How well do you know the Smoky Mountains?
America's most visited national park is famous for misty ridges, wildlife and rich history. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Since 2023, visitors who park for more than 15 minutes in the park need a parking tag. The fees support trails, facilities and staff, while entry to the park itself remains free.
- The park has one of the best collections of historic log buildings in the eastern United States. Around 90 historic structures have been preserved to show how people lived in the mountains.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park regularly records well over 10 million recreation visits a year, far more than any other national park. Its location within a day's drive of much of the eastern population helps explain why.
Ancient mountains, living forests
The Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachians, some of the oldest mountains on Earth. The national park, established in 1934, protects more than 500,000 acres of forest, streams and ridges. Its mild climate and varied elevations support extraordinary biodiversity, and it is recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A park bought piece by piece
Unlike many western parks carved from federal land, the Smokies were assembled from thousands of private properties. Governments, citizens and schoolchildren raised money, and a large donation from the Rockefeller family helped. Many families left their homes as the park was created, a history the park now preserves and explains.
Biodiversity hotspot
Scientists have documented more than 19,000 species in the park, and estimate tens of thousands more remain undiscovered. An ongoing survey invites researchers to catalog everything from fungi to insects, and new species to science are still being found in its forests and streams.
Cherokee heritage
The Smokies are the ancestral homeland of the Cherokee people. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based next to the park in North Carolina, where visitors can learn about Cherokee history, language and culture at museums and cultural sites.
Cades Cove and historic buildings
Cades Cove, a broad valley in the park, preserves log cabins, churches and mills from early settlements. An 11-mile loop road lets visitors see historic buildings and wildlife such as deer and bears. It is one of the most popular areas in the park.
The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail follows the crest of the Smokies for about 70 miles, including its highest point on the entire trail at Kuwohi. Many thru-hikers consider the Smokies one of the most beautiful and challenging sections of the 2,190-mile trail.
Seasons in the Smokies
Each season brings something different. Spring wildflowers carpet the forest floor, summer offers cool mountain streams, and autumn paints the ridges in red, orange and gold, drawing huge crowds in October. Winter is quieter, and higher elevations sometimes receive snow, though many roads and trails stay open. Timing a visit well can make a big difference in the experience.