Things to do in the Smoky Mountains
Curt March 9th, 2007
A few hints just to get you started
Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
One of our larger National Parks, with over 500,000 acres. Please visit the park Visitor’s Center on the Gatlinburg side for specific information. The Park Rangers are very helpful and numerous brochures and maps are available for a minimal price.
You can even watch a video presentation in a mini-theater. Horse back riding is available in season. Trout fishing is a favorite for many. You must get a fishing license from Tennessee or North Carolina to fish in the park, available at many stores in the area. A visit to Cades Cove on the south end of the park is also a favorite, with a motor nature tour and the old farm buildings from the 1800’s. You are likely to see deer and maybe even a bear there. There are dozens of quiet walkways throughout the park with parking for 1 to 5 vehicles in addition to the many larger hiking trails, so be sure to get the list from the park. If you will be driving through the park on Hwy 441 on your way to Gatlinburg from home, it is always a good idea to check the road conditions - especially in the fall and winter - to make sure that the road is open. Call 865-436-1200 for the current conditions.