Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We decided to spend a day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the way from Asheville, (visiting Biltmore!!) to Nashville. Following the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, we headed to Smokey Mountains NP that sprawls across parts of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Scenic Overlooks

Making our way through the Smokies, we stopped at scenic overlooks along the way beginning with Woodfin Valley, Wesner Bald, Fork Ridge and Yellow Face.  We could definitely see why this mountain range is called the Smokies. 

Visitor Centers

Our 1st Visitor Center stop was Waterrock Knob, where we grabbed some maps. This one is actually along the Blue Ridge Parkway outside the South end of the Park, at the highest elevation of 5,820 feet, with 360° views.

The next one, past many more scenic overlooks and photo spots, was Oconaluftee Visitor Center. With the free Mountain Farm Museum next door, this VC is also an educational center regarding the heritage sights they maintain. The other three are Clingmans Dome (see below),  Sugarlands at the North side and Cades Cove. Cades Cove Loop was closed so we didn’t get that far. 

Clingmans Dome

This is a must do in Great Smoky Mountains NP. The hike to Clingmans Dome observation tower is only a mile round trip, but it’s steep. I did not keep up well, which is typical of our hiking adventures. 

On a clear day, which we did not have haha, you can see for miles in every direction from the top, possibly up to 100 miles away. There are info boards on the overlook deck to point out interesting sites.  

It’s a cool observation tower design, without steps, just a long curved ramp access to the top.  

As steep as the hike is up, it is down. Of course, that was fine with me and I could actually keep up, or walk in front of Bud, which is not how we typically hike. 

Waterfalls

There are at least 15 waterfalls in the Park. Some require a 5 plus mile roundtrip hike to see, such as Abrams Creek, Rainbow Falls and Ramsey Cascades which are all moderate to strenuous. Others can be seen with an easy half mile or so hike like Tom Branch Falls and Juney Whank Falls.  Three are even drivable-Place of a Thousand Drips (Road closed in winter), The Sinks and Meigs Falls.  

The Sinks

The Sinks is not a tall waterfall, but the Little River gushes over the rocks here. It’s a pretty site with the forceful waterfall and bridge backdrop. 

Meigs Falls

Meigs Falls is visible from Little River Road, but you need to know where to look. We pulled off in the vicinity (according to the map), looked around to see if the river running along the side of the road was ‘falling’, but did not see it. 

Then as we drove back by, there it was! It was a little ways off the road looking back at us. If you are on the bridge, where it should be, just look out to the edge of the woods to spot it. 

Hiking

There are many hiking trails found in the Park and you will see some trailheads as you are driving through. Ask for a trail guide at one of the Visitor Centers to find trails that fit you fitness level and your time frame. Some are long distance hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail. 

The Appalachian Trail

The 2,174 mile trail from Georgia to Maine runs through Smoky Mountains NP for about 70 miles lengthwise. You will see where it intersects with the Clingmans Dome Trail if you do that hike. 

The Smokies and NP are a YES

We enjoyed our day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, even going out to Gatlinburg to eat and coming back. Maybe next trip, we will longer and do more hiking. For now, continuing on to Nashville!