Discover the Souths broad-shouldered, mist-crowned jewel of a national park and a magnet for millions.
There’s nothing like seeing its namesake fog settle like quiet, airborne creatures among its ridges and peaks.
The more you think about it, the more it seems like a countrynot a park but a kingdom.
Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains, just a stone’s throw from Pigeon Forge, is a glamping resort where guests sleep on plush beds with luxe linens.Credit: Andy Anderson
It requires a long weekend at least, a week preferrably, and perhaps a lifetime.
It demands the patience of a suitor, who returns day after day with fresh inquiry and admiring eyes.
You spot salamanders, wildflowers, and yes, fireflies that synchronize their glow.
Credit: Getty Images
The park’s offsiteTownsend Visitor Centeroffers maps, advice, and more.
But with those busy seasons come the most visitors.
But Great Smoky Mountains National Park really does want you to come in and play.
Float down the Little River in Townsend, Tennessee.Credit: Andy Anderson
For park superintendent Cassius Cash, the very diversity of the Smokies is what makes them so extraordinary.
Play On The Water
The Great Smoky Mountains are threaded with creeks and rivers.
Here are some of the finest ways to get your feet wet.
Beautiful cascades like Elk River Falls (near Elk Park, North Carolina) are abundant in the Smokies, formed by copious rainfall and the mountains’ unique geology.Credit: Andy Anderson
Here are a few highlights.
Catch (and Release) a Trout
Eugene Shuler knows his trout.
Worth the Trip:Hazel CreekThis is one of the most famous streams in the park.
Fishing guide Eugene Shuler fly-fishing the Smokies near Bryson City, North Carolina.Credit: Andy Anderson
“It’s a bucket list spot for sure,” he says.
Hazel Creek is a good 21-mile hike from the trailhead along the north shore of Fontana Lake.
“That whole stretch there is epic,” he says.
The Carter Shields Cabin was built in the 1800s and is just one of the historic buildings, including cabins and churches, on the wildly popular Cades Cove Loop.Credit: Andy Anderson
“You get a little vibe when you’re up in there,” he says.
“You know there’s something special.
It combines great fishing with frequent wildlife sightings.
For tips and advice, visitors look to pros like park superintendent Cassius Cash.Credit: Andy Anderson
What’s the best way to see these?
Cades Cove:This section of the park is its most popular, and for good reason.
If you’ve got the option to visit midweek, you’ll have an advantage.
Credit: Andy Anderson
The best way to enjoy this classic?
Become A Birder
For Southern bird lovers, there’s magic in these mountains.
Fish and Wildlife Service who now leads birding hikes throughout the area.
Credit: Andy Anderson
They can be found almost anywhere at elevations above 4,000 feet and are fairly easy to find.
Red crossbillsare nomadic in their feeding and nesting habits and a bit harder to locate.
They prefer seeds from red spruce cones, so be sure to look on trees with good crops.
Credit: Andy Anderson
Northern saw-whet owlsare nocturnal, so you’re going to want to listen more than look for them.
Find a clip of their call online to learn what it sounds like.
Book a Hike:Watson leads excursions withVentures Birding Toursand theGreat Smoky Mountains Association.
Credit: Andy Anderson
Here are Cash’s recommendations.
“It’s relatively flat and follows a beautiful river through a historic district.”
Kephart Prong Trailabove the Smokemont area “follows the river to a great backcountry camping shelter.”
Shop for stone-ground goods at Saunooke’s Mill in Cherokee, North Carolina.Credit: Andy Anderson
Cash’s Advice:Plan ahead, and have at least three options in mind for your experience.
In 2002, the park brought in 27 more.
Elk are sensitive to contact, so the best way to love them is from a distance.
Credit: Getty Images
How best to learn about and engage with Cherokee and the Qualla Boundary?
“It’s culturally unique within the southeastern United States.
We’ve survived in our place of origin for tens of thousands of years.”
Shelley Cooper has helped elevate Appalachian food.
Clapsaddle, who says she loves playing tour guide for her home, shares her must-sees.
Visiting here is like hitting a second museum.
“It rests on Cherokee cultural values: preserving the environment and interactions across generations in nature.”
This re-creation of a historic village is staffed by cultural guides.
It’s another of Clapsaddle’s favorites, if for no other reason than to dismantle myths.
“So many people think we lived in teepees,” she says.
“We built cabins.
Don’t miss the Milk Chocolate Brown Bears, which are delicious.
The box design, with its cheery brown bear chefs, is worth framing.
Smoked Meats:Talk about being worth a detour.
He’s a regional culinary treasure.
Beer is where it’s at in the Smokies, and Bryson City has the goods.
Don’t miss the staff-picked brown bags of brews to take home.
Consider this the perfect way to launch any day on this side of the park.
Taste the bounty of flavors atDancing Bear Lodge’s Appalachian Bistroin Townsend.
