA was first discovered tive fish introductions in the early 1900s tion or to learn how to become a mem- clubs and 16,000 members. For more in- in 1962. In North Carolina, trees grown from reduced the original range of brook trout ber, please call (865) 932-4794 or visit formation, please call (304) 535-6331 or seed in 1995 are managed as a reservoir of in the park by 70 percent. The fish now in- friendsofthesmokies.org. visit appalachiantrail.org. the park’s genetic material. habit about 200 miles of streams.

16 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 17 HISTORY & CULTURE HISTORY & CULTURE HISTORY & CULTURE JOHN WALKER John Walker (1841–1921), of Wears Valley, along with his NPS wife, Margaret Jane, lived in Little Greenbrier Cove with their The Great Smoky Mountains are among fields on the Cove Hardwood, Noah 11 children and prided themselves on their self-sufficiency. the highest peaks in the Appalachian moun- “Bud” Ogle and Roaring Fork Motor Margaret Jane was an “herb doctor” and a midwife; John tain range, yet they are rounder and lower nature trails. was a blacksmith, carpenter, miller and farmer. To accom- in elevation than younger mountain chains The Smokies originally looked more like modate his large family, Walker built a cabin and placed it ad- such as the Rocky Mountains. How they the Himalayas than the rounded mountains jacent to an original structure built by his father-in-law, Wiley came to be this way is a story that began we see today. The relentless erosive force of King. Walker’s cabin eventually passed to five of his daugh- almost 1 billion years ago. water has sculpted their present-day appear- ters—Margaret Jane, Polly, Louisa, Hettie and Martha—who An ancient sea flooded what is now ance. Water runoff has also helped to carve had never married. the eastern United States, submerging the alternating pattern of V-shaped valleys In the 1930s, the commission responsible for acquiring the remnants of an old mountain range. and steep ridges. Landslides caused by a tor- land for Great Smoky Mountains National Park unsuccess- The sea slowly deposited layers of sedi- rential downpour in 1951 created the large fully attempted to persuade the Walker sisters to sell the ment onto the ocean floor. The intense V-slash on Mount LeConte, and rock slides homestead. To avoid negative publicity, the commission pressure of thousands of feet of sedi- in 1984 briefly closed Newfound Gap Road. finally opted not to force the Walkers off via eminent domain. ment compressed these layers into met- As you explore the park, look for ways water The Walker sisters eventually sold the farm in 1941 in exchange for a lifetime lease. A local amorphic rock. Almost 300 million years continues to sculpt the land. legend claims the sisters were paid a visit by President Franklin Roosevelt, who convinced them to sell the land. ago, the sea added yet another layer of limestone sediment that was composed HUMAN HISTORY of fossilized marine animals and shells. Evidence of human habitation here In the late 18th century, Scotch-Irish, relocation of all native peoples east of the The stage was set for the formation of goes back thousands of years. The first German, English and other settlers ar- Mississippi River to Indian Territory, now the Appalachian Mountains. inhabitants are believed to have been a rived in significant numbers. The Chero- Oklahoma. The Cherokee appealed their As a result of the eons-old shifting of the breakaway group of Iroquois, later to be kee were friendly at first, but fought with case to the Supreme Court and Chief Jus- earth’s tectonic plates (large sections of called Cherokee, who had moved south settlers when provoked. They battled Car- tice Marshall ruled in their favor. President the earth’s crust), Africa and North America from Iroquoian lands in New England. The olina settlers in the 1760s but eventually Jackson, however, disregarded the Su- collided about 250 million years ago. This Cherokee Nation stretched from the Ohio withdrew to the Blue Ridge Mountains. preme Court decree in the one instance caused the older, underlying layer of meta- River into South Carolina and consisted To come to terms with the powerful new- in American history when a U.S. president morphic rock to tilt upward and slide over of seven clans. The Eastern Band of the comers, the Cherokee Nation attempted overtly ignored a Supreme Court decision. the younger limestone rock, slowly creat- Cherokee lived (and continue to live) in to make treaties and to adapt to European In 1838, the U.S. government forced ing a towering mountain range, the Ap- this sacred ancestral home of the Chero- customs. They adopted a written legal code some 13,000 Cherokee to march to palachians. The older rocks, known as the kee Nation. in 1808 and instituted a supreme court two Oklahoma along what has become known Ocoee Series, now compose most of the The Cherokee enjoyed a settled, so- years later. Sequoyah, a Cherokee silver- as the Trail of Tears. About one-third of Great Smoky Mountains. Charlies Bunion, phisticated agriculture-based life. Their smith, created an alphabet for the Cherokee the Cherokee died en route due to mal- Sawteeth and Chimney Tops are dramatic towns of up to 50 log-and-mud huts were language and in the space of two years, nutrition and disease. Altogether, about examples of how the rock layers tilted and grouped around the town square and the nearly all of his people could read and write 100,000 natives, including Cherokee, buckled to form steep cliffs and pinnacles. Council House, a large, seven-sided (for the language. Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw sur- In Cades Cove, erosion of the overlying the seven clans), dome-shaped building But theirs was a losing cause. The vived the journey. metamorphic rock reveals the limestone where public meetings and religious cer- discovery of gold in northern Georgia A handful of Cherokee disobeyed the gov- layer beneath. emonies were held. The Cherokee first in 1828 sounded the death knell for the ernment edict, however. Hiding out in the During the ice ages, massive boulders encountered Europeans in 1540, when Cherokee Nation. hills between Clingmans Dome and Mount were created by alternating freezing and Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto led In 1830, President Andrew Jackson Guyot, they managed to survive. In 1889, thawing of the rock. You can see boulder an expedition through Cherokee territory. signed the Removal Act, calling for the the 56,000-acre Qualla Indian Reservation

18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 19 HISTORY & CULTURE PLAN YOUR VISIT was chartered with a population of about ple returned to farming while others left to SIGHTS TO SEE 1,000 people. Approximately 10,500 of seek jobs in mines, textile mills and automo- their descendants now live on the reser- bile factories. vation, which is located along the park’s Steeped in history and blessed with ANDREWS BALD southern boundary. NATIONAL PARK STATUS natural beauty, the Smokies provide visi- Balds are open, unforested fields on Like the Cherokee, pioneers who settled In 1904, a librarian from St. Louis tors with historic log cabins, primeval mountain ridges, once referred to by in the Smokies in the 18th and 19th centu- named Horace Kephart came to the forests and misty vistas of seemingly naturalist Edwin Way Peale as, “pieces ries coveted the fertile valleys. Land soon Smokies for a respite to restore his health. endless ridgelines. Listed below is a of prairie lifted thousands of feet into the became scarce. Later arrivals made their Kephart found that large-scale logging sampling of the best the Smokies have air.” Biologists can’t explain exactly why homesteads along steep slopes. was decimating the land and disrupt- to offer. they occur, though theories involve over- Logging began slowly, but by the time ing the lives of the people. As the years grazing, wooly mammoths and repeated it ran its course, it had radically changed progressed, he promoted preserving the fires set by early humans. The NPS the land and the life of the people. Tim- Smokies as a national park. In the 1920s, mantains several balds in Great Smoky ber, of course, was vital to the early pio- prominent Knoxville residents took up the CENTRAL SECTION Mountain National Park. Andrews Bald is neers. They used it for homes, furniture, cause and formed a citizens’ organization. The following locations are accessible the easiest of these to reach, located 1.8 fences and fuel. They only began cutting it The NPS was looking for park sites in the from Newfound Gap Road. miles south of Clingmans Dome by hik- for cash in the mid-19th century. This had East after having established parks in the ing trail. Views from the field make it an little noticeable effect on the forest, how- West. Founded in 1916, the young agency ALUM CAVE BLUFFS inviting picnic spot. ever, because men and animals could only hoped to generate further public support The Alum Cave Bluffs were suppos- carry so much. for national parks with a park closer to the edly a source of saltpeter for Civil War CHARLIES BUNION Not so by the turn of the century. Tech- majority of the nation’s population. Along gunpowder. The bluffs, now a popular The 1,000-foot high Charlies Bunion nological advances and the eastern United with private efforts, the NPS promoted the day hiker destination, were also the site is a popular destination for day hikers States’ need for lumber nearly eliminated idea of a national park in the Smokies. of a 19th-century alum mine. Alum is a who want to travel a small portion of all the southern Appalachian forests. Rail- The states of Tennessee and North Caro- compound sulfate used in munitions the Appalachian Trail. Start at Newfound roads were the key to large-scale logging lina and countless citizens responded by manufacturing, in medicines and in set- Gap and follow the crest east for four operations and railroad tracks reaching giving millions of dollars to purchase park- ting cloth dyes. The trail begins between miles to see sweeping views of Mount deep into the mountains made timber land. The federal government was reluctant the Newfound Gap and Chimney Tops LeConte and Greenbriar area. Return the readily available. Steam-powered equip- to buy land for parks; national parks in the overlooks, and becomes somewhat same way for an eight-mile hike. ment like skidders and log loaders also West had been formed from land it had al- strenuous near the end. It rises 1,360 contributed to cost-effective tree removal. ready owned. Eventually, it did contribute feet above Newfound Gap Road and at CHEROKEE ORCHARD ROAD AND Some 15 company towns and nearly as $2 million. Coupled with John D. Rock- times hikers must grip trailside cables ROARING FORK MOTOR NATURE TRAIL many sawmills were constructed in what efeller, Jr.’s donation of $5 million, the NPS to traverse cliffs. The trail is 2.5 miles Historical sites along these roads in- is now the park. Mountain people who had reached its goal. to the bluffs and five miles to Mount clude the remains of a homestead owned once plowed fields and slopped hogs began Lumber companies were bought out in LeConte and goes through Arch Rock. by the Ogle family who lived here after the to cut trees and saw logs for a living, aban- agreements that phased out operations A restoration project of Alum Cave Civil War. There are also log cabins and a doning their farms. They were attracted to over several years and some people liv- Trail involved smoothing and widen- cemetery in Roaring Fork, remnants of a logging by the promise of security and the ing within the proposed park boundaries ing portions, making steps less steep, village that supported some two dozen stability of a steady paycheck. were allowed lifetime residency rights. improving bridges and freshening old families about 150 years ago. The sites Their security was short-lived, however. Most people moved, and consequently life-lines along the cliffs. One of the are located just southeast of Gatlinburg By the 1930s, the lumber companies had were paid more for their land. On June 15, most popular trails in the Great Smoky and are accessible to automobiles via the logged all but the most inaccessible areas 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Mountains now offers a safer and paved Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and were casting their sights to richer pick- Park was officially established, preserving more enjoyable opportunity to reach (closed in winter). The road is impassable ings out West. Some of the mountain peo- the land for generations to come. unparalleled views. to trailers and recreational vehicles.

20 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 21 SIGHTS TO SEE SIGHTS TO SEE

CHIMNEY TOPS trip; Alum Cave Trail at the Alum Cave The Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11- to visitor facility improvements, natural Chimney Tops are sheer, dramatic parking lot on Newfound Gap Road, 11 mile, one-way road that passes 19 tour and cultural resource preservation, edu- examples of the tremendous forces miles round-trip; Rainbow Falls Trail stops marked by numbered posts keyed cational programs, and visitor services. that caused the eastern edge of North or Trillium Gap, each 13.4 miles round- to a pamphlet you can obtain at the be- America to buckle, creating the Appala- trip; or Bull Head, 14.4 miles round-trip ginning of the road or at visitor centers. chian Mountains. You can see the twin from Cherokee Orchard. LeConte Lodge The road is a favorite with cyclists be- pinnacles from the Chimney Tops Over- is located in the trees not far from cause it’s closed to motor vehicles on looks, located along Newfound Gap the summit. Saturdays and Wednesdays from dawn EASTERN SECTION Road, or hike At 6,643 feet in elevation, to 10 a.m., early May through late Sep- Clingmans Dome is the highest spot in MOUNTAIN FARM MUSEUM tember. It is crowded during peak peri- CATALOOCHEE VALLEY the Smokies. A forest of spruce and fir Settled around 1800, Oconaluftee is now ods. Cades Cove can be reached via U.S. Smaller and less visited, this lowland val- trees covers the top, but an observatio- home to Mountain Farm Museum, which rep- 321 near Townsend, Tennessee, as well ley was once a choice site for farmsteads platform provides an unparalleled view. licates a late 19th-century farm with a house, as via Little River Road from Sugarlands and became the largest settlement in the From Newfound Gap, drive seven miles barn, corncrib, sorghum molasses mill and Visitor Center. Smokies. Only a few of the nearly 200 southwest on Clingmans Dome Road to blacksmith shop. From spring through Octo- Living history demonstrations, held buildings that were here at the turn of the the parking lot. Reaching the platform re- ber, there are costumed interpretive dem- from spring through fall, include the mak- 20th century remain. Farmhouses, barns, quires a steep, half-mile walk on a paved onstrations. The museum is located a short ing of molasses, soap and apple butter. a schoolhouse and a church are located in trail. Clingmans Dome Road is closed walk from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Friends of Great Smoky Mountains Na- the valley. An unpaved steep and narrow from approximately December to April. tional Park set up two drive-up donation road at the junction of I-40 and U.S. 276 NEWFOUND GAP boxes along the Loop Road. Funds go leads to Cataloochee Valley. MINGUS MILL Figuratively, and almost literally the park’s Located north of the Oconaluftee Visi- center, Newfound Gap is the cut through the tor Center on Newfound Gap Road, Min- crest of the Great Smoky Mountains located gus Mill is one of two water-powered between Sugarlands and Oconaluftee, along mills still operating in the park. From Newfound Gap Road. The Tennessee–North IT’S HERE! mid-March through mid-November, a Carolina border crosses the gap east to west, miller grinds corn and wheat to make as does the Appalachian Trail. At 5,046 feet, it “AMERICA’S FAVORITE DRIVE” cornmeal and flour. offers fine views of the park. AT YOUR FINGERTIPS... 469 miles of scenic places, historic sites, MOUNT LECONTE lodging, outdoor recommendations and more Hikers and backpackers often gather at dawn or sunset at Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in the park, for one of WESTERN SECTION Planned and developed the Smokies’ most powerful wilderness in cooperation with the experiences. The 6,593-foot-high moun- CADES COVE Blue Ridge Parkway – tain offers its best views from two out- In the isolated valley of Cades Cove, first National Park Service. croppings on Myrtle Point and Cliff Top. settled by Europeans in 1819, the NPS DOWNLOAD HERE There is no road leading to the top of maintains a historical and cultural pre- Mount LeConte, or to the lodge perched serve of log cabins, churches and other there, so you’ll have to go on foot. To buildings. Cable Mill, near Cades Cove summit, take one of five hiking trails: Visitor Center, is an operating water- Part of the ParkFinder™ Network Boulevard Trail via the Appalachian powered gristmill constructed in the Trail at Newfound Gap, 16 miles round- early 1870s.

22 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 23 SIGHTS TO SEE PLAN YOUR VISIT GATLINBURG, TN KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ELK!

Elk once roamed the southern Appalachian

Mountains, but were extirpated from the re- iStock As one of Great Smoky Mountains wood carvings, baskets, quilts, homemade gion by over-hunting and habitat loss. The last National Park’s principal gateway commu- fudge and candies, jewelry, custom glass- elk in the area are believed to have been killed nities, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, hosts many ware and furniture and pottery are widely by the mid-1800s. By 1900, alarmed by the of the park’s millions of annual visitors. It is available. Of particular note, Gatlinburg is decrease of population of elk in North Amer- located on U.S. 441 on the park’s northern home to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts ica, hunting groups and other conservation border, just two miles north of the Sugar- Trail, the largest gathering of independent organizations became concerned the species lands Visitor Center. The city offers lodging, artisans in North America. Located on an was headed for extinction. The park reintro- dining, shopping and other services to make eight-mile loop only three miles from down- duced elk to the park in 2001 and the heard your stay convenient and comfortable. town Gatlinburg on East Parkway (U.S. 321- Catalooche is he best place to see one of the has grown to at least 150 animals. N), the Arts & Crafts Trail features more more than 150 elk in the park. LODGING than 120 shops, studios and galleries for ELK FACTS spotting scope for close-up views. It is un- Gatlinburg offers accommodations for those who are interested in collecting one- Bulls weigh 800-900 pounds and have lawful to approach elk. Approaching wildlife every taste and budget. Within Gatlinburg, of-a-kind pieces of artwork and crafts. antlers as wide as five feet, while cows av- causes undue stress, forcing them to expend there are more than 14,000 sleeping rooms Downtown, the handcrafted, old-world erage 600 pounds. Adults are seven to 10 crucial energy unnecessarily and can result in including hotels and motels; cabins, con- European design of The Village Shops feet long from nose to tail and stand four and real harm. If a nearby animal stops feeding, dominiums, chalets, inns and lodges; nine transports you back in time as you shop a half to five feet tall at the shoulder. Cows changes direction of travel, or otherwise al- bed and breakfasts, and three private camp- its 27 stores, boutiques and galleries. usually give birth to only one calf annually be- ters its behavior, you are too close! grounds. Book early, especially if you’re vis- ginning in the second autumn of their lives. iting during the summer, over the weekend ENTERTAINMENT Newborns weigh about 35 pounds and can WARNING! or during holiday periods. For more informa- Opening in Spring 2019, Gatlinburg stand within minutes of birth. Elk graze on Elk are the largest animals in the park tion, please contact the Gatlinburg Conven- SkyLift Park now offers all new thrilling grasses, forbs and acorns; and browse bark, and they can be dangerous. Cows will de- tion and Visitors Bureau at (865) 436-4178 experiences for travelers, including the leaves and buds from shrubs and trees. In the fend their calves and they’ve been known or gatlinburg.com. SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspen- Smokies, coyotes, bobcats and black bears to charge people in the park. Bull elk may sion bridge in North America. may kill young, sick or injured elk. Those that perceive people as a challenge to their DINING Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies survive these threats can live as long as 20 territory and may charge, too, especially More than 100 restaurants contribute to features more than 1.3 million gallons years, though 15 is more typical. during the breeding season. Always keep Gatlinburg’s food scene, with plenty of op- of salt water and is home to thousands your distance and never touch or move tions for every taste, from gourmet hubs of rare and exotic fish including 12-foot VIEWING ELK elk calves. Though they may appear to be serving seafood, prime rib and wild game, sharks and other aquatic wildlife. Its The best elk viewing opportunities are orphaned, it is likely that their mother is to locally owned eateries serving the best in Penguin Playhouse, a permanent exhibit in Cataloochee during early morning or nearby feeding. authentic Southern cooking. Dress up if you of African black-footed penguins, pro- late evening, as well as during the breed- The use of spotlights, elk bugles and like, but dining in Gatlinburg is a casual affair. vides an additional interactive offering to ing season, known as “the rut,” which other wildlife calls are illegal in the national In 2019, country music superstar Blake aquarium visitors. Ober Gatlinburg Ski occurs in the fall. The rut is a fascinating park. It is also illegal to remove elk antlers Shelton opened Ole Red Gatlinburg, a restau- Area and Amusement Park offers win- mating ritual when the bulls bugle and or other elk parts from the park. Never rant, bar and music venue featuring Southern ter skiing,snowboarding and tubing, year- compete for dominance to attract cows. feed elk or other wildlife or bait them in for cuisine and live music. round indoor ice skating and America’s Elk are also active on cloudy summer days closer observation. Feeding park wildlife is largest tram, a 120-passenger aerial and before or after storms. They are best strictly forbidden by law and almost always SHOPPING tram that whisks you from downtown viewed at a distance, using binoculars or a leads to the animal’s demise. Gatlinburg has more than 500 gift and Gatlinburg to the top of Mt. Harrison. You specialty shops. Handcrafted leather goods, can also see a live performance at Sweet

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Fanny Adams Theatre, replete with slap- mentoring sessions and stage spots. The A HISTORY OF CRAFTS AND ARTS stick vaudevillian comedy. SMSWF promotes songwriters and enter- Anakeesta celebrates the Smokies’ tains music fans. rich mountain heritage. Take a Chondola If you love good food, don’t miss the Taste ride to the summit of Anakeesta Moun- of Autumn on September 12, featuring tain, where you’ll be treated to spectacular menu favorites from the city’s finest restau- views, shopping and dining at the new Cliff rants at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Top Bar and Grill. You’re inner adventurer Celebrate Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg will love the 16-bridge Tree Canopy Walk, October 1-30. The festival features Bavarian- Dueling 1,000+ foot Zipline Adventure and style food, beverages, music and live enter- the Brandauer single rail mountain coaster! tainment during daily shows all month long. Tourism of Department Gatlinburg The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION celebrates the season with new 3D Scare- Convenient trolley service travels through- crow people, festivals, special events and out Gatlinburg and to the park's Sugarlands autumn-themed displays November 1 – 25 Visitor Center, Laurel Falls trailhead and Elk- On November 4, celebrate the best of fall mont Campground. Of particular value is the with Gatlinburg Chili Cook-Off. Enjoy live all-day Trolley Pass that provides unlimited entertainment, sample chili recipes from lo- ridership on city routes at only $2 per day cal restaurants and businesses and vote for your favorite. The Appalachian region has a long craft tradition that is brought to life at live demonstrations SPECIAL EVENTS YEAR-ROUND The Winter Magic Celebration runs in both Gatlinburg; Tennessee; and Cherokee, North Carolina. Gatlinburg offers popular special events from November 5 through February 29, The strong crafts tradition in the Smok- shops, restaurants and studios. throughout the year. 2020, with millions of twinkling LED lights ies produces many fine handcrafted items. Established in 1937, the community The 69th Annual Spring Wildflower and new Winter Magic Snowmen. Long after most people along the Eastern boasts celebrated artisans with a variety Pilgrimage held from April 24 to 27 boasts On November 11, honor the men and Seaboard lived in a cash economy, the of skills, specializing in everything from mountain people still spun thread from whittling to painting, sewing, weaving and more than 199 programs, including hiking women who have served in our armed forces sheep shearings, built furniture from forest carving to create original collectibles and tours, motorcades, demonstrations and lec- in a special Veterans Day ceremony on Rip- hardwoods and made baskets styled after works.No visitor will leave empty-handed tures centered on the park’s flora. ley’s Aquarium Plaza. The program includes those made by the Cherokee people, their when they shop the many contemporary On the evening of July 3, 2019, tens of musical tributes, ceremonial speeches and predecessors in the region. crafts, handmade gifts, and one-of-a-kind thousands of people gather for Gatlinburg’s recognition of veterans in attendance. Appalachian crafts include rocking and pieces. In the spring, arts and crafts lovers 4th of July Midnight Parade. Distinguished Shop early for a one-of-a-kind Christ- cane chairs, cornshuck dolls, hand-carved can learn craftmanship in a variety of medi- as the first Independence Day parade in the mas present during the Great Smoky wood sculptures and woven items such as ums during Hands on Gatlinburg, a week- country, it steps off at 12:01 p.m. The event’s Arts & Crafts Community Holiday napkins, jackets, scarves and blankets. end-long event packed with workshops festivities conclude with a downtown fire- Show at the Gatlinburg Convention Cen- Situated along an eight-mile loop resplen- taught by community artists. works extravaganza the night of the 4th. ter, November 30-December 6. dent with natural beauty is the only zoned Those looking for unique creations in At the Craftsmen’s Fair on July 10-19 and Gatlinburg’s 44th Annual Fantasy of crafts community in the United States and downtown Gatlinburg can find them at the largest group of independent artisans the internationally-recognized Arrowmont October 8-25, you’ll find the best in art, crafts Lights Christmas Parade on December in North America proudly known as Great School of Arts and Crafts. Aspiring and ad- and music with more than 200 exhibitors 6 is one of the most popular events of the Smoky Arts & Craft Community. vanced artists can particpate in workshops from across the country. season, with lighted floats, marching bands, Visitors to this artists’s haven can step taught by studio artists and university The Smoky Mountains Songwriters balloons and more. back in time and witness the rich heritage faculty Festival celebrates the area’s Appalachian Kick off the new year in style. Gatlin- of Gatlinburg come to life when they stroll Please visit gatlinburg.com for more musical roots from August 16-22 with en- burg celebrates Auld Lang Syne with through more than 100 of the community’s information. tertainment, song competition, workshops, a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and

26 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 27 GATLINBURG, TN PLAN YOUR VISIT CHEROKEE, NC iStock

In Cherokee, there’s too much to do in OUTDOOR ADVENTURE one day. So try two. A culture, a people Having Great Smoky Mountains National and a place that’s actually a sovereign Park at your doorstep means heaven for nation, Cherokee is located right in the outdoorsy folk. The Cherokee people treat heart of Western North Carolina. It’s also their environment with great care and re- base camp for hiking in the Great Smok- spect in order to eat well and stay in har- ies, arts and crafts shopping, elk viewing mony with nature. Consider that over 800 and hours of fishing fun, and it’s home to miles of the best hiking trails east of the a history that spans millennia. Each place Mississippi are located here. you visit pulses with the stories and sig- nificance of a people whose roots run “UNTO THESE HILLS” deep and whose ancient wisdom is fas- A spectacular reimagining of the Chero- cinating to uncover. How will Cherokee kee story, “Unto These Hills” is an out- affect you? door drama that portrays the gripping legacy of the Cherokee people through THE MUSEUM OF THE the zenith of their power, through the CHEROKEE INDIAN heartbreak of the Trail of Tears and fi- Inspired by the beauty and ingenu- ity of the Cherokees, this museum is a cultural and historical tour without equal. iStock Hear the whir of the arrow and feel the vibrations of the drums amid spectacular exhibits. Step through the doors and discover up close the Cherokee people’s spirit of inventiveness and resilience, and Fireworks Show from the top of the for hiking, trout fishing and rafting; call their will to survive. 400-foot-tall Gatlinburg Space Needle. (865) 277-8209 for more information. OCONALUFTEE INDIAN VILLAGE GUIDE SERVICES VISITOR SERVICES As you step onto the soft trails of the Smoky Mountain Angler offers full- There are seven banks with 24-hour village, you’re immediately transported or half-day group and personally guided ATMs, several service stations, grocery to the 1760s. The faint tang of wood fishing trips, including waders, rods and stores, liquor stores and drug stores. Call smoke wafts by as a Cherokee cul- license; call (865) 436-8746 for more in- 911 for ambulance service. tural expert leads you on an interactive formation. A Walk in the Woods fea- journey through ancient and authentic tures guided day hikes, nature walks and FOR MORE INFORMATION Cherokee lifestyle and history. Speak backpacking trips; call (865) 436-8283 for For brochures and additional in- with villagers as they hull canoes, offer more information. Nantahala Outdoor formation, please call the Gatlinburg blowgun demonstrations, sculpt pottery Center’s Great Outpost, immediately ad- Convention and Visitors Bureau at and masks, weave baskets and fashion jacent to the park’s Gatlinburg entrance, (865) 436-4178; visit gatlinburg.com or beadwork. Watch as a village prepares Discover the history and culture of the Eastern features outdoor gear and guide services download the Gatlinburg app. for war. Band of Cherokee Indians.

28 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 29 CHEROKEE, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT nally ending in the present day, where the beauty. With 6,600 yards of rolling fairways LODGING & DINING Cherokee people continue to rewrite their and fun, playable tees for all skill levels, it’s place in the world. little wonder Sequoyah was named Golf Magazine’s #2 “Best New Course You Can FISHING IN CHEROKEE Play” of 2009. In Cherokee, anglers enjoy 30 miles of streams, arguably the longest stretch of SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE PARK NEAR THE PARK managed fishing waters in the eastern Make a special event the foundation of U.S., stocked with trout: rainbow, brook, your vacation. Festivals, fairs and other LECONTE LODGE Accommodations and restaurants are avail- golden and brown. You will discover thou- cultural events abound throughout the For a taste of the pioneer life, stay at able in many communities near the park. For sands of new favorite fishing spots in spring, summer and fall. All provide an LeConte Lodge, a rustic collection of a more complete list of nearby towns, see Cherokee, all collected into one amazingly easy opportunity to absorb some Cherokee cabins located in the forest near the top the chart in this chapter. beautiful place. culture through dance, food, craft making of Mount LeConte. It can be reached and more. For a full list of events, go to only by taking one of five hiking trails, PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE QUALLA ARTS & CRAFTS visitcherokeenc.com. the shortest and steepest being 5.5-mile Pigeon Forge is located near the park’s MUTUAL, INC. The Cherokee Voices Festival, hosted Alum Cave Trail. Allow yourself time to north entrance and is home to Dolly- As you walk in, you note the smooth on the grounds of the Museum of The enjoy the incredibly diverse flora and wood, where visitors experience moun- wood of the dramatic masks used in tra- Cherokee Indian in June is all things Cher- fauna. Mountaineer Jack Huff built the tain traditions, amazing adventures and live ditional dance rituals or the cool clay of okee: living history, traditional dances, lodge as a retreat in 1926. He and his entertainment. the wedding jugs. music, singing, crafting demonstrations wife, Pauline, operated the lodge un- Wilderness Wildlife Week is in May. Warm Founded in 1946 with the purpose of and food. til 1960. The present concessioner is weather fun continues through October preserving and advancing Cherokee arts The Cherokee Indian Fair, which takes Stokely Hospitality Enterprises. when glorious fall foliage adorns the city. Fall and crafts, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, place in October, has been taking place Guests stay in rough-hewn private also brings several arts and crafts festivals, Inc. is the oldest and foremost Native for more than a century. It’s a cornucopia cabins or private rooms in cabins with two of which are nationally acclaimed. Ar- American arts cooperative in the United of sights and sounds, and a treat for the shared living rooms. The lodge accom- rive between November and February to be States. Here, thousands of authentic senses, with food, music and rides. modates up to 50 guests. Cabins have greeted by five million twinkling lights—part treasures wait to go home with you. kerosene lamps, heaters, sheets and of the annual Winterfest celebration. Live en- LODGING, DINING & wool blankets; and no Indoor plumbing, tertainment and traditional holiday festivities HARRAH’S CHEROKEE TRANSPORTATION electricity, television and telephones. take place in November and December, while CASINO RESORT Cherokee offers accommodations to Four flush toilets are located in out- January and February feature dozens of spe- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is suit everyone’s taste and budget, with a houses. Prices include meals. Breakfast cial events like a storytelling festival. home to a 21-story, four-star luxury ho- great selection of hotels, motels, rental and dinner are served family-style in Pigeon Forge is a prime destination for tel nestled in the beautiful mountains of cabins and cottages, and more than 15 the lodge dining room. Guests who stay outlet aficionados, boasting more than 200 western North Carolina. Guests have ac- campgrounds. more than one night also get lunch. Day factory outlet stores, as well as specialty and cess to an arcade, indoor pool, workout Cherokee operates two downtown hikers and backpackers can purchase a craft villages. room and several delicious restaurants. shuttle routes Monday through Saturday, prepared bag or dining room lunch (reser- The Mandara Spa brings casino guests with stops every 30 minutes. vations required), snacks and beverages. TOWNSEND, TENNESSEE the highest quality of therapeutic luxury. The lodge is open late March to In the early 1890s, this little mountain vil- FOR MORE INFORMATION mid-November. To make reservations, lage was the capital of the lumber industry SEQUOYAH NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Contact the Cherokee Welcome Center contact the lodge to be entered in a lot- in the eastern United States. Townsend has Your Sequoyah National Golf Club expe- at (800) 438-1601 or visitcherokeenc.com tery, which takes place each fall. Call become a peaceful vacation spot for travel- rience begins with a Robert Trent Jones II for more information on cultural events and (865) 429-5704 or visit lecontelodge.com ers who want comfort, good food, affordable design enveloped in dramatic mountain attractions, group rates and value packages. for more information. prices and easy access to the park.

30 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 31 LODGING & DINING PLAN YOUR VISIT

Accommodations include modern motels, the paved, three-mile bike trail that parallels THINGS TO DO amenity-filled log cabins and campgrounds. U.S. 321 through the community. You can enjoy golfing, tennis, swimming, tub- Townsend’s excellent restaurants offer ing and horseback riding. Some facilities also varied menus, some of which specialize in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Townsend, Tennessee. Open year-round this offer games, fishing poles and badminton regional dishes such as Tennessee coun- offers a variety of things to do each season. center educates visitors through special sci- sets for children. Bicycle rentals are available try ham. Many restaurants will prepare box ence programs, family weekends, outdoor for visitors who want to take advantage of lunches perfect for a picnic in the Smokies. experiences, craft workshops and other of- ferings. On-site lodging and dining facilities NEARBY COMMUNITIES: LODGING & DINING CONTACTS allow participants to immerse themselves SPRING, SUMMER in the programs, which usually last two to Accommodations and restaurants are available in nearby communities. Contact the local & FALL six days and cover a variety of subjects. For visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce or departments of tourism below for more infor- details, please call (865) 448-6709 or visit mation. See the “Plan Your Visit” chapter for a regional map and directions. PARK PROGRAMS gsmit.org. Cherokee, North Carolina (800) 438-1601 The NPS offers talks, slide shows, films, The University of Tennessee Smoky Moun- Adjacent to the park on U.S. 441 at the park’s visitcherokeenc.com guided nature and history walks and evening tain Field School offers nature programs and south entrance. See the “Cherokee” chapter for campfire programs. The park provides a wealth activities that incorporate backpacking and more information. of year-round classes and programs covering hiking. Programs, which run from four hours Gatlinburg, Tennessee (865) 436-4178 almost every aspect of its nature and history. to two days and are frequently held on week- Adjacent to the park on U.S. 441 near the park’s gatlinburg.com ends, cover various aspects of natural and north entrance. See the “Gatlinburg” chapter fomore HISTORIC EXHIBITS AND cultural history. information. DEMONSTRATIONS All courses are filled on a first come, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (800) 251-9100 Barns, churches, a school and many cab- first-served basis. For more information, On U.S. 441 near the park’s north entrance mypigeonforge.com ins are preserved in Cataloochee Valley, once please write: University of Tennessee, Com- Townsend, Tennessee (800) 525-6834 the largest settlement in the Smokies, lo- munity Programs, 105 Conference Center On U.S. 321 near the park’s west entrance smokymountains.org cated in the park’s southeast area. The NPS Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4110, call Bryson City, North Carolina (800) 867-9246 also maintains historical cabins, farmhouses (865) 974-0150 or visit smfs.utk.edu. Off U.S. 74 near the park’s south entrance greatsmokies.com and churches in Cades Cove, a valley in the western area. Here, and at other locations BICYCLING Fontana Dam, North Carolina (800) 470-3790 throughout the park from spring through Oc- The park has limited areas for safe biking On Highway 28 on the park’s southern boundary grahamcountytravel.com tober, park employees dress as 19th-century because roads tend to be steep and nar- Maggie Valley, North Carolina (800) 624-4431 settlers and demonstrate how mountain row, and bicycles are prohibited on trails. Off U.S. 19, southeast of the park maggievalley.org people lived. At the Mountain Farm Museum Sevierville, Tennessee (888) 738-4378 near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, they On U.S. 441 near the park’s north entrance visitsevierville.com spin wool, weave cloth, forge tools and make iStock Jefferson County, Tennessee (877) 237-3847 sorghum into molasses. At Mingus Mill, also On 1-40 and I-81 near the park’s north entrance jeffersoncountyvacation.com near Oconaluftee, and Cable Mill, near Cades Cove Visitor Center, millers grind corn into Cosby, Tennessee (423) 623-7201 On U.S. 321 near the park’s east entrance newportcockecountychamber.com cornmeal and wheat into flour using a water- powered gristmill. Asheville, North Carolina (828) 258-6101 Off of I-26 and I-240 east of the park exploreasheville.com FIELD STUDIES Waynesville, North Carolina (828) 456-3517 The Great Smoky Mountains Insti- The NPS has preserved and restored more than Off U.S. 74 east of the park downtownwaynesville.com tute at Tremont is located in the park near 90 historic structures, like those in Cades Cove.

32 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 33 THINGS TO DO

Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley, how- the Gatlinburg Welcome Center at the north ever, make for pleasant cycling. The 11-mile entrance of town or at ncwildlife.org or loop road around Cades Cove is closed to gooutdoorstennessee.com. Make sure you automobiles on Wednesday and Saturday pick up a copy of fishing regulations at the until 10 a.m. from early May through mid- visitor centers. September. Rent bikes at the Cades Cove Campground Store and at Nantahala Outdoor HORSEBACK RIDING Center in Gatlinburg. Equestrians consider the Smokies among the best riding country in the east. FISHING About 550 miles of the park’s hiking trails You can fish for smallmouth bass; rock are open to horses. bass; and brook, rainbow or brown trout Obtain a copy of the park’s trail map, which within the park’s bountiful streams from outlines the rules and regulations of riding in sunrise to sunset. A valid North Carolina the backcountry. It also has information about or Tennessee state fishing license is re- backcountry camping and permit require- quired. You can purchase one at sporting ments. Official trail maps are available at any goods stores in gateway communities, at park visitor center or by calling (865) 436-1297. iStock

About 550 miles of the park’s hiking trails are open to equestrians..

34 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

You can also rent horses from con- are required and can be made by calling up to one year in advance. Visit the park’s tically all to themselves during the winter. cessioner-managed stables located in (877) 444-6777 or visiting recreation.gov. website for a listing of picnic areas or call From November through April at elevations the park: Cades Cove, (865) 448-9009; In addition, Cades Cove Riding Stable of- (865) 436-1200. above 4,000 feet, it is often snowy with Sugarlands Riding Stables, (865) 436- fers carriage and hay rides (wheelchair ac- temperatures frequently falling below zero. 3535; Smokemont, (828) 497-2373; cessible). The Smokemont Riding Stable There is no in-park lodging during the winter, and Smoky Mountain Riding Stables, offers horse-drawn wagon rides along the but the Cades Cove and Smokemont camp- (865) 436-5634. historic Oconaluftee Turnpike. WINTER grounds remain open year-round. The NPS requires concessioners to send guides with rental horses. Children younger PICNICKING The two main roads, Newfound Gap and WINTER WILDLIFE WATCHING than 6 years old must ride with an adult. There are 11 picnic areas in the park. Sev- Little River, are closed when they become The park teems with life and you’ll see The park’s five drive-in horse camps are eral remain open year-round and about half unsafe. Clingmans Dome Road is closed to plenty of white-tailed deer, woodchucks open April through October. Reservations have pavilions that are available to reserve cars in winter from December 1 to March and raccoons in winter, especially around 31. For road and weather conditions, please Cades Cove. You likely won’t see bears, THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL call (865) 436-1200. though; they’ll be denning. Some small birds, such as the black-capped chickadee, WINTER RECREATION also winter in the Smokies. See the “Na- Clingmans Dome Road is one of the best ture & Wildlife” chapter for more informa-

Shutterstock places in the park for cross-country skiing tion about plants and animals in the park. and sledding. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort & Amusement Park offers downhill skiing, For answers to all your snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating. questions, go to OhRanger.com Hikers will have the Appalachian Trail prac-

Downtown, you’ll nd an See the Smokies inviting variety of restaurants, The Appalachian Trail crosses 14 states, eight national forests, and 15 major rivers. brewpubs, galleries, shops, Di erently boutiques and lodging options. The Appalachian Trail was proposed by national parks and 15 major rivers. Elevations Come to Bryson City for a And don’t miss the new di erent view of the Smokies. Appalachian Rivers Aquarium. conservationist Benton MacKaye in 1921. range from 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome in ere’s the view from a rented Above all, you’ll love the small Work began the following year, and by 1937, the Smokies to near sea level at the Hudson boat on Fontana Lake… from a town charm of Bryson City, a the trail was complete. The first person to River in New York. The segment within the zipline, ra or kayak in the vibrant, laid back and relaxing walk its entire length, from Georgia to Maine, park follows the Smokies’ ridgeline 68 miles Nantahala Gorge… from a railcar place to see the Smokies on a Great Smoky Mountains di erently. did so in 1948. Every year, some 100 hikers for nearly the entire length of the park. You Railroad scenic excursion… repeat the feat. Successful hikers include a can access the trail at Newfound Gap, Cling- or from one of the National Park’s Have a Big Vacation 6-year-old boy, several octogenarians and a mans Dome, Fontana Dam and at the end of 800 miles of hiking trails. in a Small Town visually impaired man with his service ani- Highway 32 just north of Big Creek Camp- GreatSmokies.com mal. The entire trip takes four to six months, ground. For a suggested route within the The Travel Guide to Bryson City, Cherokee, Nantahala Gorge, Fontana Lake crossing 14 states, eight national forests, two park, see the “Walking and Hiking” chapter. and the Great Smoky Mountains. On your computer. On your smartphone. 800-867-9246

36 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 37 PLAN YOUR VISIT WALKING AND HIKING

WALKING & HIKING WALKING & HIKING TRAILS Difficulty Trail Round-Trip Elevation Trailhead Description Distance Gain With its miles of scenic paths and trails, HIKING TIPS Abrams Falls Trail This relatively level trail leads to the 5 miles moderate Great Smoky Mountains is meant to be ex- • Consider the weather. If you get Abrams Falls Parking Lot at west 20-foot-high Abrams Falls, which 340 feet plored on foot. Whether you’re a casual day caught in a thunderstorm, stay off the end of Cades Cove Loop Road spills into a scenic pool. hiker or a determined mountaineer, there’s balds and away from meadows and Alum Cave Trail Travel through Arch Rock’s erosion- 11 miles strenuous Alum Cave Bluffs parking created tunnel to Alum Cave Bluffs 2,800 feet a trail for you. You can choose to stroll easy other open areas to avoid getting hit by area at Newfound Gap Road and finally up steep cliffs to Mount quarter-mile paths called Quiet Walk- lightning. Always carry rain gear. between Newfound Gap and LeConte, one of the park’s best ways, or go on self-guiding nature walks • Know your limitations. An average Chimney Tops viewpoints. (pamphlets describing points of interest are hiker travels two miles an hour. Steep Appalachian Trail A popular section of the trail leads 8 miles moderate Newfound Gap from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bun- 980 feet available at the trailheads). If you’re a more terrain, heavy loads or young children ion, which passes through a spruce- experienced hiker, you will want to tackle may slow your travel time. fir forest with spectacular vistas. trails that bring you up steep mountain- • Stick to the trails. Getting lost or injured Boulevard Trail This is one of five trails to Mount 16 miles strenuous sides, along high ridges and through deep is much more likely to occur if you are Appalachian Trail from New- LeConte’s summit. It is the longest, 1,545 feet found Gap to Boulevard Trail but less steep and still considered forests with rushing streams. Before head- away from established trails. If you do be- strenuous. ing off, be sure to stop at a visitor center come lost or are overtaken by darkness, Chimney Tops Trail Because of heavy damage from the 1.75 miles strenuous to learn about your walking and hiking op- stay calm and remain where you are. Park Chimney Tops Trailhead on November 2016 fire, this trail no 1,335 feet tions, pick up maps and find out about rescues of overdue hikers who stay on Newfound Gap Road longer provides access to Chimney Top pinnacles. NPS created an weather and trail conditions; and weather, trails are usually successful within a few observation area from which hikers fire and storm-related closures. hours; it may take days to locate hikers can view them. off the trails. Never hike alone and always Hen Wallow Falls Trail A good, short day hike. The main 4 miles moderate leave an itinerary with someone. Before the picnic area on the trail leads to the top of the falls; a 520 feet

iStock road to Cosby Campground steep, narrow side trail leads to the • Be wary of bears and boars—give bottom. them a wide berth. Experienced hikers Indian Creek Falls Trail This flat trail leads to picturesque 2 miles easy wear bells, carry a whistle, talk or sing End of Deep Creek Road Indian Creek Falls, which cascades 100 feet just past the Deep Creek 60 feet down a series of ledges into to announce their presence to bears. Campground a wide pool. • To prevent blisters, the most common Laurel Falls Trail The paved trail is the most popular 2.5 miles easy ailment on the trail, wear comfortable Laurel Falls parking area on waterfall trail in the park. It passes 200 feet shoes or boots that suit your needs and Little River Road through a pine and oak forest. the terrain. Likewise, choose quality out- Ramsey Cascades Trail* This trail passes through an old- 8 miles strenuous door socks that will cushion and protect From Greenbrier, follow signs growth deciduous forest before 2,375 feet to the Ramsey Cascades reaching the 100-foot-high Ramsey your feet. trailhead. Cascades. • Don’t drink stream water. It may con- Sugarlands Valley A paved trail leads to the forest, a 0.5 mile easy tain impurities and parasites that can Nature Trail** river and the remains of pre-park level make you ill. Boil, filter or treat (with Off Newfound Gap Road, dwellings. Favorite among older visi- 0.25-mile south of Sugarlands tors, families with children in stroll- iodine pills) any water from streams or Visitor Center. - ers, and visitors with mobility and springs. sensory impairments. • Do not rely on technology to help * Do not attempt to climb to the top of the falls; several attempts have resulted in fatalities. ** Special communications media are available at the visitor center to assist in interpreting nature. you. Cell phones do not work most places in the backcountry and GPS is Note: Hike times range from 1.5 miles to 3 miles per hour, depending on the steepness of the ter- sometimes unreliable. Carry a current rain and the physical fitness of the hiker. Plan your hike based on your individual ability and the trail More than 800 miles of hiking trails traverse descriptions above. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. park trail map and know how to read it.

38 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 39 PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT CAMPING JUST FOR KIDS

Great Smoky Mountain camping is RESTRICTIONS A visit to the Smokies gives kids a Take a field trip. The University of primitive by design. The park operates Stays of up to seven days are allowed chance to get back to nature and learn Tennessee Smoky Mountain Field School 10 frontcountry campgrounds that have from mid-May through October; 14 days is about plant and animal life, living history offers family programs on topics such 1,000 sites (Look Rock is closed indefi- the limit during the rest of the year. and the wonders of the ecosystem. Here’s as reptiles and amphibians, insects and nitely). These campgrounds have cold a helpful rundown of some fun ways kids animal tracks. Call (865) 974-0150 or visit running water, picnic tables, fire pits and BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING can get involved. smfs.utk.edu for more information. flush toilets. There are no RV hookups Permits are required in the backcoun- When planning your trip, keep in mind Listen to Southern Appalachian or showers. The largest campgrounds try and are available online or at the that many park activities are seasonal. stories. Check at visitor centers for the also have amphitheaters used for ranger backcountry office at the Sugarlands times and locations of these stories about talks and slide shows. Cades Cove and Visitor Center. Anyone staying overnight PARK ACTIVITIES settlers, the Cherokee and even ghosts. Smokemont remain open year round. For in the backcountry must camp in one of Become a Junior Ranger. Kids can Take a hayride in Cades Cove. more information about the park’s five the nearly 100 designated sites or shel- earn a badge by engaging in specially-de- Cool mornings are the best time to see drive-in horse camps, please see the ters. Permit and site reservations can be signed programs such as blacksmithing, wildlife from a hay wagon. Call Cades “Things to Do” chapter. made up to one month in advance and pottery, venturing to learn about insects Cove Riding Stables at (865) 448-9009 cost $4 per person per night for up to and other wildlife, or becoming a nature for reservations. RESERVATIONS 7 nights. Always prepare before head- detective and identifying animal signs, Go Fishing. Nearly 700 miles of fish- Campsites at Cades Cove, Cosby, ing into the backcountry—listen to the tracks and scat. Age-specific booklets able streams meander down the Smok- Elkmont and Smokemont may be re- local weather forecast and pack proper are available at visitor centers and guide ies and spill into Fontana Lake and three served online at recreation.gov or by clothing, food, water and equipment. kids ages 5 to 12 through a variety of prongs of Little Pigeon River. Brook, calling (877) 444‑6777. Reservations Remember to store your food properly activities. rainbow and brown trout and other sport are required at Abrams Creek, Balsam and to follow Leave No Trace principles. Walk with a park ranger. Get the real fish thrive here. You’ll need a valid Ten- Mountain, Big Creek and Cataloochee. For more information, and to make back- scoop on nature during a ranger-guided nessee or North Carolina fishing license, All remaining parks are first come, first- country camping reservations, contact walk or attend a slide show at camp- for sale in local communities, if you are 16 served. Reservations may be made up to the backcountry office at (865) 436-1297. ground amphitheaters. Check the park years or older (13 years or older for non- six months in advance. or visit smokiespermits.nps.gov. newspaper for current times and topics. residents in Tennessee). Always follow Attend Discovery Camp. Participate state fishing regulations. CAMPGROUNDS in a three-day program at Great Smoky Campground Open dates # of Sites Elevation (ft) Fee Per Night Mountains Institute at Tremont, designed ACTIVITIES IN LOCAL Abrams Creek † April 26 to October 20 16 1,125 ft. $17.50 specifically for children ages 9 through COMMUNITIES 12. Summer youth programs focus on The gateway communities near Great Balsam Mountain † May 17 to October 6 46 5,310 ft. $17.50 exploring the Smokies, hands-on science Smoky Mountain National Park offer a vari- Big Creek*^ April 19 to October 27 12 1,700 ft. $17.50 and adventure. Family camps, natural- ety of fun, kid-friendly events like the Chil- Cades Cove* † Year-round 159 1,807 ft. $21–$25 ist workshops and programs for kids are dren’s Trout Derby in Cherokee, North Cataloochee*† April 19 to October 27 27 2,610 ft. $25 also available. For more information, call Carolina and Smoky Mountain Tunes & Cosby* April 19 to October 27 157 2,459 ft. $17.50 (865) 448-6709 or visit gsmit.org. Tales in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Deep Creek* April 19 to October 27 92 1,800 ft. $21 Watch millers grind corn and wheat. For a listing of popular events in Chero- Elkmont* March 8 to November 24 220 2,150 ft. $21–$27 Visit the water-powered Mingus Mill near kee and Gatlinburg, see the corresponding Look Rock CLOSED - 2,600 ft. - Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and Cable Mill chapters in this guide. More information is Smokemont* Year-round 142 2,198 ft. $21–$25 in Cades Cove to learn how flour and corn- also available at the chambers of commerce *Group sites available ^No RVs permitted †Requires advanced reservations meal are made. listed in the “Lodging & Dining” chapter.

40 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 41 NATURE & WILDLIFE NATURE & WILDLIFE

NATURE & WILDLIFE blocks of deciduous, temperate, old-growth forest remaining in North America. Over iStock 1,500 additional flowering plant species grow The astounding variety of plants and ani- have been relatively undisturbed by gla- in the park. The park is the center of diver- mals in the Smokies is unequaled in most ciers or ocean inundation for over a million sity for lungless salamanders and is home temperate areas of the world. years, allowing species eons to diversify. to more than 200 species of birds, 66 types Biological diversity is the hallmark of Great The park’s abundant rainfall, 55 inches of mammals, 50 fish species, 39 varieties of Smoky Mountains National Park, which en- in the valleys to over 85 inches on some reptiles and 43 species of amphibians. Mol- The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the “Salamander Capital of the World!” compasses more than 800 square miles in peaks, along with high summertime hu- lusks, millipedes and mushrooms reach re- the Southern Appalachian Mountains. No midity provides excellent growing condi- cord diversity here. do not know what species exist, their relative other area of equal size in a temperate cli- tions. During wet years, over eight feet In recognition of the park’s unique natural abundance or distribution? mate can match the park’s amazing diversity of snow falls in the high country. The resources, the United Nations has designated Discover Life in America, a non-profit of plants, animals and invertebrates. Almost relative humidity in the park during the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as an partner of the national park, is coordinating 20,000 species have been documented growing season is about twice that of the International Biosphere Reserve. an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or ATBI, in the park; scientists believe an additional Rocky Mountain region. to catalogue the estimated 25,000 to 50,000 25,000 to 50,000 species may live here. Some 100 species of native trees find ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY species of living organisms in Great Smoky Mountains, glaciers and weather are the homes in the Smokies, more than any other There has been much written about the ac- Mountains National Park. primary factors in the park’s diversity. Eleva- North American national park. Almost 95 celerating crisis in protecting global biodiver- You can be a part of the ATBI. Join other tions in the park range from 875 to 6,643 percent of the park is forested, 25 percent sity. This is as much an issue in the tropics as citizen scientists and volunteers in discover- feet, mimicking the latitudinal changes you of which is old-growth—one of the largest it is in the United States. How can we make ing new species in the park. For more infor- would experience driving north or south critical decisions about protection, when we mation, visit DLIA.org. across the eastern United States from FOLIAGE COLOR GUIDE Georgia to Canada. Plants and animals common in the southern United States The Smokies foliage changes in the thrive in the lowlands of the Smokies, mountains beginning in mid-September and while species common in the northern states moves down to the valleys through Octo- ber, often continuing into early November. find a suitable habitat in the higher elevations. Here is a guide to the spectacular fall colors. The Great Smoky Mountains are among the oldest mountains in the world, formed Yellow Flowering beech, birch, black perhaps 200–300 million years ago. They gum, buckeye, hickory mountain ash and poplar trees are unique in their northeast to southwest orientation, which allowed species to mi- Scarlet Red maple tree grate along their slopes during climatic Red Dogwood, maple, pin cherry, changes such as the last ice age, 10,000 sourwood and sumac trees years ago. In fact, the glaciers of the last Crimson Blackberry and blueberry ice age affected the Smoky Mountains bushes without invading them. During that time, Mixture Buckeye northern red oak pin glaciers scoured much of North America, cherry (orange, red), red maple, but did not quite reach as far south as sugar maple (yellow, orange, the Smokies. Consequently, these moun- scarlet), sweet gum (yellow, tains became a refuge for many species red, dark purple) and witch of plants and animals that were displaced hobble (yellow, red) from their northern homes. The Smokies

42 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 43 NATURE & WILDLIFE NATURE & WILDLIFE

PLANT LIFE WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

1 2 3 1 2 3

4 5 6 4 5 6 The Smokies’ diversity of flowering plants and deciduous trees makes for a colorful spring, summer and fall. The spring bloom starts in the valleys in late March and works upward to 1 BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus) 4 RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes) the peaks through July, while the changing colors of the leaves starts on the peaks as early Approximately 1,500 bears live in the This reddish fox, with white under-parts, park. Coming out to forage during the day, as mid-September and work downward to the valleys into early to mid-November. chin and throat, is common in the park, but is they eat juicy plant parts, insects, ber- rarely seen because it is shy and nocturnal. It ries, nuts, acorns and meat. See the “Park FLOWERS TREES eats almost anything it can sink its teeth into, Regulations & Safety” chapter for bear including birds, crickets and plants. • Weight 1 BLOODROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis) 4 BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina) safety tips. • Weight 200-600 lbs • Size 10-15 lbs • Size 15-30 in long • Active spring This plant’s name is derived from its This is the park’s largest native cherry tree, 5-6 ft long • Active spring through fall. and summer. Photo: Shutterstock stem, from which American Indians made growing up to 60 feet tall. It has white blos- Photo: iStock. red dye. A member of the poppy family, soms in spring and leaves that turn red or the bloodroot’s flowers are white with yellow in fall. 5 WHITE-EYED VIREO (Vireo Griseus) 2 NORTHERN FLICKER (Colaptes auratus) a gold center. It grows along streams in A small and shy songbird, the White-eyed The only woodpecker in North America that wooded areas. 5 BLACK LOCUST (Robinia pseudoacacia) Vireo inhabits bushes and shrubby areas and eats primarily from the ground, it uses its Black locusts grow mainly in the south- is more noticeable for its explosive song than long tongue to lick up insects, only peck- 2 DUTCHMAN’S BREECHES (Dicentra ern Appalachian Mountains and have its appearance. Interestingly, the White-eyed ing on wood as a mating call or to proclaim cucullaria) forking, irregular trunks. Their aromatic Vireo bathes by rubbing against wet foliage. territory. • Weight 4-6 oz • Size 1 ft long This white flower’s shape is reminiscent white flowers appear in late spring, and • Weight 0.5 oz • Size 4-5 in long • Active • Active year-round • Photo: iStock of a pair of pantaloons hung out on the line their fruit consists of flat brown pods, spring through fall. Photo: iStock. to dry. The leafless flowering stalk arches which appear in fall and then split open over the bluish, finely dissected leaves, in winter. 3 NORTHERN SPRING PEEPER 6 WHITE-TAILED DEER which stand upright. (Hyla crucifer) (Odocoileus Virginianus) 6 MOUNTAIN LAUREL (Kalmia latifolia) This nocturnal tree frog gets its name from 3 STAR CHICKWEED (Steliaria pubera) This common evergreen shrub ranges its familiar peeping sound. Although rarely White-tailed deer live throughout the Smok- This native perennial wildflower member has along the East Coast from southern Maine seen, these frogs are often heard through- ies. Most commonly seen in areas with open white star-like flowers with deeply cleft pet- to northern Florida and west to Louisiana. out the park. They live in wooded areas fields such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee als in clusters atop an erect stem. It is usu- Its small pink or white flowers appear in near ponds and lakes. • Weight 1 lb • Size Valley, more than 6,000 may live in the park. ally found in woods and on rocky slopes April spring in clusters of pointed buds, and its 1 in long • Active spring through fall Photo: • Weight 100-350 lbs • Size 3-3.5 ft long through June and grows six to 16 inches tall. leaves are long and narrow. iStock • Active year-round. Photo: Shutterstock

44 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | | GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 45 PLAN YOUR VISIT PHOTOGRAPHY

For millennia, we’ve looked towards the tion. Next, set your white balance to daylight heavens and contemplated what’s beyond settings (5500k) and turn on your mirror lock our orbit and universe. More recently, star- to avoid mirror shake. Wait until the moon is gazing has become increasingly difficult for out, too, as it’ll illuminate and add detail to millions of people living in developed areas. If your foreground. Make sure that it’s behind you live in a populated area east of the Missis- you. To capture star trails: sippi or along the Pacific coast, odds are that • Set your ISO at 200 to reduce digital noise. you can count the number of stars you see • Compose your image, making sure you on your hands. National and state parks—re- have interesting features in the foreground. mote and minimally developed—not only pro- • Choose your focal length. The longer the tect our land, but also our dark skies which focal length, the quicker your star trails will are ideal for astrophotography. start to form. There are two primary types of astropho- • Set your camera to manual mode so that tography shots that yield different, but stel- you can select your shutter speed and lar compositions. A long exposure setting aperture. will show stars trailing across the sky, while • Set your aperture between f/2.8 and f/4 for a shorter exposure will show pinpoints of best results. light—objects that a camera can capture that • Select “bulb mode” as your shutter speed. the unaided eye cannot. Both require a cam- • Use your cable release or remote to open era with interchangeable lenses and manual the shutter or set your timer for two to controls to set aperture, ISO, and exposure four minutes. AD settings. Here’s what you’ll need to start: Check your results. If your picture is too • A sturdy tripod: Simply put, a shaky tri- dark, increase the exposure time. If your trails pod will yield blurry photos. are to short, increase the exposure time. • A cable release or remote control or in- Keep playing around with your settings to get tervalometer: You’ll want to avoid touch- the results you desire. To learn how to take ing your camera to minimize shake. The photos of the milky way and millions of points addition of an intervalometer will allow you of light, visit ohranger.com/brightskies. to take sequential long exposures. • Batteries: Your aperture may be open for several hours, so it’s important to have

multiple fresh and fully charged batteries. Shutterstock • A wide lens: Use the fastest, widest lens available. • A head lamp: It’ll be useful to set up your equipment and illuminate your foreground. Check the cloud cover; if there’s too much wait until you have a clearer night. Before you start, set your focus to infinity and turn Photographing the night sky is as close as many off your autofocus and high ISO noise reduc- of us will get to exploring space.

46 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | PLAN YOUR VISIT IF YOU ONLY HAVE A DAY

If you only have one day to visit the in Cherokee. Take a scenic 7-mile drive, park, drive along Newfound Gap Road then hike the steep half-mile paved trail to (U.S. 441) between the Sugarlands and Clingman’s Dome Observation Tower, for Oconaluftee visitor centers. Begin at either sweeping views. visitor center. This trans-mountain road Continue on Newfound Gap Road to connects Tennessee to North Carolina, of- Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Just be- fering spectacular panoramic views and yond the visitor center is Mountain Farm plenty to do along the way. Museum, a collection of farm buildings. If you’re driving south to Oconaluftee, Here, costumed interpreters reenact 19th- stop first at Sugarlands Visitor Center to get century farm life from spring through late information and a park overview. October. At nearby Mingus Mill, watch a A short drive leads to Chimneys Pic- demonstration of how people ground grain nic Area, where you’ll find the 0.75-mile, for their daily bread. self-guided Cove Hardwood Nature Depending on which direction you drive, Trail. Chimney Tops Overlooks offer a finish the trip with an evening in Gatlin- view of the twin summits called Dunisk- burg or Cherokee (see the relevant chap- walguni, which means “Forked Antlers” ters of this guide for more information). iStock

The observation tower on the summit of Clingmans Dome offers spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond if you are willing to climb the steep half-mile walk to the tower at the top.

48 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | www.nalgene.com For more inspiration, follow us here @nalgeneusa AD