Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a huge mountain wilderness that North Carolina shares with Tennessee. It is filled with misty peaks, green forests, rushing streams, and winding trails.
It is the most visited national park in the whole United States, loved for its foggy blue mountains and gentle wildlife. Families come to hike to waterfalls, spot black bears, and watch fireflies blink together on summer nights.
Wildlife
The park is home to about 1,500 black bears, plus deer, wild turkeys, and salamanders. It has so many salamander kinds that people call it the Salamander Capital of the World.
Weather and mist
The famous smoky haze comes from plants breathing out a soft fog that hangs over the hills. Weather can change fast, so mornings are often cool and cloudy even in summer.
Hiking and waterfalls
There are over 800 miles of trails leading to bubbling creeks and tall waterfalls. Easy paths near the visitor centers are perfect for little explorers.