Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smoky Mountains National Park is by far the most visited National Park in the country, explored and adored by over fourteen million people each year. Throughout its sprawling borders, the park consists of over half a million acres, shared between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. It's easy to look at the park as numbers on a screen or fantasize about your next long weekend by scribbling in a trails guide or arduously scouring maps for the best waterfall, but there truly is nothing like seeing it for yourself. In this article, I hope I can help to point you in the right direction and turn even just a day trip to the park into a memory you will never forget.  

The view from one of the many stops on the Foothills Parkway, nearly thirty minutes after sunrise - 3/20/23

Sun Up to Sun Down

It's especially difficult to have a truly bad morning in one of the most gorgeous places on the planet, however, some sites are better saved for the afternoon or evening. For example, one of the sites I would label as a must-see is The Sinks, it's a calm, shaded waterfall just off Little River Gorge Rd. The site is painted with beautiful shadows at nearly every hour, shifting and shaping as the wind moves the branches. Although I'm sure it's a great site at sunrise, I am confident the site is just as good at lunch, or as I typically visit it, a calm stop after breakfast.  

My go-to route in the morning is a drive along the Foothills Parkway, catching the view of the sunrise from one of the many pull-offs along its twenty-two-and-a-half mile route, and enjoying the many small streams and valley views hiding behind each and every curve. There is something special about that drive, as an early morning sun overtakes the horizon, uncovering shadows on each ridge line that lies ahead. The key to sunrises and sunsets in the Smokies is elevation. The higher the better, with some of the best views existing at Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap, or my personal favorite, the Foothills Parkway.

The Afternoon

Assuming this is just a day trip, your hiking options are limited. I wouldn't recommend overdoing it by tackling a brutal trail like Chimney Tops, as there's more you can see in that same time window. If this is your first visit to the park or your tenth, there is no shame in taking in the park via the seat of a car, and lucky for all of us who enjoy the park, there are a multitude of sites like Newfound Gap, Clingman's Dome, The Sinks, Roaring Fork Trail, or Cades Cove. On average, I would say you could comfortably take in two or three of these sites in a steady-paced afternoon. Below, I'll go into a little more detail to help you pick the spots that are right for you.

The parking lot view of one of Cade's Coves larger pull-offs - 3/20/23

Cade's Cove: Cade's Cove is a gorgeous valley, housing an eleven-mile, paved loop cradled by mountains and filled with wildlife everywhere you look. To get to the site itself, you have to traverse a few long and winding roads, that after a while feel like they will never end. For me, Cade's Cove feels like the opening at the end of a tunnel in that sense, and along its scenic route, there are plenty of pull-offs to stretch your legs, admire wildlife, and better visualize the vastness of the Smoky Mountains. Cade's Cove isn't just a famous scenic drive.  It's also home to many old churches, homes, trails, and other restored structures. These sites make you wonder what it would have been like to live in this area in its not-so-distant past, and further educate you on its history. As was true in the other sections of the park, the pull-offs are always worth it!

Roaring Fork Trail: Another scenic motorway, Roaring Fork Trail is a nearly six-mile loop just outside of Gatlinburg, traversing an old-growth forest, many preserved buildings, and a mecca of waterfall trailheads including Place of a Thousand Drips, Rainbow Falls, and Grotto Falls. If you have extra time, I would absolutely recommend any of these waterfalls, with my personal favorite being Rainbow Falls. NOTE: Roaring Fork Trail is also closed for the winter season. Please check the National Park Service site before planning your visit.

​The Sinks: The Sinks is a site I've gone into more thoroughly in the past as another of my personal favorites here. In short, the Sinks is a small waterfall located off Little River Gorge Rd. It was created via destructive logging practices in the region during the late 1800s and created a beautiful shade-covered waterfall, which we appreciate today as The Sinks. It's a relaxing site with plenty of room and a few different overlooks in close proximity.

Newfound Gap: Along the steep road to Clingman's Dome, you'll reach the North Carolina/Tennessee state line and a photogenic sign noting the elevation at 5,046 feet. From this site, you can hike to Clingman's Dome, take in the beauty of the horizon all year round, or join the Appalachian Trail! The site got its name in 1872, when it was discovered by the Swiss Geographer Arnold Henry Guyot to be the lowest pass in through the Great Smoky Mountains. Today, Newfound Gap  remains the lowest driveable pass through the national park.

​Clingman's Dome: Standing at a staggering 6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains and the state of Tennessee as a whole. Its spectacular panoramic view of the park is second to none from the parking lot, and even better if you make the trip to the observation tower along a paved, half-mile trail that is well worth the walk. Although the area is open year-round to foot traffic, access via car is prohibited between December and March due to winter weather risks. This is one of my personal favorite spots to take wide-angle landscape pictures, family portraits, or just enjoy a picnic and take in the view.

The In-Betweens

In between your adventures in the Smokies, I encourage you above all else to take in the site for your own enjoyment. Embrace the hokiness of the tourist attractions, eat at one of the many bear-themed pancake cabins, and if it better suits you, enjoy your visit at Dollywood. In my opinion, the Smokies is a can't miss kind of vacation. Sun-burnt, tired, or otherwise, I've experienced this incredible part of the world in many ways, and never left feeling ungrateful, or unsatisfied. Even in the drabness of the winter, the Smoky Mountains are still utterly breathtaking. As ironic as this sounds coming from someone who does nothing but take pictures each vacation, don't spend so much time behind the camera that you miss out on the moment itself. If you don't take yourself too seriously and are generous with your time, you can't go wrong!