The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides visitors of Pigeon Forge with the perfect getaway! These ancient mountains allow visitors to participate in a wide array of activities such as hiking, biking, and camping or vacationing in cabin rentals. No matter what visitors choose to explore, The Great Smoky Mountains National 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 Smoky Mountain activities available inside the park, favorite destinations (like Cades Cove) wildlife in these mountains, general information and common questions, and the history and culture of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Hiking In The Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts more than 800 miles of hiking trails. You can start with something easy, work your way up to hikes under 10 miles, and then maybe you'll be ready to tackle the challenge of Mount LeConte. Regardless of your skill level, the Smokies have something to offer all types of hikers.
Hiking
Smoky Mountain 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. If you love exploring the great outdoors, you'll find days full of fun are waiting for you in the Smoky Mountains.
Things To Do
Smoky Mountain Campgrounds
Camping is a very popular activity in the national park. There are ten frontcountry campgrounds maintained by the National Park Service in the Smokies as well as various backcountry campgrounds scattered throughout the many popular backpacking and hiking locations. Start here for all the information about camping in the Smoky Mountains.
Campgrounds
Smoky Mountain Tours
Sit back and relax with a guided tour of the Smokies. Smoky Mountain tours come in many shapes and sizes. Expert local guides can show you the best locations in the national park like Newfound Gap and Cades Cove all from the comfort of a pink jeep, a double decker bus, or a private tour vehicle.
Smoky Mountain Tours
Great Smoky Mountains Map
The National Park Service website has the most up to date resources for navigating the national park. Use the park map to find roads, visitor centers, picnic areas, and campgrounds. Hikers can also download the trail map with all the official trails in the park plus backcountry campsites, shelters, and other useful resources.
GSM Maps
Visitor Centers
How much does the park cost? When does the park open? 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.
Visitor Centers
National Park Rules
Before you visit our national park, be sure to familiarize yourself with all the laws and federal regulations about vandalism, littering, poaching, wildlife, and much more. Because the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in the country, it's imperative that we all do our part to protect this land we want to enjoy for many years to come.
Park Rules
Smoky Mountain Wildlife
From twenty three species of snake, thirty species of salamander, to the one and only black bear - you will find wildlife in this national park. It's important that visitors understand the safety precautions they must take when met with some of these creatures. Also check out the top places to see black bears in the Smoky Mountains.
Wildlife
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. This temperate rainforest houses common southern species in its lowland areas and, at higher elevations, northern varieties of both flora and fauna thrive.
Nature Info
Smoky Mountains History
The 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.
Smoky Mountains History
Smoky Mountain Facts
How much do you know about the Smoky Mountains? What's the tallest point in the park? Who was the first settler? How many species of plant live in the international biosphere? Who established the park? Find the answers to these questions and more.
Smoky Mountain Facts
Historic Sites
Take a step back in time and visit some historic sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, like the Bud Ogle Cabin, Cades Cove and Elkmont for a glimpse into the rich history of the area. There is even a monument commemorating Theodore Roosevelt's dedication of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in 1940.
Historic Sites
Favorite Destinations
Not sure where to start? There's so much to see in the national park that deciding where to go may feel overwhelming at first. Check out some of the most popular destinations to explore in the Smoky Mountains. These are the places everyone knows, loves and would recommend you visit if you are a first-time visitor to the area.
Favorite Destinations
Vehicle Rentals
Check out all the options for Smoky Mountain rentals including Jeep rentals, side by sides, RV campers, and more. These are great for getting around the national park and enjoying the open air or camping in total luxury while also on the move.
Vehicle Rentals
Smoky Mountain Weddings
There are several popular locations you can get married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pick up a Tennessee marriage license and a special use permit before you decide on the perfect location. Find all the information you need to get started planning a Smoky Mountain wedding.
Weddings
