The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is our largest tourism asset. But it is only 1 of several protected forests & preserves available to nature lovers. The Cherokee National Forest & Cades Cove areas are two more of the local areas protected & patrolled by the National Park Service.
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.
A couple enjoying the views from one of the many overlooks along the Foothills Parkway.
Whether you delight in the challenge of a strenuous hike to the crest of a mountain or prefer to sit quietly and watch the sun set, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a myriad of activities for you to enjoy. The hardest part may be choosing which auto tour, trail, waterfall, overlook, or historic area to explore!
To get detailed information, trail maps, camping & hunting license information please visit the National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/trip-planner.htm
The Cherokee National Forest is also located along the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The 640,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee and is documented to be the home to more than 20,000 species of plants & animals. It stretches across ten different counties of E. Tennessee and is maintained by the US Dept. of Agriculture. It was formed in 1936 by an act from President Roosevelt which combined 2 National Forests and a portion of another forest to create the now known Cherokee National Forest.
To get detailed information on activities such as camping, hiking and day trips to the Cherokee National Forest, please visit the US Forest Service website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/trip-planner.htm
Favorite Park Activities for both the Great Smoky Mountains National Park & the Cherokee National Forest, including Clingman’s Dome, The Chimneys, Cades Cove and all areas in the E. TN Mountains.
auto touring, bicycling, family campgrounds, fishing, hiking and backpacking, picnicking, waterfall walks, wildlife watching, and more