Park Highlights

With scenes of everything from giant hemlocks to black bears, everyone wants to experience this natural wonder, but where does a visitor begin? Start here by checking out the most popular highlights within or near the national park.

CADES COVE

Cades Cove is the most visited area of the national park. With wildlife and 19th Century home sites, this idyllic setting is a sampler of everything the park has to offer. Cades Cove Loop Road is the most popular biking trail in the park.

>>More Detailed Information On Cades Cove .

THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

The Appalachian Trail--which stretches over 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia--connects through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a slow paced scenic drive. The scenery is outstanding, and there are many recreational sites along the way--campgrounds and visitor centers to name a few. There are also restaurants and lodging along Blue Ridge Parkway.

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FOOTHILLS PARKWAY

Under construction since 1944, Foothills Parkway is the oldest unfinished highway project in Tennessee. All of the completed sections provide excellent views are enjoyable scenic drives.

>>More Detailed Information On Foothills Parkway.

CLINGMANS DOME

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the national park. Located along the state-line ridge, it is half in Tennessee and half in North Carolina.

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ELKMONT

A former logging community, Elkmont is named for the elk that inhabited the area years ago. Before the beginning of the national park, local citizens held recreational summer cottages in Elkmont. In 2009, plans were announced to restore the historic clubhouse and 18 remaining cottages.

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NEWFOUND GAP

When driving from either Gatlinburg, TN or Cherokee, NC, travelers will climb 3,000 feet. There is a memorial at Newfound Gap, Rockefeller Memorial, which honors a $5 million dollar donation from the Rockefeller Foundation.

>>More Detailed Information On Newfound Gap.

CHEROKEE, NC

The town of Cherokee serves as headquarters for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized Native American tribe. In the town of Cherokee is Harrah's Cherokee Casino, which is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and operated by Harrah's Entertainment.

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TOWNSEND, TN

Compared to the Sevierville-Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg corridor, Townsend, Tennessee seems like a quaint and scenic little village. Townsend is adjacent to the Cades Cove and Little River region of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend is commonly referred to as "The Peaceful Side of the Smokies."

>>More Detailed Information On Townsend.