Great Smoky Mountains National Park is probably the most visited nationwide park in the US.

And, with layers of rolling hardwood landscapes, 2100 trickling waterways and a mysterious fog that looms at seemingly all hours, it isn’t arduous to see why. With a lot going proper for it, there are nonetheless alternatives for things to go horribly mistaken, normally due to an absence of preparation. In addition to reserving key actions upfront, right here you want to be prepared for the sudden, which might imply something from altering climate situations to bears.

So, as you intend to your Great Smoky Mountains National Park journey, listed below are the highest 12 things to know forward of time.

1. It’s free to enter, however not to park

In contrast to a few of its nationwide park counterparts, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a discount break. There isn’t any entry payment, so you possibly can redirect that dough towards inner-park excursions or, maybe, a donation to organizations like Pals of the Smokies that assist protect its confines. Whereas there isn’t a entry payment, a change in parking charges was carried out in March 2023. Whereas parking was beforehand free, it is going to value $5 per day to park in official parking areas for visits longer than 15 minutes. Parking passes are actually out there on-line and at customer facilities with weekly ($15) and annual passes ($40) out there. 

2. Enter a lottery in April for the summer time firefly spectacle

Main up to your journey, maybe you’ll hear some buzz round a firefly mating spectacle that takes place every summer time. Late Might by means of late June every year (the goal dates fluctuate), the photinus carolinus species of fireflies mild up a bit of the Smokies with synchronous flashes. It’s a visible spectacle like few others. To catch it, you’ll want to plan nicely forward of time and get fortunate. Regulate the National Park Service’s web site for a lottery course of starting in April. In case you’re granted entry, you’ll obtain a parking cross to expertise the flash-filled surprise close to Elkmont Campground.

3. Guide your trout fishing license upfront

It may be oh-so-tempting to pull off the roads adjoining to Little Pigeon River or Little River, pull out your fishing rod and begin fishing for trout. Nevertheless, you want a fishing license to do this and, if you happen to don’t have one, there could be hefty fines. So, snag one forward of time and be cognizant of which state you’re fishing in. The net route for reserving licenses in Tennessee and North Carolina is probably the most seamless. 

4. Mingus Mill is an efficient various to busy Cades Cove

The Cades Cove Loop is deservingly the preferred vacation spot within the park. The 11-mile path offers panoramic, typically fog-clad Smokies vistas, there’s a 159-site campground, a historic European settlement and a path to Abrams Falls. With that, it may well get busy and, if you happen to’re going to expertise a site visitors jam in a nationwide park, that is in all probability the place it will occur.

For an equally dazzling dabble in historical past and tranquility, head to Mingus Mill, simply north of the Oconaluftee Customer Heart on the North Carolina facet. Courting again to the late 1800s, this historic mill continues to be operational and powered by a close-by flume. If tenting is within the combine, Smokemont Campground is simply three miles north of the mill with 142 websites. As with all tenting spots – ebook your website as far upfront as attainable.

5. Take into account a shoulder season go to to keep away from the crowds

The summer time months (June by means of August) in addition to peak foliage season (September and October) are the busiest months at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If nice temperatures (highs of 65–70ºF) and smaller crowds are desired, think about the March to Might time-frame. As well as to much less site visitors, you’ll be handled to the height wildflower bloom, too.

6. Put together to hike to LeConte Lodge and ebook months upfront

A keep on the solely lodging possibility throughout the park sounds dreamy, proper? Properly, it’s – the LeConte Lodge is a half-mile from the park’s third-highest peak, Mt LeConte. However, getting to the lodge, would require a reasonably strenuous, six-plus hour hike. So, solely ebook the lodge if you happen to’re prepared to trek Eight miles and an elevation acquire of roughly 2700ft. And, you’ll need to ebook nicely upfront – the window for reservations opens months upfront and fills up rapidly. The lodge can be usually closed for the winter, throughout the December by means of mid-March vary.

7. Arrive early to snag path parking and beat the crowds

The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a yr. So, how early you arrive within the Great Smokys is up to you and, by doing so, you’re rewarded not solely with extra wiggle room, however parking. At a number of the park’s extra premium trailheads, just like the Alum Cave Path, parking tons can simply fill by 10am and, typically, there are “no parking” indicators dotting the close by highway shoulders. So, set that alarm early to keep away from potential disappointment. 

8. Convey a wetsuit for frigid water adventures

Even when summer time temperatures creep into the mid-70ºFs and low-80ºFs right here, the water stays chilly (at round 60ºF). Positive, a splash could be tremendous refreshing. However, if you happen to’re planning to get knee deep whereas trout fishing on the Little River or have a white-water rafting tour on the Pigeon River, convey a wetsuit. In case you don’t have one, leases are usually out there with the likes of Rafting within the Smokies and Rafting Tennessee.

9. Don’t be fooled by the fog – put on sunscreen

There are greater than 800 miles of trails to discover inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For the avid hiker who desires to do as many tree-lined trails as attainable and even if you happen to’re planning a fast kayak or canoe journey on Fontana Lake, you’ll be spending time within the solar. Fog-draped panorama or not, layer up on sunscreen and reapply usually. UV rays can penetrate the fog and clouds, so keep secure.

10. Keep alert even on probably the most approachable of trails

There are 150 trails throughout the park’s confines. And, for households with younger youngsters and informal walkers, there are many completely paved, seamless spots for a hike. Nevertheless, no matter how “simple” a hike could also be, corners, cliffs and your fellow hikers can show a distraction. An instance is the favored Laurel Falls path close to the Sugarlands Customer Heart. It’s a paved, 2.5-mile round-trip path that is practically all asphalt and leads to multilayered waterfall bliss. As you around the corners, steep cliffs down to a trickling creek emerge out of nowhere, so that you’ll need to keep alert and maintain on tight to wandering little ones.

11. Don’t convey your canine

Whereas canines could also be welcome on most trails in some nationwide parks, that isn’t the case at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In truth, canines are prohibited on all trails except two. So, until you’re planning to hit the 1.9-mile one-way Gatlinburg Path or 1.5-mile one-way Oconaluftee River Path, go away your furry pal at dwelling.

12. Depart the bears, elk and wildflowers alone

Whether or not it’s a white-tailed deer scurrying away or – if you happen to’re fortunate to see one – a perusing black bear sifting by means of the leaves, preserve a 50ft distance between you and the wildlife. In spite of everything, it’s their dwelling and we’re simply guests. It’s additionally price noting that if you happen to resolve to decide and pull at any flora – sure, together with these beautiful wildflowers blooming within the springtime – you would face a effective of up to $5000.