Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park year in and year out. In 2022 alone, 12.94 million people visited the park (for reference, Grand Canyon was the second most at 4.73 million). So I timed my visit in early April to beat the crowds and enjoy the cooler temps. However, there is so much more to early spring in the Smoky’s.

Spring rain brings lush greens in the lower elevations, along with wildflowers and fast flowing rivers and waterfalls. I was there rightttt at the beginning of bears emerging from their dens…the park rangers said they had seen a few males here and there but no females and cubs yet. So my trip down to the park gave me all the images I want, except for the photo of a black bear which I really wanted. Next time!

The park can be explored by foot, but also is really accessible to vehicles for those who prefer less effort. Route 441 runs north to south from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC and has a ton of great overlooks along the way. The Roaring Fork Motor trail is a roughly 5 mile drive by waterfalls and old cabins and homesteads. Or take one of the roughly 150 hiking trails along old logging roads and waterfalls, or up to old fire lookout towers. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, even if you don’t see bears, there are deer, elk, all kinds of forest critters, and birds (including owls)!