Pigeon Forge Tennessee - Smoky Mountains Information

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides visitors with the perfect getaway! These ancient mountains allow visitors to participate in a wide array of activities such as hiking, biking, and camping. No matter what visitors choose to explore, the park’s unique flora and fauna and its Southern Appalachian heritage will captivate any audience. Visit the links below to learn more about the many activities available inside the park, wildlife in these mountains, general information and common questions, and the history and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

		Activities Just about anything imaginable awaits visitors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, water sports, and just for kids programs are only the basic categories of interest. More on Information Activities in the Smoky Mountains!

		Nature Information Known for its biological diversity, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 10,000 documented species with estimates as high as 90,000 for how many undiscovered animals may still exist. This temperate rainforest houses common southern species in its lowland areas and, at higher elevations, northern varieties of both flora and fauna thrive. In recognition of the park’s unique natural resources, the United Nations has designated the Smoky Mountains an International Biosphere Reserve. For Further Information on wildlife in the Smokies, More Nature Information!

		Cades Cove Cades Cove is the most visited part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park--and for good reason. The idyllic setting of Cades Cove is a sampler of everything the Park has to offer the Smokies visitor. The Smoky Mountains, which tower above picturesque Cades Cove, serve as guardians to the Cove's serene beauty; and the splendor of color when Mother Nature empties her paint buckets on the Cove's hardwoods in the Fall is unmatched. More information on Cades Cove!

		General Info How much does the park cost? When does the park open? When can we see wildflowers? When do the leaves change color? Where are there souvenirs? Can we meet a park ranger? What is the temperature range? Are there any road closings? When planning a trip to the Smokies, many common questions cross visitors’ minds. More General Information!

		Historical Info The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded June 15, 1934. Even after its creation, many people continued to live in these mountains. Though none currently inhabit their old homesteads, many cabins, mills, churches, cemeteries and other signs of early life are still visible throughout the Smoky Mountains. More Historical Information!