Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains is a national park straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, covering forested ridges and valleys. The highest summits rise above 2000 meters (6600 feet), while lower areas hold dense woodlands and flowing rivers.

The park was founded in 1934 after more than a thousand landowners sold or ceded their properties. John D. Rockefeller Jr. contributed a major portion of the funding needed to protect the area from further logging.

Preserved farms and churches in Cades Cove show how European families built their homesteads in these mountains during the nineteenth century. The wooden cabins and barns reveal how settlers adapted to mountain life and formed close-knit communities in this remote valley.

Visitors need parking tags for stays over 15 minutes, available at entrance stations or online. The Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers provide maps and guidance for exploring trails and overlooks throughout the park.

The park shelters around 1800 black bears, one of the largest protected bear populations in the eastern United States. Visitors can also witness synchronous fireflies in early summer, a rare phenomenon that occurs in only a few places worldwide.

Location: Tennessee

Location: Swain County

Inception: June 15, 1934

Operator: National Park Service

Address: United States

Phone: +18654361200

Website: https://nps.gov/grsm

GPS coordinates: 35.61111,-83.42500

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:01