Great Smoky Mountains National Park photos
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great travel destination for tourists and vacationers. It is a great place to enjoy natural scenic views, pristine wilderness, simply relax and connect with nature. This national park has many natural and man-made attractions and is one of the most visited national parks in the US. Whether you want to hike the trails, explore waterfalls, camp in the nature, drive on scenic windy roads, watch wildlife and birds, enjoy water sports like white water rafting, ride mountain coasters, or zip-lining you can do it all. The Smokies as it is called sometimes spans across the borders of the states of North Carolina and Tennesse and is close to many big cities nearby.
It is interesting how the Great Smoky National Park got its name. Did you know that the smoky haze and the blue mist that blankets around the peaks and valleys give it the unique name? A visit to the Smokies is truly a photographer's delight, you will find plenty of opportunities to capture nature's beauty. Just soaking up the greenery and being in nature is a great way to rejuvenate yourself. Some of the best times to visit are in the months of June, July, and August or October and November for the beautiful fall foliage.
Where to Stay at the Smokies?
If you choose to stay close to the foot of the mountains, Gatlinburg is a great place. It is easy to access the park and the mountain trails from here with a short drive. If you don't mind a little drive up, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville have good accommodations as well. There are many cabins, resorts, and hotels to choose from. They can get filled up pretty quickly in the peak seasons and is definitely a good idea to plan in advance. Staying in a cabin is a good experience in itself and highly recommended. It is a great way to enjoy the stunning views of the mountains, nature, and beautiful sunsets.
Places to visit near Great smoky mountains national park
There are so many things to do and places to visit in the Smokies that it may be impossible to cover them all in one visit. To experience the Smokies and nature, hiking a trail and visiting a waterfall is highly recommended. For first-timers, easy to moderate hiking trails like Grotto, Laurel, or Abrams is great. There are also many others like Rainbow falls, Ramsey cascades, etc which can be a little tedious for beginners.
A visit to Clingman's dome is worth it for the short 0.5 miles (but steep) trail and walk up to the destination of an observatory tower. The 360 degrees stunning views of the mountains from here are just amazing. It is said on a clear day and depending on the weather, you can see seven surrounding states from the top.
If you enjoy white water rafting, the Pigeon River has two kinds of trips the lower pigeon for a quiet float with class 1 or 2 rapids for younger kids and first-timers and the upper for big splashy white water with class 3 or 4 rapids.
Views from Clingman's Dome
There is also a nice deer park and exotic animals petting zoo in Sevierville which is worth visiting. It is a great place to feed and pet different kinds of animals. The parrot mountain with exotic parrots and birds is another attraction that is nearby. Feeding birds nectar and getting a photograph with the exotic parrots perched on your hands and shoulders is quite an experience.
For folks with kids, Pigeon Forge has many other attractions like Dollywood water park, Go-karting, Hollywood wax museums, Titanic show, and many more. Cades Cove is another popular scenic drive loop with many animal sightings and historic places. There are many others like the Roaring Forks trail, Newfound Gap with scenic windy roads and stunning views.
Hope you enjoyed reading this post and the photographs from the Smokies. Click on the images to view them in full resolution. I would love to hear your comments and feedback.
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I want to go to the Smokies so bad! We're thinking of planning a big 50th anniversary celebration for my parents here.
That would be so wonderful to celebrate a milestone in such an awesome place. Enjoy!
This looks like a beautiful place to visit! I love all of the detailed descriptions and photos that you provide.
Thank you so much for the appreciation!
Wow! That place is amazingly beautiful, and it feels so relaxing to be there. I wish to be there someday!
Thank you so much, hope you visit sometime as well.
Gosh, that is just stunning! Another vacation that I'm going to have to add to the list!
Thank you so much!
My family and I love to visit the smoke mountains. It's a quick getaway for us. I love visiting Gaitlinburg for the fudge.
Wonderful to hear that , next time I will look for the fudge. Thanks for the comments.
Looks like such a beautiful place. You got really good pictures.
Thank you so much!
The smoky mountains is such a beautiful place. I love your photos.
Thank you so much!
What an amazing place to see in person! Your photos are beautiful. I would love to visit the Great Smoky Mountains someday.
Thank you so much.It is definitely a great place to visit , am sure you will enjoy!
Oh my goodness that is so beautiful! I hope we can go to a nature trip soon, doesn’t matter where.. as long as it’s outdoors! I miss camping and adventure trips.
Thanks a lot, its true outdoor nature trips are the best.
Oh wow, I wish I could visit somewhere like this. Beautiful shots!
Thank you so much for the comments!
Looks like an amazing place to visit. Stunning pics. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much!
How beautiful! My family and I love going on trips like this to various state parks and camping sites, this would be an amazing spot to stop.
Thank you so much, it is definitely a great place to visit!
I think I always get confused between the Smoky Mountains and the Rockies. Anyway, this looks like an amazing place to spend 2 weeks with family and loved ones.
The Rockies start from Canada and extend down to New Mexico I believe. The Smokies are along Tennesse North Carolina border. Yes a great place to visit with family and loved ones. Thank you for stopping by!
This is pretty high up on my places to visit list. It's such a gorgeous place. I really want to go see it for myself!!! I will have to go to the deer park too they are adorable.
Wonderful to hear that and it's truly worth a visit. The deers at the park were really so cute and feeding and petting them was truly a wonderful feeling. Thank you for the comments.
Oh wow how beautiful is this place. your photos are so lovely and really capture the beauty of the smoky mountains xx
Thank you so much, glad you liked it!
Wow, this place looks extraordinary! I would love to make a trip to USA to see this in person! Even though they are Smoky mountains your pictures are crystal clear and very beautiful.
Thanks a lot for the wonderful comment! I am sure you will love this place .
Wow! This is amazing! The view is splendid and I love to spend a weekend there. Happy to know that they have a petting zoo. My kids would definitely enjoy this. We look forward visiting in the future.
Thank you so much. It is a great place to spend a weekend and the kids will definitely love the petting zoo with all the exotic animals.
I would love to visit smoky mountains and places around it. Seems like a great place to be specially if you are nature person.
Yes indeed a great place for nature lovers! Hope you visit sometime as well. Thank you for stopping by!
the place looks fantastic, right up my alley! I would SO enjoy it myself. thank you for the guide, it gives me travel chills
Thank you so much , glad to hear you loved it!