Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Written: Mar 01 '02
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Pros: Spectacular scenery, abundant trails, and a variety of wildlife make each visit unique!
Cons: You can and often will, find high volumes of visitors any time of year.
The Bottom Line: The GSMNP offers an experience that should be shared. Perfect for newlyweds, ideal for families, spectacular to photographers and rewarding for naturalist! Visit once and visit often!
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| terrapix's Full Review: Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
I have been visiting GSMNP for more than 30 years and still find each visit to be full of new and unique opportunities. Most visitors spend their time at the major attractions, of which there are many. However, I have learned numerous spots to go where the mountains offer beauty and serenity even in the fall color season.
Yes, you will be amazed visiting Cades Cove, Sugarlands, and all the other majors, but take some time to get to know some of the back roads. There you will be rewarded with everything you expect at the main areas, and then many surprises! Go back Greenbriar, east of Gatlinburg, and you will find a spectacular stream with wildflowers at every turn. At the end of this gravel and dirt road you find a small parking lot at the trailhead to Ramsey Cascades. One of the more beautiful spots in the park, but it is a good hike getting there. But, try the trail! Even if you only go a mile or so and turn back, the scenery along the trail is breathtaking.
One of my favorite places is Cataloochee. From the Tennessee side, east of Gatlinburg you find the paved road ending at a crest in the mountain where it crosses into North Carolina. From here you have about 18 miles of gravel (if it hasn't rained recently) and dirt road. Not great on your vehicle, but worth getting away from the crowds. You know when you are near by the paved road that suddenly appears. You are now approaching one of the mountains oldest deserted communities. This valley and meadows you view offer many opportunities for wildlife viewing and birding where often the only sounds are those of nature. If you like camping, at its truest, you will love the small campground engulfed in old forest, bordered by a sparkling mountain stream and often visited by deer. Elk have been recently introduced to this area and should fare well. The birding here is beyond expectations! The best part, I have been there in the peak of fall color season and found only 5 or 6 campersites filled.
Cades Cove, one of the most traveled areas in the park is also one of the most spectacular. You will get a taste of life gone by when visiting the old log cabins, church and mill areas. Here is a hint, visit this area either in early spring, early winter or deep into winter. On hot summer and other peak seasons the traffic can be bumper to bumper. It is still worth the visit, but a visit during slow periods will open new doors. It is not uncommon to find numerous deer both individual big old bucks and small herds in the valley floor. But watch the tree lines both near and away from cars. If you watch closely, you will find black bear at almost every visit. From large males to mothers and cubs, you can learn a lot about the bear by watching at a safe distance. Remember to heed the ranger's cautions! Mothers separated from their cubs can and will become aggressive and will protect their cubs without hesitation. I was rewarded a few years ago when coming around a bend on the south side of the cove I came upon a rare sighting, a red wolf! He was a dominant male from a failed experiment to reintroduce wolves to the cove. In all my travels, this is one of my most cherished encounters! According to the ranger, he had been seen only 2 other times and both by park personnel.
You can make your visit to the area whatever you want it to be. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cherokee, N.C. have everything from lavish chalets to primitive camping. You can find fast-food, four star restaurants or get a box lunch and picnic in the numerous designated areas. But whatever you do, try some of the less traveled areas, take your time and experience this treasure of our national parks . . . it is worth it!
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: March-May
Recommended for: Familes
Review Topic: Overview
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Epinions.com ID:
terrapix
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Member: Ranger BJ
Location: Villa Hills, KY
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Retired state park manager.
Designed and produced park newspaper for free distribution.
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