Gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains Photos

With so many incredible hiking trails, waterfalls and jaw-dropping vistas, it's no surprise the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited park in the country year after year.

By: Deanne Revel

Photo By: Sam Hobbs

Photo By: Gary Heatherly

Photo By: Sam Hobbs

Photo By: Gary Heatherly

Photo By: Sam Hobbs

Photo By: Gary Heatherly

Photo By: Sam Hobbs

The Great Smoky Mountains

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most-visited national park in the country, the Smoky Mountains offer incredible outdoor adventures and tons of family fun.

Why Smoky?

The park gets its name from the blue-purple fog around the mountains.

Stunning Views

The roads within the park offer incredible pull offs for photo ops.

East Tennessee Sunrise

Early bird hikers and campers wake up to a stunning landscape with rolling hills and orange-pink skies.

Appalachian Life

Step back in time and see how early settlers lived in the mountains.

Fall Foliage

Fall is the best time to visit the park with vibrant orange, yellow and red leaves everywhere to be seen.

Fall Hikes

Some of the best trails for leaf peeping include Alum Cave Trail, Albright Grove Loop and Baskins Creek Falls.

Fall Scenic Loop

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a must-drive in the fall.

Picturesque Rivers

More than 2,100 miles of streams and rivers run through the park.

Log Bridges

Many hikes meander around the water with rustic foot bridges.

Cades Cove

The Cades Cove road loop lets non-hikers tour historic buildings from the 1800s, such as the Carter Shields Cabin.

1800s Church

Park visitors can tour many buildings in Cades Cove such as the Primitive Baptist Church.

Wildlife

Visitors might also spot wildlife in the Cades Cove loop, from deer and elk to wild turkeys.

Black Bears

It's estimated that 1,500 black bears live in the park.

Family-Friendly Hikes

There are many moderate trails that take less than half a day to hike, perfect for first-time hikers.

More Historical Cabins

Like the Cades Cove loop, the Roaring Fork River loop offers a chance to see historic buildings, like the Alex Cole Cabin, but has far less traffic.

Eastern Hemlocks

The most common, and largest, trees in the park are the Eastern Hemlock trees.

Mount Le Conte

The park's third highest peak, Mount Le Conte, has a lodge at the top that only hikers and llamas can acces.

Foothills Parkway

The Foothills Parkway offers non-hikers scenic pull offs at high elevations without hitting the trails.

Winter Wonderland

Though fall is a gorgeous time to visit, winter is just as beautiful, with snow covered trees and snow-capped mountains. But know before you go that some trails and roads might close for weather.

Trending:

Gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains Photos

The Great Smoky Mountains

Why Smoky?

Stunning Views

East Tennessee Sunrise

Appalachian Life

Fall Foliage

Fall Hikes

Fall Scenic Loop

Picturesque Rivers

Log Bridges

Cades Cove

1800s Church

Wildlife

Black Bears

Family-Friendly Hikes

More Historical Cabins

Eastern Hemlocks

Mount Le Conte

Foothills Parkway

Winter Wonderland

Shop Related Products