Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America, and one of the only national parks that doesn’t charge an entrance fee! It can be overwhelming to know where to go and what to do, which is why we want to share our top 3 favorite Great Smoky Mountains attractions everyone should visit at least once:
1. Cades Cove
History lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature photographers flock to Cades Cove, the most popular area of the national park, and it’s also a hit with families of all ages! The Cades Cove Scenic Loop is also one of the best year-round drives in the Smokies; the 11-mile one-way road provides access to historical structures built bu the original settlers, including three churches, several log cabins and homesteads, a functioning grist mill, and barns, all restored to ensure they look exactly how they would have looked back in the day.
Cades Cove is also one of the best places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains for wildlife viewing. From late spring to early fall are the best times to see black bears along the loop road. Deer, raccoons, groundhogs, and wild turkeys are some of the other wildlife you’re sure to run into throughout the year, as well as salamanders and the occasional river otter in Abrams Creek!
2. Kuwohi Observation Tower
Clocking in at over six thousand feet, Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (and in all of Tennessee, for that matter). On a clear day, when the mountains aren’t too shrouded in their famous “blue smoke,” the view from Kuwohi extends over 100 miles! The views are still great on an average day (visibility typically extends up to 20 miles); however, the Smokies are known for foggy conditions, so be sure to plan your visit on a clear day if you’re interested in the view. The main attraction is the winding concrete observation tower. This piece of futuristic construction looks like a curving freeway onramp that dead-ends into a UFO and looks especially ominous towering above the verdant surroundings. The sweeping views are definitely worth the steep half-mile hike to the top!
3. Alum Cave
Perhaps one of the most iconic and popular Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking trails, the hike to Alum Cave offers incredible views, interesting rock formations, and a unique hiking experience. The name is slightly misleading, as Alum Cave is actually an inlay at the top of the bluff that overlooks miles of pristine Smoky Mountain forest. This hike is beautiful year-round, with stunning ice formations during the winter to the autumn colors in the fall, and wildflowers during the spring and summer. Expect to climb lots of stone steps and cross a wooden footbridge, so proper footwear is a must!
Beginners and experienced hikers alike enjoy the 5-mile Alum Cave Trail, but if you’re really up for a challenge, you can keep going after the bluffs another 5 miles and reach the summit of Mount LeConte for even more incredible mountain views!
More Things to See in the Great Smoky Mountains
There are plenty of reasons why the Smokies are the most visited national park in the United States, and these are only a few of the best Great Smoky Mountains attractions to explore. From stunning overlooks and breathtaking waterfalls to unique museums and adventure parks in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, you’ll find many ways to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery!
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or have been vacationing in the area for years, take a look at more Smoky Mountain attractions and start planning your trip today!
