Great-smoky-mountain-travel

Great-Smoky-Mountain-Travel

The Great-Smoky-Mountain National Park straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina border at the southern end of the Appalachian Highlands.

The Great-Smoky Mountain National Park has the highest visitor rating of all National parks with some 9 million people visiting each year.

The Smokies rise to 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) and the highest point is Clingmans Dome. They are also readily accessible from most places within the United States and are generally within a days drive for more than 35% of Americans.

Great-Smoky-Mountain National Park contains many rugged mountains and valleys, with more than 900 miles (1,287 kilometers) of trails, old growth forest and more.

The park ecosystem supports more than 4,000 species of plants, 130 species of trees, 65 different mammal species from bobcats to black bears, and some 230 bird species. Also there are more species of salamanders (30 species) here than anywhere else on the planet. The Park is also recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

Archeologists believe that the first inhabitants of the Great-Smoky-mountain area were Paleolithic hunters and gatherers who had migrated from Asia across the Bering Strait. The oldest evidence of human life found so far in the Smokies dates back some 12,000 years, when the Cherokee started to populate the south-eastern mountains. The first Europeans to discover the Cherokee were Spanish explorers around 1540 when Hernando de Soto and his soldiers were searching for gold as they headed North from Florida.

It was another 100 years or so until other explorers entered Cherokee territory. At this time the first Scottish and Irish immigrants started to arrive and where the Cherokee had an advanced civilization numbering some 22,000 people living in organized villages that were spread across some 40,000 square miles. Cades Cove has preserved early settler log houses and farm buildings. If you trek deep into the backcountry, you may also find crumbling chimneys, washtubs, rusty farm implements, and even old graveyards.

The great-smoky-mountain have some 1,500 blooming plants, which is more than any other national park. The season runs from the hepaticas of the late winter to goldenrod in the late fall. In the interim you can see the blooms of purple-and-white-crested dwarf irises, the brilliant red notch-petaled fire pinks, or the Fraser magnolia's large and creamy-white flowers and also the lovely blue phlox.

Any summer hike through the mountains will be greeted by a massive display of flowers in full bloom, bushes and trees. The tree species encompass Carolina silverbells, the smooth-barked beech trees, eastern hemlocks, and massive tulip trees and the big trees can be seen at Albright Grove, Buckhorn Gap and Ramsey Cascade. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Hiking and Camping along the Appalachian Trail (AT)

Hiking, backpacking and camping is one of the best ways to enjoy all that the Smokies has to offer. In just a simple overnight hike you can see virtually the same flora and fauna as someone hiking the full length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia up to Maine.

The AT is the backbone trail of the park with stone camping shelters, some spectacular scenery and lots of people. The AT functions well as an access path to the backcountry camping trails and sites and all of the 800 miles of trails that thread through the region.

The best hiking circuits include 20 Mile Overnight Loop which encompasses flower-filled balds to some rich cove forests, the Little River Loop, with wonderful ridge-line walking and great fly fishing spots. The Big Creek Overnight Loop also requires a night camped out at 5,800 feet. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

The Smokies have 10 campgrounds spread throughout the park. Abrams Creek lies at the far west side of the park situated in a forest full of hemlock and white pine. The small stream allows fishing and swimming. Another quieter spot is Cosby which is rarely full and with lovely waterfalls has a view over the restored wood-and-stone fire tower. The old-growth trees are a short hike away. The Big Creek ground is a lovely and relatively quiet tent-only campground lying beside a stream and within a thick forest. The various campgrounds are all very different and none have electrical hookups or showers and so you can truly appreciate a proper camping experience. The campgrounds range from the very large Elkmont to the small and intimate Big Creek.

If you head for the high country so to Balsam Mountain lying at 5,000 feet or as mentioned Abrams Creek at around 1,000 feet. If you are looking for space reservations then only Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont offer this service so it is strictly first-come first-served. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Look Rock Campground Located at the far west perimeter of the park, and lying in some pine-oak woods at an altitude of 2,600 feet up on the Chilhowee Mountain. This relatively quiet campground rarely fills up so if you are seeking solitude then campers and RV’s will appreciate it. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Abrams Creek Campground Located at the far west edge of the park the ground lies beside a stream within a forest of hemlock and white pine. It is also relatively small and used by locals. You can also go fishing in Abrams Creek. The area has an abundance of good hiking trails and the stream offers summer heat relief. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Cades Cove Campground A popular campground with families it is always full during summer weekends. The campsites are a little close and congested and it tends as a result to be a little frenetic. The 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road offers campers a good cycle route. In the Upper Abrams Creek and Forge Creek area you can go fly fishing and their are many hiking trails that take off from around the cove. There is a camp store where you can rent a bike. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Elkmont Campground The is by far the largest campground in the park. It lies along the banks of the Little River and is within some tall woods. It has a less hectic atmosphere than Cades Cove. The campground is also close to the tourist town of Gatlinburg if you want more than simple pleasures. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Cosby Campground This is a small and relatively under utilized ground that rarely see full capacity. You can get some peace and quiet here and there are many trails and waterfalls. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Big Creek Campground This ground is the smallest and is a quiet walk-in tent-only campground. It lies on the banks of the Big Creek under a thick forest. The camp sites are well separated giving privacy and quiet. There are some challenging hiking trails and you can fish in Big Creek or go swimming in the deeper holes. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Cataloochee campground This camp ground is very similar to Cades Cove and has some historic structures and is surrounded by some high mountains. It doesn’t have the crowds and lots of RV’s being only accessible by dirt road. The ground lies at the eastern end of the park and lies on the banks of the Cataloochee Creek amongst tall white pines. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Balsam Mountain Campground This ground lies at 5,300 on a long and narrow ridge amongst Canadian spruce fir forests. The sites are relatively close together however it is rarely congested so you can be assured of some privacy. The Qualla Cherokee Indian Reservation is also close by. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Smokemont This is a relatively large ground near the North Carolina town of Cherokee. The campground lies in a fairly heavily wooded flat on the banks of the Oconaluftee River. There are good hiking trails and some good fly fishing spots and you can access Cherokee down the Newfound Gap Road. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

Deep Creek This ground lies close to the Southern mountain town of Bryson City. It is relatively large and is popular with families. Deep Creek is well known for trout fishing. It gets very hectic in summer and gets full however you can escape into some very heavy woodlands. You can head down the "Road to Nowhere" from Bryson City and head west into watersheds down near Fontana Lake and this will be a great start for some great hiking and fishing if solitude and peace is what you seek. Great-smoky-mountain-travel - all you need to know is here

If you want something more challenging then attempt the hike up to Mt. LeConte, which at 6,593 feet (2,009.6 meters) is the 3rd highest peak in the park. The shortest and steepest route up is via Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. This commences at the trail to the Alum Cave Bluffs with a steep 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) climb to the summit of Mt LeConte.

There is one point on the journey where the trail skirts a cliff face that is so sheer that climbers must hang onto a cable for safety as they traverse on the way up. You should not attempt a climb at this height as the oxygen is thinner and you need both good health and good weather

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