Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park · Tennessee State, 🇺🇸 United States

Area 2,097 km²

Time zone America/New_York

Official website www.nps.gov/grsm

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Featured Lists

Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Essentials

Explore the diverse landscape of America’s most visited national park, spanning the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. This collection features the park's highest peak at Clingmans Dome, historic structures like the Walker Sisters' Cabin and Cable Mill, and numerous waterfalls including the 100-foot Ramsey Cascades. Visitors can traverse the Newfound Gap mountain pass, observe elk near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, or hike to geological landmarks such as Charlies Bunion and the Chimney Tops.

15 places

Brian Stansberry / CC BY 2.5

Smoky Mountain Peaks

This collection features prominent summits within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, spanning the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It includes Clingmans Dome, the range's highest point at 6,643 feet, and the distinctive rocky outcrop of Charlies Bunion. The list also covers the twin-peaked Chimney Tops, Mount Sterling with its historic 60-foot fire lookout tower, and Tricorner Knob, a remote peak where three major ridges converge along the Appalachian Trail.

5 places

Great Smoky Mountains Camping

This collection spans the diverse lodging options within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It includes the historic Elkmont Campground, situated near the park's early 20th-century summer resort district, and the high-altitude LeConte Lodge, reachable only by foot. The list also details numerous designated backcountry sites—ranging from the remote Bone Valley near Hazel Creek to the ridges near Cades Cove—requiring permits and offering primitive wilderness access.

15 places

Nick gates / CC-BY-SA

Stunning Waterfalls

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park features a diverse collection of cascades and falls shaped by high annual rainfall and ancient geology. This selection ranges from the 100-foot Ramsey Cascades, situated within old-growth forests, to the 80-foot Rainbow Falls, known for its prismatic mist. Notable highlights include Grotto Falls, which allows passage behind the water curtain, and the high-volume Abrams Falls in Cades Cove. Many sites, such as Laurel Falls, are accessible via established hiking trails or roadside viewing points.

14 places

Scenic Viewpoints

This collection features the highest elevations and most strategic vistas across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It includes the park’s highest point at Clingmans Dome, historical markers like the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap, and engineering landmarks such as the Gatlinburg Space Needle. These sites provide 360-degree panoramas of the Southern Appalachians, accessible via paved ramps, observation decks, and roadside overlooks situated along major scenic corridors.

8 places

Historic Cemeteries

These historic cemeteries within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserve the heritage of the Appalachian pioneer communities. Located primarily in Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and the Sugarlands, these sites feature hand-carved headstones, fieldstone markers, and traditional burial practices. They provide a genealogical record of the families—such as the McCarters, Olivers, and Palmers—who established farms, churches, and schools in these remote mountain valleys before the park's creation in 1934.

10 places