Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Info/Tips

Since we travelled from Atlanta (south) we stayed 1 night in the south by Cherokee, NC and drove the Newfound gap Road from South to North. And stayed in Gatlinburg for 3 nights as our base for the visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Things to do

Our favorites where the Clingmans Dome, Alum Cave Bluffs & Grotto Falls.

Places we visited

Road to Nowhere Tunnel

Only worth it if already in the area. Just a tunnel that leads to nowhere.

At Bryson city, NC, A road to nowhere tunnel, a short visit

Mountain Farm Museum

Behind the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a little mountain farm museum

Mingus Mill

Clingmans Dome

A short 1 mile hike to Clingmans Dome. It was foggy and windy.

Newfound Gap Overlook

Alum Cave Bluffs

A 5 miles round trip hike to Alum Cave Bluffs

Cataract Falls

0.7 mile flat walk to the falls and back from Sugarlands visitor center

Cades Cove

An 11-mile, one-way driving loop road circles the cove. Check visitor center, in summer on certain days there are vehicle free hours. Good wildlife viewing area. We saw deers

Spruce Flats Falls

1.8 miles round trip hike to the falls

The Sinks

On little river rd 12 miles from visitor center.

Laurel Falls

A 2.6 miles round trip hike

Grotto Falls

A 3 miles round trip hike to the falls. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday if you visit the grotto fall trailhead early (6-6:30am) in the morning, you may see the llama train that brings supply to summit of Mount LeConte.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

A 5.5 mile one way scenic road, stop at Noah Bud Ogle Cabin. The Place of a Thousand Drips is viewable from the road.


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