Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Beautiful and Peaceful
Written: Jul 14 '01
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Pros: Incredible scenery, sparkling streams, soaring mountains, and colorful wildflowers
Cons: If you're camping in a rainstorm it can be pretty miserable.
The Bottom Line: This beautiful park is well-maintained and a wonderful place for a long weekend visit. This serene environment is filled with trees, streams, animals, and breathtaking views.
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| diverpam's Full Review: Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a huge, beautiful place to enjoy nature at its finest. This park was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 after the states of Tennessee and North Carolina gave the Great Smoky Mountains to the federal government.
This has proven a very wise decision and has allowed this beautiful forest land to be preserved and protected, while being enjoyed by thousands of visitors. Today, the park consists of more than half a million acres.
Points of Interest
The highest point in the Smokies is Clingman's Dome, with an elevation of 6,642 feet. At the top of the dome, you can see for a great distance (if the clouds don't roll in - guess that's why they're called the Smokies). I believe the claim is that you can see three states from this point.
Unfortunately for me, after my husband and I made the hike to the top of the dome, we realized that clouds had rolled in all around. It was kind of interesting seeing the tops of the clouds, but not the view for which I walked for about a mile from where we had parked the car.
Lush and Beautiful Forests
The park is so beautiful and peaceful, with its heavy blanket of trees, many streams, and wildlife. There are plenty of hiking trails from which to choose (totaling 850 miles) so there is something for everyone. A brief nature walk, or a more arduous climb to see a waterfall or cave.
The park is filled with a variety of plants (1500 varieties) and a dozen different kinds of trees. There are also almost 300 species of birds and dozens of different animals. Yes, you might even see a bear. You are strongly advised by the rangers not to leave any food outside. It is considered a direct invitation from the bears. We didn't see any bears while in the park, but we did see one nearby as we were driving home. There are definitely bears in the area!
ACTIVITIES
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is a popular activity in the Smokies. You can see some very beautiful sights from the horse trails. I greatly preferred this mode of transportation to hiking. My husband and I spend an afternoon riding horses as part of a group of about a dozen people. There were a couple of times I almost held my breath as the trail narrowed at an overlook. However, the horses were steady and sure and we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon.
Canoeing or White Water Rafting
We didn't try this in the Smokies, but we saw plenty of people who did. There are a great number of companies that rent canoes or sell the opportunity to ride in the large rafts that venture over the rapids. Next time I think I would try the whitewater rafting. It looked very exciting!
Swimming
There are many beautiful streams, small and large, that run throughout the park. The water is clear and it's pretty chilly. Be very careful swimming in the streams in case it rains in the higher elevations. The water level can rise very quickly as the water comes gushing down from the top of the mountains.
Our Flood Encounter
We were standing along the edge of a large stream when we heard a loud noise coming from around the corner of the stream. We looked up to see water flooding down at us. We had to move quickly to keep from being swept into the torrent.
It had been raining a little earlier up in the higher parts of the mountains. The water had run down into the streams and a stream that had been fairly small and quiet was now practically a raging river.
We jumped in our car and followed the flood of water, fascinated by the force of nature and wanting to watch it further. We followed it downstream for several miles.
We actually got ahead of the rush of water and one point and saw several people who were fishing and swimming in the stream. We yelled at them to look out -- just seconds before the water was upon them. At least they had time to move closer to land and hold onto a tree. The water had dissipated some by then, but it was still strong enough to catch someone off guard and wash them downstream.
Fishing
If you plan to fish in the Smokies, be sure to get a fishing license from either Tennessee or North Carolina. (You can't buy a license in the park.) You can fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, or smallmouth bass. (It is illegal to possess brook trout due to their scarcity.)
Be sure to check with the rangers to determine the daily limits and restrictions on types of equipment and bait you are permitted to use. They are strict about fishing.
Photography
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a photographer's dream. Beautiful mountains, serene valleys, wildflowers, animals and birds abound. You might see a fox, bobcat, coyote, or opossum (we call them possums in Tennessee). There are many colorful Cardinals and Blue Jays, as well. Be careful if you're exploring the woods, because there are also copperheads. These are definitely poisonous snakes.
Camping
There are many campsites available inside the park, with varying comfort facilities. I once made the mistake of pitching my tent right next to a lovely, bubbling steam. It was beautiful to look at and listen to, up until bedtime. Unfortunately, the constant running water gave me the urge to go to the bathroom all night long.
Another time we were camping with our children and there was a terrible rainstorm. We are very infrequent campers and didn't adequately protect our tent from the weather. When our tent flooded, we loaded into the car and drove to nearby Gatlinburg and found a hotel room for the remainder of the night. We came back the next morning to a beautiful, sunny day in the park. Except for our soggy tent, we might never have known about the storm the night before.
Beautiful Valleys to Explore
Amid the grandeur of the huge mountains, the valleys lie peaceful in the sunshine. We spent a day driving around to various historical points in the valleys -- looking at old log cabins, churches, and a grist mill. It was very interesting to visit these historic areas. There is information provided at each area and they are marked on a map you can pick up inside the park.
Recommendation
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days exploring this vast, shady park. You'll find it to be cooler because of all the shade and you'll realize how relaxing it can be to just enjoy the beauty of natural surroundings.
The park is located on the eastern border of Tennessee and expands into North Carolina. This makes it a long drive from our home near Memphis, on the western border of Tennessee.
If you have a long drive to get there, allow time to reach the park, check-in and get your camp setup before dark. When the sun goes down, it gets really dark. It also gets pretty cool at night time, even in the summer.
It would be a good idea to bring a sweater or jacket to stay warm in the evenings. Be sure to bring your camera and be prepared for some pretty amazing views!
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: June-August
Review Topic: Overview
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diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
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~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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