Seasoned backcountry hikers come to Great Smoky Mountains National Park well prepared to cover miles of wilderness, but even novice hikers can find trails to enjoy here, ranging from short nature walks to 12-mile hikes, from easy to strenuous. Trail maps and brochures are available at Sugarlands Visitor Center , Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Cades Cove visitor center. So slip on appropriate shoes, tuck some bottled water and snacks into a lightweight backpack and grab a walking stick. A Smoky Mountain adventure awaits.
The hike to Abrams Falls in Cades Cove is one of the best family outings in the park. The trail climbs through forest, hugs mountainsides, follows Abrams Creek intermittently and ends beside a large pool at the base of the broad, 20-foot waterfall. During peak tourist season (June through August and in mid-October), Abrams Falls Trail is as busy as a shopping mall on Christmas Eve. Set aside up to 4 hours to complete this moderate, 5-mile round-trip trek, more if you pack a picnic lunch.
Additional trailheads in Cades Cove lead to even more opportunities for wilderness immersion. Trails typically follow old Cherokee footpaths and pioneer wagon roads. Even if you don't have the time, inclination or stamina to go the distance, consider taking a short walk on any trail.
The Laurel Falls Trail off Little River Road between Townsend and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is popular because the 80-foot falls are lovely and the path through idyllic forest is paved. Blooming pink and white mountain laurel are an early summer bonus. The trail extends a mile past the waterfall into an old-growth forest populated with some of the park's largest trees. Rated easy, this 2.6-mile round-trip walk maintains a steady uphill grade, like the Abrams Falls Trail. The only difficulty you will have here is finding a parking space at the trailhead during peak season.
If a scenic vista is a hiking goal during your vacation, the view doesn't get any better than at Clingmans Dome. From the parking lot, a half-mile paved trail ascends to an observation tower with a 360-degree view. It is possible to see seven states on a clear day. The steep ascent on the walkway and the tower ramp may be challenging to some. The Appalachian Trail passes alongside Clingmans Dome and crosses US 441 at Newfound Gap as it follows a ridge for 70 miles through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A short jaunt on the famous trail from the gap parking lot yields nice views. You might even meet up with a weary thru-hiker out to conquer the 2,174-mile national scenic trail.
Bicycling is permitted on park roads, yet most are not suitable for this type of activity, and mountain bikes are not permitted on most hiking trails. The good news is that every Wednesday and Saturday morning before 10 a.m. in summer months pedalers and pedestrians have exclusive use of the paved loop road in Cades Cove. Bring your own wheels or rent from the bicycle concession next to the camp store.
Camping may not be for everyone, but those who prefer this rustic experience will find ample accommodations in 10 developed campgrounds. The three largest are Cades Cove Campground, just outside the entrance to Cades Cove—most visited site in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Elkmont Campground, sprawled along the Little River in the historic logging district off Little River Road; and Smokemont Campground, off US 441 not far from Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Horse owners make good use of front-country horse camps and back-country horse trails in the park. Visitors interested in guided horseback tours will find three riding stables in Tennessee and one in North Carolina. Cades Cove Riding Stables also offers gentle carriage rides.
You can picnic almost anywhere in the park, but dedicated picnic areas are your best bet for such niceties as tables, charcoal grills and restrooms. Each has unique aesthetic features—rocky streams, nature trails, seasonal blooms, scenic views. Most are located next to campgrounds with ranger stations.
More than 2,000 miles of trout-filled streams flow through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the few protected trout habitats in the eastern United States. Accessible streams for snagging rainbow and brown trout include the Little and Oconaluftee rivers, which flow right beside the park's main roads. Pullouts enable anglers to park, wade, cast, and then move up- or downstream to the next promising spot. Late 19th-century logging activity nearly destroyed the brook trout population. Through a successful ongoing restoration program, the coveted brook trout—the Smokies' only native trout species—is once again fair game in selected streams. The park service publishes an excellent regulations brochure. A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required and can be purchased in nearby towns or online.
If you're looking for a rafting or kayaking adventure during your vacation, you'll find dozens of outfitters along the white-water rivers in national forests bordering the park. One operator is Nantahala Outdoor Center , with a sprawling campus on the Nantahala River south of Bryson City, N.C., and six additional outposts on regional rivers.