Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park

[GregColdewey]

Just booked a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park for October 2022. Any suggestions about things to do/see/can't miss? We know we'll be doing some serious hiking for several of the days, but will do some driving on other days.

Also hitting Hot Springs Natl. Park on the way for a couple of days.

[kavm]

Great time to visit. Tons of trails. It's been a decade since we were there but have done a large portion of the trails on the West side - the main ones multiple times. My favorite is Mt. LeConte hike. Chimney Tops is a shorter (though steep) hike if you don't have all day.

[GregColdewey]

Originally Posted by kavm

Great time to visit. Tons of trails. It's been a decade since we were there but have done a large portion of the trails on the West side - the main ones multiple times. My favorite is Mt. LeConte hike. Chimney Tops is a shorter (though steep) hike if you don't have all day.

Thanks!

[brroberts]

We like Cades Cove, but you have to go early, otherwise it’s jammed.

[Iowa Dave]

Clingmans Dome. As mentioned, Cades Cove, I enjoy seeing the Wild Turkeys, Elk and grouse. The bears are an added feature but not when they cause a bear jam and you’re trying to get somewhere. Take a raincoat. Get some Sawyers Tick repellant and use it. Wear a hat.
Iowa Dave

[GregColdewey]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Clingmans Dome. As mentioned, Cades Cove, I enjoy seeing the Wild Turkeys, Elk and grouse. The bears are an added feature but not when they cause a bear jam and you’re trying to get somewhere. Take a raincoat. Get some Sawyers Tick repellant and use it. Wear a hat.
Iowa Dave

Good tips...thanks.

[CharlesinGA]

GSMNP is the most visited park in the nation, way above Yellowstone and others you expect to be busier. There are plans for permits for vehicles and possibly bus only to Clingman's Dome (parking is a nightmare there). So check the park website and facebook page.

Do not miss the east side of the park. There are things to do and see both inside and outside of the park that get ignored.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center also has a mountain farm museum comprised of several old buildings, and mostly log cabin style, that were moved from elsewhere to the visitor center and preserved. In the town of Cherokee is the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, that should be seen.

Just outside of town on Big Cove Rd past the high school is Mingo Falls (like all of the town of Cherokee, this is on Tribal lands) it is a short walk from the parking area to this 120 ft high falls. The parking lot is limited in size.


If you take US 19 north out of Cherokee toward Maggie Valley, just before you leave the tribal land, on the right is Soco Falls. Two water falls, each about 50 ft high, set at right angles to each other fed by different streams. Getting to the bottom is doable but requires some agility. Parking area is extremely small.


A ride thru the forest. If you take US 19 north as going to Soco falls (and don't do this with an RV of any kind, US 19 is kinda narrow with tight guard rails and no shoulders) go past the falls less than a mile to the interchange with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn left and left again south toward Cherokee for about 2½ miles to Balsam Mt Rd on the right......... --or-- take the Blue Ridge Parkway from the south end near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and drive 13½ miles up the parkway (again, don't do this in an RV) and turn left into Balsam Mt Rd. Follow the road (and stop at the scenic overlooks if you please, and watch out for the Elk) for 8½ miles

to Balsam Mt Campground (24 ft MAX) (you passed thru tribal land back into the NP) and continue past the campground for another half mile or so to the Heintooga Overlook which is a day use picnic area and loop. Its all paved to this point. Now for the fun, you need a vehicle with a moderate ground clearance, Jeep, cherokee, pickup of any type, just not a real low hanging car. At the overlook you enter a one lane, one way dirt and gravel road (you are committed at this point) and slowly drive for about 2 to 3 hours, winding around thru the forest, from an elevation of 5200 ft down the river bottom at 3200 ft where you come to the Round Bottom Horse Campground and the road becomes two way and wide enough to pass. There are places you can pull off if someone behind you wants to go faster, and a couple of small parking areas where hiking trails begin, but this is a surreal journey thru a rather pristine forest. Back on the pavement, on tribal land you pass Mingo Falls and arrive back in town, passing under the BRP to a point where you can cross the river in downtown Cherokee. Make this drive only if the weather is nice and there has not been any rain for a couple of days. Its an easy drive, just slightly unnerving looking down the side of the mountain thru the trees one way, and out the other side of the car, looking UP the mountain at the trees above you.

If you are looking for a campground with a view, you might try Mile High Campground. It is the first thing off of Balsam Mt Rd, and is on tribal land and operated by a Cherokee family. I have see RV's as large as class C's but anything larger than a 26 to 28 ft trailer is probably an issue. They have water trucked in and in a gravity tank for the showers and restrooms, but that is it. Great views however. https://www.milehighcampground.com/

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a very nice drive with lots of overlooks and pullouts, and from the south end at Cherokee its 39 miles and about an hour of driving up the parkway to the Richard Balsam Overlook at 6053ft elevation, the highest point on the entire BRP. Ignore my fat finger over part of the lens.


In Cherokee you can rent tubes to float down the river thru town.

Take US 19 south out of town to Bryson City, where you turn right on Deep Creek Rd and head back into the park. There is a large day use area, parking and 3 miles or so of easy trails that will take you to three waterfalls, and back down the creek to the parking area. You can rent tubes here also, the water is very shallow. Deep Creek Campground is right there also.

Cherokee language is taught in the schools and all of the street name signs and many other signs are dual language, both Cherokee and English.

Charles

[Vermilye]

I have a couple of pages of photos from three visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

[GregColdewey]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

GSMNP is the most visited park in the nation, way above Yellowstone and others you expect to be busier. There are plans for permits for vehicles and possibly bus only to Clingman's Dome (parking is a nightmare there). So check the park website and facebook page.

Do not miss the east side of the park. There are things to do and see both inside and outside of the park that get ignored.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center also has a mountain farm museum comprised of several old buildings, and mostly log cabin style, that were moved from elsewhere to the visitor center and preserved. In the town of Cherokee is the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, that should be seen.

Just outside of town on Big Cove Rd past the high school is Mingo Falls (like all of the town of Cherokee, this is on Tribal lands) it is a short walk from the parking area to this 120 ft high falls. The parking lot is limited in size.


If you take US 19 north out of Cherokee toward Maggie Valley, just before you leave the tribal land, on the right is Soco Falls. Two water falls, each about 50 ft high, set at right angles to each other fed by different streams. Getting to the bottom is doable but requires some agility. Parking area is extremely small.


A ride thru the forest. If you take US 19 north as going to Soco falls (and don't do this with an RV of any kind, US 19 is kinda narrow with tight guard rails and no shoulders) go past the falls less than a mile to the interchange with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn left and left again south toward Cherokee for about 2½ miles to Balsam Mt Rd on the right......... --or-- take the Blue Ridge Parkway from the south end near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and drive 13½ miles up the parkway (again, don't do this in an RV) and turn left into Balsam Mt Rd. Follow the road (and stop at the scenic overlooks if you please, and watch out for the Elk) for 8½ miles

to Balsam Mt Campground (24 ft MAX) (you passed thru tribal land back into the NP) and continue past the campground for another half mile or so to the Heintooga Overlook which is a day use picnic area and loop. Its all paved to this point. Now for the fun, you need a vehicle with a moderate ground clearance, Jeep, cherokee, pickup of any type, just not a real low hanging car. At the overlook you enter a one lane, one way dirt and gravel road (you are committed at this point) and slowly drive for about 2 to 3 hours, winding around thru the forest, from an elevation of 5200 ft down the river bottom at 3200 ft where you come to the Round Bottom Horse Campground and the road becomes two way and wide enough to pass. There are places you can pull off if someone behind you wants to go faster, and a couple of small parking areas where hiking trails begin, but this is a surreal journey thru a rather pristine forest. Back on the pavement, on tribal land you pass Mingo Falls and arrive back in town, passing under the BRP to a point where you can cross the river in downtown Cherokee. Make this drive only if the weather is nice and there has not been any rain for a couple of days. Its an easy drive, just slightly unnerving looking down the side of the mountain thru the trees one way, and out the other side of the car, looking UP the mountain at the trees above you.

If you are looking for a campground with a view, you might try Mile High Campground. It is the first thing off of Balsam Mt Rd, and is on tribal land and operated by a Cherokee family. I have see RV's as large as class C's but anything larger than a 26 to 28 ft trailer is probably an issue. They have water trucked in and in a gravity tank for the showers and restrooms, but that is it. Great views however. https://www.milehighcampground.com/

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a very nice drive with lots of overlooks and pullouts, and from the south end at Cherokee its 39 miles and about an hour of driving up the parkway to the Richard Balsam Overlook at 6053ft elevation, the highest point on the entire BRP. Ignore my fat finger over part of the lens.


In Cherokee you can rent tubes to float down the river thru town.

Take US 19 south out of town to Bryson City, where you turn right on Deep Creek Rd and head back into the park. There is a large day use area, parking and 3 miles or so of easy trails that will take you to three waterfalls, and back down the creek to the parking area. You can rent tubes here also, the water is very shallow. Deep Creek Campground is right there also.

Cherokee language is taught in the schools and all of the street name signs and many other signs are dual language, both Cherokee and English.

Charles

Thanks so much for such a thorough reply! We’re staying at Balsam Mtn campground, so I think we’ll be away from most of the crowds, but are willing to drive to some of the more intriguing points.