The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Smoky Mountain National Park is the crown jewel of Western Carolina. It is a seemingly endless ridge of mountain that lies on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It is the birthplace of Southern Appalacian Mountain culture and life. The 800 square mile park attracts more visitors that any of the other 300 national parks in the U.S. In fact it ranks far above even the Grand Canyon in number of yearly visitors. The Cherokee Indians called the area "Shaconage" which means "mountains of blue smoke." The "smoke" that they were referring to is actually vapor caused by water evaporation and not fire.
 
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The Smoky Mountain National Park has sixteen mountain peaks that rise above 6,000 feet and none are lower than 5,000 feet within a 36 mile distance. There are more than 120 species of trees and more than 1,600 flowering plants, making the area one of the most diverse ecological areas in the country. This is a great place to experience if you want to see wildlife up close as the park has about 1,600 bears and other large animals like deer and elk.

The park has about 800 miles of marked trails, and about half of them allow travel by horseback. It is a popular place to picnic, camp, fish or just view the scenery. Most people agree that the best time to visit the Smoky Mountains is late March to the middle of May because of the spring flowers. Also, October is the best month to see the fall foliage.

The main North Carolina entrance to the park is the Oconaluftee Center in Cherokee NC.

Book: Trees of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Book: Trees of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Smoky Mountains National Park postcard bears in trash

Smoky Mountains National Park postcard bears in trash

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Smoky Mountains National Park postcard Winter linen

Smoky Mountains National Park postcard Winter linen

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