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The best reason to vacation in the Smokies is the wonder of the National Park. This natural, no cost attraction provides hours or days of fun with over 800 miles of hiking trails, numerous picnic spots, wildlife and wildflower viewing, fishing, swimming, biking and horseback riding. Plan to spend some time getting to know this biosphere & all the adventures that welcome you.
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Plunging Waterfalls
Tennessee is covered by more than
60,000 Stream Miles and over 540,000 Lake Acres, offering some spectacular shows of natures beauty. You are formally invited to experience the depth, beauty, mist and magic of Smoky Mountain Waterfalls.
- Laurel Falls
A 2.6-mile round-trip hike on the Laurel Falls Trail. The trail is paved to the falls. The trailhead is 3.9 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road. Handicap Accessible.
- Mingo Falls (outside Park)
A .5 mile round-trip hike. From Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south on US 441 and take second left onto Big Cove Road. At first stop sign, turn left and drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground.
- Hen Wallow Falls
A 4.5-mile round-trip hike. Take the Gabes Mountain Trail that begins from the parking area at the entrance to Cosby Campground. Beyond the falls, Gabes Mountain Trail leads to old-growth forest.
- Indian Creek Falls
A 2-mile round-trip hike. Take the Deep Creek Trail that starts just past Deep Creek Campground.
- Juney Whank Falls
A .6 mile round-trip hike. The trail starts from the parking are just past Deep Creek Campground.
- Rainbow Falls
A 5.5-mile round-trip hike. The trail starts from the Rainbow Falls parking area on Cherokee Orchard Road near Gatlinburg.
- Ramsay Cascades
An 8-mile round-trip hike. Take US Hwy 321 (East Parkway) 6 miles east of Gatlinburg, to the Greenbrier entrance to the park. Follow the signs to the Ramsay Cascades trailhead.
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Motor Tours & Trails
Mt. LeConte is considered the 'Tallest Mountain East of the Mississippi River', rising up from the valley (Gatlinburg) and towering over us at a height of 6,593 feet! Exploring the Smokies by car gives you a great advantage, you can see more in a short amount of time. But don't be timid, when you get to your destination, get out and take a good look around, and remember that you are looking at our history, culture and remembrances of things and a time long past.
- Newfound Gap Road
26 miles of curling twists up through the mountains of Tennessee & North Carolina, reaching heights of 5,048 ft. Offering vistas, bluffs and roadside exhibits. An excellent way to start your vacation in the Smokies.
- Cades Cove
11 miles of Nature and the rich history of Tennessee. Deer, Wild Turkey, and sometimes Bear find their way into your line of sight making this one of the most popular tours here. Historical log homes, hand hewn in the Smokies, by early pioneers offer fun & informative diversions along the way. It is also possible to walk, bike or stroll along this paved road.
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Hiking Toward History
Pets are not allowed on most Park trails. Places in the park where pets are allowed include: roadsides, parking areas, established picnic area, frontcountry campgrounds, and the Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River trails. Pets must be on a leash not to exceed six feet in length when in the areas. *guide, search, and hearing dogs are permitted on all trails.
(Information courteous of the Smokies Guide.)
- Little Greenbrier
Park at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Park at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and walk across the bridge. Take the Metcalf Bottoms Trail .6 mile to the Little Greenbrier School. If you wish, you can continue 1 mile from the school to the Walker Sisters farmstead on the Little Brier Gap Trail. The Little Brier Gap Trail. This trail starts at the barricade uphill from the school.
- Old Sugarlands
Park at Sugarlands Visitor Center and ask directions to this trailhead. The first two miles of this trail offer a glimpse of the old Sugarlands community, which predated the national park. A 6.2-mile loop hike can be achieved by combining Old Sugarlands Trail and Two-mile Branch Trail.
- Old Settlers Trail
Follow the Road into the Greenbrier area and turn at the bridge toward Ramsay Cascades Trail. Old Settlers Trail starts on the left just after the second bridge. The first 1.5 miles of trail pass through remnants of the old Greenbrier community.
- Kephart Prong
The trailhead is located at the footbridge over the Oconaluftee River 7 miles north of Oconaluftee Visitor Center on the Newfound Gap Road. The first .25 mile of trail passes by the site of an old CCC camp and fish hatchery
- Woody House
Follow the Rough Fork Trail from the end of Cataloochee Road 1 mile to the Woody place and its 1800s home.
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Be A Great Smoky Mountain National Park VIP!
The Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program allows/permits people from all walks of life to step in and lend a hand to help the park staff assist the visitors by doing jobs that otherwise could not be done.
Some of the way the VIP's help out here are by:
- Staffing information desks
- Serving as Campground Hosts
- Maintaining and patrolling trails in the park
- Presenting living history programs
- Assisting in Resource Management projects.
To apply for the program, you simply call or write the park requesting the Volunteers in Parks' information packet. It will contain more details of these and other positions available here, along with an application form you fill out and return to the park. Please keep in mind that housing in the park is not available.
To receive a packet contact:
VIP Coordinator Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Drive
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
*provided by www.nps.gov
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