Great Smoky Mountains National Park
America’s Most Visited National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the system, hosting more than 9 million visitors a year. Unlike most national parks, entry to the park is free. Its surrounding communities depend heavily on the park, which is the lynchpin of the region’s tourism economy.
Named for the prevalence of fog, which appears to rise as if from smoke stacks when viewed at a distance, the park is one of the rainiest habitats in the United States, racking up more yearly precipitation anywhere in the country outside of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. That fact, combined with its steep elevation gradients, make for an abundance of waterfalls. The park’s ample rainfall and dense deciduous forestation — particularly at lower elevations — mean that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also an excellent destination for fall foliage viewing. About 36 percent of the park is covered in old growth forest that predates European settlement of North America.
From scenic vistas to historic buildings, much of the park is accessible by car, and its modern campsites provide amenities such as running water in addition to parking for recreational vehicles. Still, the park’s extensive backcountry, which includes more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, offers visitors plenty of opportunities to “rough it.”
Click to see a detailed Great Smoky Mountains National Park map.
Named for the prevalence of fog, which appears to rise as if from smoke stacks when viewed at a distance, the park is one of the rainiest habitats in the United States, racking up more yearly precipitation anywhere in the country outside of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. That fact, combined with its steep elevation gradients, make for an abundance of waterfalls. The park’s ample rainfall and dense deciduous forestation — particularly at lower elevations — mean that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also an excellent destination for fall foliage viewing. About 36 percent of the park is covered in old growth forest that predates European settlement of North America.
From scenic vistas to historic buildings, much of the park is accessible by car, and its modern campsites provide amenities such as running water in addition to parking for recreational vehicles. Still, the park’s extensive backcountry, which includes more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, offers visitors plenty of opportunities to “rough it.”
Click to see a detailed Great Smoky Mountains National Park map.