Mist-draped peaks, ancient forests, and one of the most beloved wild places in America.
Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, and once you’ve stood at the edge of a ridge watching the morning fog roll through the valleys below, it’s easy to understand why. The Smokies are ancient in the truest sense: these mountains are among the oldest on Earth, blanketed in a biodiversity. Whether you’re here for the hiking, the wildlife, the fall foliage, or simply the views, this park has something for every visitor.
National Park Trip Planning Tips
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the few national parks in the country that is currently free to enter. No pass is required at any of the park’s entrances. That said, some popular parking areas within the park do charge a parking fee, so it’s worth budgeting for that depending on where you plan to spend your time.
For hiking, download the AllTrails app before you leave home. It’s the best resource for browsing trails by difficulty, length, and elevation gain, and you can download maps for offline use, which is essential since cell service in parts of the park is spotty.
There are two towns in particular that serve as easy gateways into the park: Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Both sit just outside the park boundary and offer easy access to the main entrances. Gatlinburg is the quieter and more convenient of the two for park access, while Pigeon Forge leans heavily into family entertainment and tourist attractions. We based ourselves in Gatlinburg, which put us just minutes from the park entrance.
The Chimney Tops 2 Forest Fire
Gatlinburg was devastated by a terrible forest fire in 2016 they called the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. It destroyed large parts of the town and acres upon acres of the national forest. People died and rebuilding the area has been a work in progress. While controlled burns of the forest are actually extremely important to help prevent larger wildfires, this did not start as a controlled burn. Two teenagers had initially been charged for starting the fire, but those charges were eventually dropped. High winds and a particularly dry season contributed to the devastating power of the fire.
While we were there, we noticed a lot of construction and destroyed buildings. On a lot of the trails you can actually see charred trees and spots along the way where the fire had jumped, caught and died out. You can go to Chimney Tops (we did), which is one of the more challenging hiking routes with higher elevation, and see where the fire began, but while we were there, they were trying to let the flora take hold again, so parts of it were off limits to allow it to recover. Please be respectful of off-limits areas and signage, as they are marked off in an effort to restore what was destroyed in the fire.
Where to Stay
For this trip, we stayed in Gatlinburg and booked through Airbnb. Having a kitchen made a significant difference both for budget reasons and because the food options in town left something to be desired. Gatlinburg has a wide variety of cabins and mountain homes available on Airbnb, many of them with porches, hot tubs, and views that make the rental feel like part of the experience. If you’re visiting with a group or family, a cabin rental here is an especially good value.
Gatlinburg is also a ski town, so if you travel to the area during ski season, you can hit the slopes.
Gatlinburg
For this trip, we stayed in Gatlinburg and booked through Airbnb. Having a kitchen made a significant difference — both for budget reasons and because the food options in town left something to be desired. Gatlinburg has a wide variety of cabins and mountain homes available on Airbnb, many of them with porches, hot tubs, and mountain views that make the rental feel like part of the experience. If you’re visiting with a group or family, a cabin rental here is an especially good value.
If you’d prefer a hotel, two solid options in Gatlinburg are the Park Vista Hotel, a Hilton property with great views of the surrounding mountains, and the Edgewater Hotel, where friends of ours have stayed and had a genuinely good experience.
Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge has no shortage of places to stay, though the vibe skews heavily themed and tourist-focused — think Dollywood-adjacent energy throughout. If that’s your scene, you’ll have plenty of options. (And for what it’s worth, Dollywood is absolutely on my list for a future trip — because who doesn’t love Dolly Parton.)
If you’re looking for something more upscale and resort-style, Riverstone Resort is worth a look. For reliable, reasonably priced accommodation, I often turn to Marriott Bonvoy properties to rack up points — and there are several good Marriott options in Pigeon Forge, including the Fairfield Inn & Suites, which offers solid value for the area.
Where to Eat
As I mentioned, we cooked most of our meals at the Airbnb during this trip — both to save money and because Gatlinburg’s dining scene didn’t particularly inspire us. That said, there are some options worth considering if you’d rather eat out. My honest recommendation is to lean into the Airbnb kitchen for most meals and save your dining-out budget for one or two of the options below. Your wallet will thank you — and the grocery stores in the area are easy to access on your way into town.
Split Rail
A well-regarded spot that comes up consistently as one of the better dining options in the area. Worth adding to your list if you’re looking for a reliable meal in Gatlinburg.
The Greenbrier Restaurant
A more classic, established option with a sit-down dinner feel. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional for an evening out, The Greenbrier is a solid choice.
The Peddler Steakhouse
A Gatlinburg institution. This steakhouse is set right on a mountain stream and has been drawing visitors for decades — it’s probably the most atmospheric dining option in town and worth a visit if you’re in the mood for steak.
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen
If you’re looking for something rooted in the local food culture of the region, Five Oaks Farm Kitchen offers a farm-to-table experience that feels distinctly Appalachian in the best possible way. A great option if you want your meal to reflect the character of the area you’re visiting.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
A great option if you’re looking for a casual, relaxed evening with a cold craft beer after a long day on the trails. Smoky Mountain Brewery is a fun, laid-back spot that fits the mountain town vibe of Gatlinburg well.
Tennessee Jed’s
A casual spot worth knowing about for a quick, unpretentious bite. Tennessee Jed’s has a fun, locally rooted feel that makes it a good fit for a relaxed lunch or an easy, low-key dinner.
The Best Hikes
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 800 miles of trails, ranging from gentle riverside walks to strenuous summit climbs — and it’s one of the best hiking destinations in the entire National Park system. Before you go, download the AllTrails app and save your trails in advance. Cell service in the mountains is spotty at best, so having your maps downloaded and ready before you head into the park is essential.
We visited in March, which is shoulder season for the Smokies. The crowds hadn’t fully arrived yet, but the park was still busy. My advice is to start your hikes early, especially at the more popular trailheads, as parking fills up fast. March weather in the mountains can also be unpredictable, so pack layers and a rain jacket regardless of what the forecast says. For us, the weather was comfortable and ideal for hiking — cool enough to keep you from overheating on the climbs, clear enough to enjoy the views.
A Note about Hiking in the Park: Please, please pack good hiking boots for this park. It is rocky and the terrain is challenging. There’s also quite a bit of elevation and even some rock scrambles in some areas. I was shocked to see people trying some of these hikes in jeans and flip flops – I highly doubt they made it even halfway. Bring proper footwear!
Here’s a look at the hikes we did — and a few we’d put on the list for next time.
Hikes We Did
Rainbow Falls Trail
This was the very first hike we did in the park, and I’m glad we went early because it is one of the more popular, busier hikes. It’s a beautiful and rewarding hike that leads to Rainbow Falls, the tallest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies. It’s a moderately strenuous climb, but absolutely worth it.
Mingus Creek Cemetery
A quieter, more contemplative trail that leads to a historic Appalachian cemetery tucked into the woods. It’s a beautiful and moving glimpse into the lives of the families who once called these mountains home.
Buckeye Trail to Spruce Flats Falls
This trail winds through a lovely forest to a stunning waterfall — one of the hidden gems of the park. If you love waterfall hikes, this one belongs on your list.
Old Sugarlands Trail to Rock House
A fascinating hike that traces the remnants of an old settlement, leading to a remarkable rock formation that was used as a shelter by early mountain residents. It’s a great blend of natural beauty and Appalachian history.
Laurel Falls Trail
One of the most popular trails in the park — and once you see the falls, it’s easy to understand why. Laurel Falls is one of the most beautiful and accessible waterfall hikes in the Smokies, and the paved trail makes it approachable for a wide range of hikers. Go early to beat the crowds.
Huskey Gap Trail
A quieter trail that offers a peaceful, forested walk with lovely views. A great option if you want to escape the more trafficked areas of the park and enjoy a more solitary stretch of trail.
Oconaluftee River Trail
A flat, easy walk along the Oconaluftee River near the Cherokee entrance to the park. It’s one of the few trails in the park where leashed pets are allowed, and the river views are lovely throughout. We saw elk grazing in the field, and one napping in the woods. They are huge and really beautiful.
A note about the elk: There are several places in the park where you can see elk. They are tagged and monitored in an effort to reestablish an elk population in the park. Much like the bison in Yellowstone, there are often issues with tourons trying to approach the elk or pet them. This never ends well. Be respectful of the wildlife and give the elk their space.
Chimney Tops Trail
One of the more well-known hikes in the park, this was where the fire happened, and the area is still recovering, so you can only hike sections of it. The trail climbs steadily through dense forest before opening up to dramatic rocky outcroppings with sweeping views of the surrounding peaks. It’s a challenging hike, but the payoff at the top is well worth the effort.
Abrams Falls Trail
A moderately challenging hike that rewards you with one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the entire park. The falls drop 20 feet into a wide, deep pool, and the surrounding scenery is stunning. This is a must-do if you’re spending multiple days in the park.
A note about black bears: There were lots of signs about bears at this trail because of a few recent incidents involving black bears, so I want to talk a bit about that here since there are some important safety concerns to be aware of.
Most of the time, black bears are afraid of humans and will run away and climb a tree to hide. In fact, I’ve only encountered bears a couple times on hikes and they’ve always run away. They don’t always cub defend like grizzlies do, however, if you encounter a mama bear with her cubs, give them plenty of space. Like any wild animal, if they feel threatened or are desperate for food, they will defend themselves or act in ways they might not normally.
This means that it’s not a bad idea to carry bear spray (it is highly effective – for the two-legged kinds too) and be aware of your surroundings.
Most issues with bears are the results of humans not properly securing food at a campsite, leaving trash behind or, in some jaw-droppingly dumb cases, actually trying to feed the bears. Do not do any of this (should be obvious, but sadly people still do it), as this habituates the bears to humans and then they associate humans with food. This is when there are human-bear interactions that go wrong and most of the time, the bear ends up being euthanized.
So, if you consider yourself an animal lover, do the bears a favor and leave them alone, pick up your trash, and properly store your food in a bear-proof case if you’re camping.
There have been fatal maulings from bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park of both hikers and campers. Some were actually very recent, so while it’s rare, given the number of bears in the park to people ratio, they do still sometimes happen.
Peregrine Peak via Alum Cave Bluff Trail
One of the standout hikes of our trip. The Alum Cave Bluff section alone is remarkable — a dramatic concave arch of bluff formation unlike anything else in the park. The trail continues up to Peregrine Peak with views that are hard to match anywhere in the Smokies. This is a more strenuous hike, so come prepared, but it’s among the most memorable trails we did.
Metcalf Bottoms Trail
A relatively gentle trail that winds through a beautiful forested bottomland. It’s a great option if you want a peaceful, accessible walk without a demanding elevation gain. We’d saved this hike toward the end of the trip since we knew we’d be sore from more challenging hikes earlier in the week.
Hikes We Didn’t Get To — But Would
The park has far more trails than any one trip can cover, and there were several we had our eyes on but ran out of time for. These are at the top of the list for a return visit:
Andrews Bald Trail — A beautiful hike to one of the park’s rare grassy balds, with open meadow views that are particularly spectacular in summer when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Bullhead to the Pulpit — A less-traveled route with rewarding views and a quieter trail experience than some of the park’s more popular hikes.
Old Sugarlands Trail — A gentle, historically rich trail that winds through the remnants of an old mountain community. A lovely option for a more leisurely day in the park.
One thing we weren’t able to do on this trip was visit Clingman’s Dome, the park’s highest point at 6,643 feet. The road to the summit is closed each year through late winter and early spring, so if seeing it is on your list, plan your visit for late spring through fall.