Photo By: Jacob Lips
In the last few years, more than 11 million people visited Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park covers 522,419 acres of land consisting of ancient mountains and forests. It is rich in biodiversity.
History
The Great Smoky Mountains was home to the Cherokees. But the Europeans started homesteading between the 18th and 19th centuries, which prompted President Andrew Jackson to sign the Indian Removal Act in 1830. As the name suggests, Native Americans were forcefully removed from their ancestral lands, west of the Mississippi River.
Logging became the main economic activity in the area, which destroyed the natural resources of the Smoky Mountains. Residents banded together and lobbied to have the area protected. Businessman David Chapman led the initiative to have the Smoky Mountains declared a national park, which became a reality on June 15, 1934.
The park was also designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Places to go
As America’s favorite park, there are so many things to do and places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. A lot of the must-see places are in higher elevation, though, and have to be scaled. Here are some of the awesome sites at the park:
Chimney Tops
It got its name from its two peaks, each resembling a chimney’s capstone. The peak gives the hikers a picturesque view of Mount Le Conte and Mount Kephart. Hikers can reach the peaks through the Chimney Tops Trail, which passes through rushing streams and lush vegetation. The climb is quite challenging, though, so trekkers should wear the appropriate hiking outfit.
Mount LeConte
This is the third highest mountain in the park but the highest within the state of Tennessee. The mountain is named after either of the Le Conte brothers: geologist Joseph Le Conte or physicist John Le Conte—different accounts lead to different theories. The mountain lies in the Appalachian Blue Ridge. This is also where LeConte Lodge is located. This is a small resort, which is considered to be the highest lodging in the Eastern U.S.
Charlies Bunion
Visitors will enjoy the amazing vista of the historic Appalachian Trail at Charlies Bunion. The area is a stone outcrop. Some hiking is required to reach the area, though. Some visitors can drive a part of the route to Charlies Bunion.
Alum Cave Buffs & Arch Rock
These are popular spots at the park. Hiking is required to reach these destinations, which also provide a different vista of the Smoky Mountains. Hikers need to follow the Alum Cave Trail, which is the most popular of the five trails that lead to the summit.
Andres Bald
This is a great place to hike and have a picnic because of the grassy ground. It was named after Andres Thompson, a cattle herder who successfully brought livestock at a higher elevation in the 1840s. Hikers could find blackberries and raspberries during their hike, amidst Fraser firs and wildflowers.
Waterfalls
There are several waterfalls in the park; one of the most popular is the 80-foot Rainbow Falls. The best time to visit this spot is the afternoon, as at this time the visitors understand how it got its name. The afternoon sun and the mist from the falls create beautiful rainbows in this part of the park. The sound of a cascading waterfall is serene, and so is the walk going there, as the pathway is lined with mountain pepper-bushes, rosebay rhododendrons, and teaberries.
Other waterfalls in the park are Abrams Falls, Grotto Falls, Hen Wallow Falls, Indian Creek, and Toms Branch Falls, Juney Whank Falls, Laurel Falls, Lynn Camp Prong Cascades, Mingo Falls, Mouse Creek Falls, and Ramsey Cascades.
There are also alternatives for visitors who don’t want to hike to the waterfalls. The following are shorter falls but are accessible by vehicle: Meigs Falls, The Sinks, and Place of a Thousand Drips.
Cades Cove
This is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountain, as it doesn’t need an uphill hike. Cades Cove is a valley with rich vegetation and a great view of the imposing Great Smoky Mountains. There is a loop road that tourists can drive on for a scenic view of the park. There are also easy trails for those who want to walk around.
This is also a perfect place to spot some wildlife, the most popular is the deer. Other animal residents include black bears, coyotes, groundhogs, raccoons, skunks, turkeys, among others. The Cades Cove is also the place where Cherokees hunt for food, although they never made it a permanent residential area.
Photo By: Jacob Lips