Abrams Creek Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• A pristine creek is the backdrop for your camping adventure at Abrams Creek. A gravel road circles the campground with sites denoted by wooden posts with numbers. Each site has a gravel parking area close to the tent pad, picnic table, and grill provided for each site. Trees and large rocks sprinkle the campground. Abrams Creek flows beside many sites, offering the camper the peaceful sounds of rippling water. Abrams Creek Campground offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with hiking trails and fishing streams easily accessible from the sites.

Balsam Mountain Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Balsam Mountain Campground is located in a relatively remote part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities without the crowds which are sometimes common in other parts of the park. Balsam Mountain Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams. Elk are common in this part of the park during the spring and fall. Balsam Mountain Campground offers 43 campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. No lights are available in the restrooms at this campground. For campers' safety, use of a flashlight, lantern or headlamp is recommended when accessing these facilities after daylight hours.

Big Creek Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The beautiful flowing waters of Big Creek parallel the campground offering the visitor a pleasant soundscape and peaceful beauty. Located at an elevation of 1,700' Big Creek Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and a pristine mountain stream. Black Bear sightings are not uncommon and some lucky visitors may spot River Otter playing in Big Creek. Big Creek Campground offers 12 tent-only campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. All campsites are drive-up and allow a maximum of two vehicles. Each campsite allows a maximum of six people and tents must be on tent pads; plan accordingly. Check out time is 12:00 p.m. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Big Creek Ranger Station located 1 mile from the campground. No generator use or recreational vehicles are allowed in Big Creek Campground. There is a food storage locker available for public use. Hammocks are allowed in the campground with the following guidelines: Must be over the footprint of the campsite, limited to trees 10 inches in diameter with adequate padding around the tree and only 2 hammocks are allowed to be suspended from the same tree. Reservations for campsites at Big Creek Campground can be made 6 months prior to your arrival date online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Reservations are required to camp in this campground. Owners of an Interagency Senior/Golden Age or Interagency Access/Access Pass receive a 50% discount on individual campsites. There is no discount on group sites. There is no discount on camping fees for an Interagency Annual Pass.

Cades Cove Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures. Popular activities here include hiking, biking, touring the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road and observing wildlife. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Cades Cove never disappoints. Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, groundhog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. For hundreds of years Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove, but archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements. The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821. By 1830 the population of the area had already swelled to 271. Cades Cove Campground is open-year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. During peak season (May - October) a camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals. Events like Interpretive Programs in the nearby amphitheater and Bicycle Only Days on the loop road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience. Reservations are now required year-round to camp in Cades Cove Campground. All campsites are drive-up. No more than two motor vehicles or one vehicle with trailer are allowed per campsite. Please keep wheels, including trailer wheels and guest cars, on the pavement. Park only in designated spaces. Overflow parking is available for excess vehicles. The maximum number of occupants, per campsite, is six. All tents must be pitched on the tent pad, where provided. Hammocks are allowed with the following guidelines: Hammocks must be within the footprint of the campsite and limited to trees 10 inches in diameter, adequate padding around the tree with only 2 hammocks suspended from the same tree. Check out time is 1:00 p.m. Check in time is 1:00 p.m. Your stay is limited to 14 consecutive days at a time. Longer stays require that you move to a different campground. These limits apply to all park campgrounds. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM. Generator quiet hours are from 8:00 PM-8:00 AM. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Cades Cove Campground Kiosk. Pets are allowed in the campground but must be confined or on a 6’ leash. Pets should not be left unattended. Hiking in the park with pets is permitted ONLY on roads, the Oconaluftee River Trail and the Gatlinburg Trail. Please prevent excessive barking and properly dispose of pet waste.

Cades Cove Group Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to twelve months in advance.

Cataloochee Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Cataloochee Campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park. Cataloochee Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams, like nearby Cataloochee Creek. Elk are common in this part of the park, during the spring and fall. At a 2,600 foot elevation, Cataloochee provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or exploding with vivid fall colors, the scenery at Cataloochee never disappoints. Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. Hiking trails and fishing streams are easily accessible from the site and the nearby Cataloochee Group Campground can accommodate larger parties of guests. Additionally, the Cataloochee Horse Campground provides convenient camping for horseback riding enthusiasts. Hammocks are allowed in the campground with the following guidelines: Must be over the footprint of the campsite, limited to trees 10 inches in diameter with adequate padding around the tree and only 2 hammocks are allowed to be suspended from the same tree.

Cosby Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer. This campground is usually quieter and without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds. All campsites have a fire ring, picnic table and several trees. Tent pads are 16ft x 16ft. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Some RV sites also include a tent pad. View map and site descriptions to find the perfect site or companion sites for you and your family! Accessible sites: A57, A61 RV only: A01-03, A21, A23, A36; B48, B75, B88 RV w Tent pad: A17, A20, A25, A28, A57; B93 Van/Compact camper w Tent: A11; B20, B34-35, B58 To ensure a site, reserve online. To make reservations by phone call 877-444-6777 and for all other campground related questions you may call 423-487-2683.

Deep Creek Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Located next to one of the most popular creeks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek Campground provides traditional primitive camping with the stunning backdrop of the mountains. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Deep Creek never disappoints. The camp offers 92 individual sites, all with grills, tables and campfire rings, perfect for a meal or a late-night s'mores session. Hookups and showers are not provided, but flush toilets and drinking water are available. Deep Creek is in the southeastern portion of the park and provides a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Because of its proximity to water, Deep Creek is an ideal campground for water recreation and books up quickly during summer months. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with plenty of trails easily accessible from the Deep Creek campsites. An easy 1.6 mile roundtrip hike will allow you to enjoy two beautiful waterfalls in the Deep Creek area. Walk Deep Creek Trail 0.7 mile to the junction with Indian Creek Trail. On your way you can view elegant Tom Branch Falls located on the far side of Deep Creek. Turn right at the junction with Indian Creek Trail and proceed approximately 200' to Indian Creek Falls. The falls are 25 feet in height. Deep Creek runs on the edge of the campground and provides easily accessible fishing, wading and tubing. Visitors can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.

Elkmont Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Elkmont Campground is a heavily forested area with a variety of tree species, both evergreen and deciduous. Depending on the time of year, you may find yourself surrounded by complete greenery or various stages of fall colors. Many sites sit along the river and others fall along the forest edge.

Elkmont Group Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to twelve months in advance.

Look Rock Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• The campsites at Look Rock Campground offer a retreat in a high country wooded landscape. A mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees surround most sites. The campground provides a unique camping experience along the ridge with overlooks into the western end of the park. The campground road is fully paved with pullouts for each site which all include a signpost.

Smokemont Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.
• Smokemont Campground is a heavily forested area with a variety of tree species, both evergreen and deciduous. Depending on the time of year, you may find yourself surrounded by complete greenery or various stages of fall colors. A paved road winds through the campground with paved pull offs for each site.

Smokemont Group Campground

• Campsite reservations are required and may be made up to twelve months in advance.

Abrams Falls

A 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall where Abrams Creek plunges over a rock ledge into a deep, picturesque pool.

• A plunging waterfall flowing into a large pool of water surrounded by trees, shrubs, and boulders. The area is heavily forested.

Albright Grove

A short loop trail that winds through a quiet grove of old-growth forest

• Large, tall trees with wide bases interspersed with smaller trees and shrubs in a forest.

Alum Cave Bluffs

A dramatic rocky overhang along Alum Cave Trail.

• A large rock curved inward hanging over a covered area near stairs. Views of surrounding mountains and trees.

Andrews Bald

A grassy mountaintop meadow known for its scenic views and unique ecology.

• A grassy area with interspersed shrubs and short trees with a sweeping view of the surrounding mountains.

Appalachian Clubhouse

A large restored clubhouse rebuilt in 1934 and now available for daytime rental.

• A brown, rustic cabin with two porches and a stone chimney. A wooden sign in the front says, "Appalachian Clubhouse" in white letters. Stairs lead up to one porch while a paved walkway leads to the side porch. A paved parking lot and forest is near the house.

Arch Rock

A natural rock formation that stretches over a set of winding stone steps along Alum Cave Trail.

• A wooden foot log with a hand rail leads to stone stairs that pass underneath a rock arch. A creek, rocks, and trees surround the area.

Beech Grove School

A historic two-room schoolhouse built in 1901.

• A historic two-room schoolhouse built in 1901. The surrounding area is heavily forested.

Big Creek Picnic Area

Big Creek Picnic Area is one of ten designated picnic areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the northeast section of the park, it offers ten sites in a secluded area.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

CCC Stone Bridge

• Traveling north toward the historic district of Elkmont, you will encounter a four-arch stone bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939-1940.

Cabins and Daily Life

• Daisy Town is situated between the Jakes Creek trailhead parking area and the Appalachian Clubhouse. Standing on the porch of the Appalachian Clubhouse, you have a view of all of the 16 preserved cabins and can imagine what life may have been like for those early tourists to the area.

Cable Mill Historic Area

Located next to the Cades Cove Visitor Center, the Cable Mill area contains many of the buildings typical of remote Appalachian communities.

• The Cable Mill area is a collection of buildings linked by paved and dirt paths originating at the Cades Cove Visitor Center. The paved path creates a loop; the left path leads to the blacksmith shop and the right path leads to the mill. Starting from the left, the first building is the blacksmith shop. This rectangular one-level structure is framed with roughly seven stacked cylindrical logs. An angled shingle roof is located on the structure’s north and south sides. One stone step in the middle of the north side leads to a door to the interior. As you proceed on the path, a bridge to the left goes across the mill race and leads to a large wooden barn. An overhang several feet in depth leaves a covered area for the first level of the barn. Sawed vertical boards line the building’s exterior. An angled shingle roof is located on the structure’s north and south sides. An arched walkway oriented east-west through the barn’s center provides access to enclosures on its north and south. Back across the bridge and along the paved path, a long, wooden flume channels water to the mill’s east side. The elevation decreases as it approaches the mill and cylindrical stacked logs support the flume. The paved path parallels the flume. The flume terminates at the top of a wooden wheel that turns as the water pushes it from above. The mill’s east side is constructed of vertical boards with two windows above the wheel with wooden shutters that open to the outside. The mill’s north wall is made of overlapping clapboard siding arranged horizontally. An angled roof on the mill’s east and west sides is made up of hundreds of thin rectangular shingles. A wooden railed walkway leads to a door on the mill’s north side. After the mill, the paved path continues and the next building on the left is a smokehouse. Flat-sided logs are stacked roughly twelve high on the east and west sides. Eight logs are stacked on the north and south sides as they abut the roof. A steeply pitched shingle roof is located on the building’s north and south sides. Adjacent to the paved path is a doorway on the building’s east side. Past the smokehouse the paved path turns to dirt. Thirty yards past the smokehouse on the dirt path’s left side is a corn crib. Flat-sided logs are stacked roughly sixteen high on the east and west sides. Twelve logs are stacked on the north and south sides as they abut the roof. A steeply pitched shingle roof is located on the building’s north and south sides. On the north and south sides, there are open air areas covered by the roof. Thirty yards north of the corn crib, along the dirt pathway, is a rectangular two-story wooden barn. The first level is made up of two enclosed chambers on the barn’s east and west sides with a covered walkway between. The chambers are made up of flat-sided logs stacked eleven high until they abut the second level. The second level is fully enclosed across its entire length with flat boards oriented north-south. A shingled roof on the structure’s north and south sides contains no overhang. Wooden ladders on the structure’s east and west sides lead to doorways to the barn interior. Follow the dirt path back to the paved path near the mill. Twenty yards to the mill’s north is a white two-story frame house with a porch on the first level. A wooden railing with vertical wood slats extends the entire south side of the house with gaps of entry to the porch at the midpoint and left side. Three doorways are located on the left, middle, and right sides of the south porch. Clapboard siding makes up the house exterior with an angled shingle roof over the porch. Red trim outlines the house and porch roofs. The house’s east and west sides each contain two glass windows on both the first and second floors. An extension on the house’s north side is one level with east-west oriented shingle roof and stone chimney on its north side. The house’s west side contains a staired entry to an open porch and door to the interior. Continue east on the paved path to return to the Cades Cove Visitor Center.

Cades Cove Overlook

• A large, sloped, grass field is located just beyond the parking area. This field is lined with trees and bushes on the east and south sides. The loop road is on the north and west sides, and the parking area lies to the west. In the distance, tree-covered mountains surround the valley.

Cades Cove Picnic Area

A leafy 81-site daytime recreational area with tables, charcoal grills, restrooms, and a nearby camp store.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Cades Cove Riding Stables

A concession stable offering horseback-riding trips and rides through forests and meadows of Cades Cove.

• A concession stable offering horseback-riding trips and rides through forests and meadows of Cades Cove

Caldwell Place

A historic barn, springhouse, and two-story framehouse completed by Hiram Caldwell in 1906.

• A historic barn, springhouse, and two-story framehouse.

Carlos Campbell Overlook

A scenic overlook with rolling mountain views and visible regrowth after the 2016 wildfires.

• A scenic overlook with rolling mountain views and visible regrowth after the 2016 wildfires.

Carter Shields Cabin

The Carter Shields cabin is the last historic structure visitors come across on the 11-mile Cades Cove driving loop.

• A small cabin sits in a forest clearing surrounded by grass with a path leading up to the front porch. There is a stream behind the cabin that goes through the woods. Inside the cabin there is one room with a fireplace that has a blue mantle, one window, and 3 doors leading outside. A staircase in one corner of the room leads to a loft.

Cataract Falls

A narrow 40-foot (12.2 m) cascade where Cataract Branch meets Fighting Creek.

• A narrow waterfall, flowing well in spring but smaller through summer and into fall, surrounded by rocks, trees, and logs.

Charlies Bunion

A unique rocky outcrop surrounded by steep cliffs along the Appalachian Trail.

• A unique rocky outcrop surrounded by steep cliffs along the Appalachian Trail

Chasteen Creek Cascade

A peaceful cascade that slides 15 feet (4.6 m) down smoothly worn sandstone.

• A peaceful cascade that slides 15 feet (4.6 m) down smoothly worn sandstone.

Chimneys Picnic Area

Chimneys Picnic Area is one of ten designated picnic areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the northern part of the park along Newfound Gap Road, this picnic area is heavily forested and near water.

• Sites are spread throughout a heavily forested area, providing ample shade. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Clifftop Overlook

A 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall where Abrams Creek plunges over a rock ledge into a deep, picturesque pool.

• A plunging waterfall flowing into a large pool of water surrounded by trees, shrubs, and boulders. The area is heavily forested.

Collins Creek Picnic Area

Collins Creek Picnic Area is one of ten picnic areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located along Newfound Gap Road, it offers 182 shaded sites and a pavilion available by reservaiton.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Cosby Picnic Area

A shady 35-site daytime recreational area with tables and charcoal grills near Cosby Creek.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Daisy Town

A row of preserved vacation homes built between 1910 and 1935 on the former site of a logging camp.

• A row of preserved vacation homes built between 1910 and 1935 on the former site of a logging camp.

Daisy Town: The Birth of Tourism in the Smokies

• As you stand near the parking area for the Jakes Creek trailhead facing south, the historic area known as Daisy Town is in front of you. This is the site of many early tourism cabins that have recently been rehabilitated by the park's preservation staff.

Dan Lawson Place

Dan Lawson Place is a group of historic structures about 7 miles into the 11-mile Cades Cove driving loop just past the intersection with Hyatt Lane.

• A house covered in wood siding with a partially enclosed front porch and enclosed back porch. A side view of the building reveals the original log structure and a brick chimney. Inside the home there is a brick fireplace and an enclosed corner staircase which leads to the loft. Directly behind the house is the smokehouse, a small square building approximately 10 logs high with a short door on the left side of the front of the building. About 30 feet down a dirt path from the smokehouse is the granary. This building is a bit larger and taller than the smokehouse and has a more steeply sloped roof. Following the dirt path beyond these buildings leads to a large barn with a metal roof that is used today for park maintenance.

Deep Creek Picnic Area

A shady 58-site daytime recreational area with tables, charcoal grills, and a pavilion along Deep Creek.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area.

Deep Creek Valley Overlook

A great spot to be above the clouds. Possibly see an inversion where the clouds sink into the valleys in the early mornings.

• A great spot to be above the clouds. Possibly see an inversion where the clouds sink into the valleys in the early mornings.

Elijah Oliver Place

The Elijah Oliver place is a farmstead made up of multiple nineteenth century buildings in the west end of the loop. It is a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) walk from Cades Cove Loop Road.

• Sitting a half mile from the road in a more remote area of the loop is a 1.5-acre lot containing the Elijah Oliver homestead. Leading up to the homestead is a half mile gravel path surrounded by trees. The main cabin is a one- and one-half story log cabin that is approximately 50 feet long and 17 feet wide. The foundation of the cabin is stone, and the walls of the cabin are hewn logs that have been stacked on top of each other with dried mud in between. Behind the cabin, there is a small 12 x 10-foot log building that was used as a smokehouse. In front of the cabin are two log structures. The bigger structure was once the Oliver’s barn. The smaller log structure with a longer length, small spaces in between the logs, and a 20 x 28-inch entrance was the corn crib. At the back of the property there is a small stream where the smallest of the outbuildings, a springhouse, is located. The homestead is surrounded by trees and grass.

Fontana Dam

A large hydroelectric dam completed in 1945 with a visitor center operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

• A large hydroelectric dam completed in 1945 with a visitor center operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Foothills Parkway

Congress authorized the Foothills Parkway as a scenic parkway on February 22, 1944. Though funding and engineering challenges have delayed the completion of the project, the open sections of the Foothills Parkway provide a beautiful driving experience for visitors.

Greenbrier Picnic Area

A shady daytime recreational area with tables and charcoal grills along the Little Pigeon River.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Gregory Bald

A grassy mountaintop meadow with panoramic views known for its azalea blooms in midsummer.

• A grassy mountaintop meadow with panoramic views known for its azalea blooms in midsummer.

Grotto Falls

A unique 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall that you can walk behind on Trillium Gap Trail.

• A unique 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall in the forest that you can walk behind on Trillium Gap Trail.

Heintooga Picnic Area

A 41-site daytime recreational area with tables, charcoal grills, and nearby trails at high elevation.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a mostly level gravel area. Some sites have stone picnic tables. Most tables are visible from nearby tables.

Hen Wallow Falls

A 90-foot (27 m) waterfall that begins as a small stream but fans out to a width of 30 feet (9 m) at its base.

• A 90-foot (27-m) waterfall that begins as a small stream but fans out to a width of 30 feet (9 m) at its base.

Indian Creek Falls

A 25-foot (7.6 m) cascade that tumbles down sloping sandstone into a large plunge pool.

• A 25-foot (7.6 m) cascade that tumbles down sloping sandstone into a large plunge pool.

John Oliver Place

The John Oliver cabin is the first historic structure visitors come across on the 11-mile Cades Cove driving loop.

• A two-story log structure stands in a grassy clearing with a split-rail fence surrounding a large, forested area beyond. Covered porches extend from the east and west-facing sides of the cabin. Nine flat logs are stacked- each roughly a foot and a half tall. A dried mud “chinking” layer is between each log. Above the stacked logs on the north and south sides of the cabin, roughly fourteen thin boards are stacked and taper in length as they approach the apex of the roof. Hundreds of thin wood shingles cover the roof. A stone chimney stands on the south side of the cabin. There are three entrances to the cabin, one on each porch and one on the uncovered north side.

John Ownby Cabin

A historic log cabin built in the 1860s by John Ownby.

• A historic log cabin in a forest clearing accessed via a trail.

Juney Whank Falls

An 80-foot (24.4 m) cascade of small streams that converge as they flow under a log footbridge.

• An 80-foot (24.4 m) cascade of small streams that converge as they flow under a log footbridge.

Lakeview Drive Tunnel

A 1,200-foot (366 m) tunnel at the end of Lakeview Drive that is permanently closed to motorized traffic but serves as a gateway to hiking trails, remote campsites, and more just north of Fontana Lake.

• A 1,200-foot (366 m) tunnel at the end of Lakeview Drive that is permanently closed to motorized traffic but serves as a gateway to hiking trails, remote campsites, and more just north of Fontana Lake.

Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial

Laurel Falls

A 25-foot (7.6 m) waterfall where Abrams Creek plunges over a rock ledge into a deep, picturesque pool.

• A plunging waterfall flowing into a large pool of water surrounded by trees, shrubs, and boulders. The area is heavily forested.

LeConte Lodge

A historic mountaintop lodge offering rustic overnight lodging and meals for hikers.

• LeConte Lodge sits at 6,360 feet (1,939 m) just below the summit of Mt. LeConte at 6,593 feet (2,010 m). You will find a quiet, rustic atmosphere in the group of buildings that make up the lodge area. This includes seven cabins and 3 multi-room lodges. Walking paths wind between and around various buildings and the area is surrounded by trees, grasses, bushes, and rocky outcrops. Depending on the weather, you may find yourself surrounded by fog and clouds or wide views. The lodge structures are mostly wooden and you'll find stone walls scattered throughout. No electricity or showers.

Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse

A historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1881 for the Little Greenbrier community.

• A historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1881 for the Little Greenbrier community

Look Rock Picnic Area

A 51-site daytime recreational area with tables and charcoal grills near the scenic Foothills Parkway.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area with mountain views. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area.

Lynn Camp Prong Cascades

A series of rushing cascades and plunge pools along Middle Prong Trail.

• A series of rushing cascades and plunge pools along Middle Prong Trail.

Meigs Falls

Admire a gorgeous waterfall from the comfort of your vehicle. Located along Little River Road, Meigs Falls features a spacious pull-out area for easy viewing. This makes it one of the most accessible waterfalls in the park.

Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area

A 122-site daytime recreational area with tables and charcoal grills on the banks of the Little River.

• Sites are spread throughout a forested area. Trees are a mixture of deciduous and evergreen, resulting in various colors depending on the time of year. Each picnic site includes a table and grill, typically surrounded by a level gravel area. Some sites have a view of the nearby creek.

Cades Cove Visitor Center

• Cades Cove Visitor Center
• Roughly half-way through the Cades Cove Loop Road, pause to speak with park staff and visit various exhibits. Learn about Southern Mountain life and culture, and see a gristmill (operates spring through fall), the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures. Enjoy seasonal ranger-led activities and peruse the park bookstore and shop. Public restrooms available.

Kuwohi Visitor Center

• Kuwohi Visitor Center
• Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) is the tallest peak in the Smokies. Enjoy sweeping views of the Smokies—weather permitting—and get your park questions answered. Peruse a small bookstore and shop. Public restrooms are available.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center
• Near Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is an ideal starting point as you enter the park's South District. Explore cultural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Find public restrooms and drink vending machines. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn crib and others.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

• Sugarlands Visitor Center
• Near Gatlinburg, TN, Sugarlands Visitor Center is an excellent starting point as you enter the park's North District. Learn about the park's plants and animals with natural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Access public restrooms and drink vending machines. The Backcountry Permit Office is here, too.

• Hike the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop
• See three waterfalls on a loop around the Deep Creek area. Hike 2.4 miles (3.9 km) on several short trail segments to reach Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Tom Branch Falls.

• Hike Porters Creek Trail
• Porters Creek is a peaceful trail that is filled with history and natural wonders, hike as far as you'd like to explore. If you are up for about a 4-mile roundtrip hike you can visit the beautiful Fern Branch Falls.

• Hike to Rainbow Falls
• Hike 5.6 miles (9 km) roundtrip through varied forest to a popular waterfall named for the misty rainbow that often appears at its base. This trail is well-traveled and maintained, but the climb to the falls is relatively steep.

• Hike to Ramsey Cascades
• Hike 8 miles (12.9 km) roundtrip on this popular but relatively challenging trail through cove hardwood forest to see the tallest waterfall in the park. The trail begins on an old roadbed but becomes narrower and rockier crossing multiple footlog bridges and streams as it ascends.

• Hike to Twentymile Cascade
• Hike 1.2 miles (1.9 km) roundtrip along a wide gravel roadbed that follows a mountain stream to a cascade surrounded by moss-covered rocks and mixed hardwood forest.

• Hike Goldmine Loop via Tunnel Bypass Trail
• Hike 4 miles (6.4 km) on Lakeshore and Goldmine Loop trails through a hardwood forest filled with signs of old homesites and farms. This trail is moderate but includes some rocky areas and shallow stream crossings.

• Hike to Laurel Falls
• Hike 2.6 miles (4.2 km) roundtrip through a mixed hardwood forest to an 80-foot (24-m) waterfall. Enjoy a few views of the mountain landscape before arriving at the waterfall. PLEASE NOTE: Laurel Falls Trail is expected to close starting in mid-December for 18 months.

• Hike to Hen Wallow Falls
• Hike 4.3 miles (6.9 km) roundtrip through a hardwood forest with hemlock and rhododendron to a popular 90-foot (27-m) waterfall. This trail includes some steep sections and switchbacks.

• Hike to Chimney Tops Overlook
• Hike 3.5 miles (5.6 km) roundtrip on this popular but challenging trail to enjoy views of surrounding mountains and the Chimney Tops pinnacles. This trail is steep and rocky at times, and includes bridges, stairs, and some lingering signs of 2016 wildfires.

• Walk Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail
• Wander through a cove hardwood forest with streamside views, rock walls, and historic stone chimneys on this half-mile (0.8 km) loop along a paved, flat trail. The trailhead is adjacent to a small parking area with several accessible spaces along Newfound Gap Rd (US 441) near Sugarlands Visitor Center.

• Hike to Steve Woody House
• Walk 2 miles (3.2 km) roundtrip through a hardwood forest on a wide, well-graded path following a mountain stream to reach the historic Steve Woody Place, which was once the center of a sprawling homestead with several outbuildings.

• Hike the Oconaluftee River Trail
• Enjoy a riverside stroll approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip on one of the only pet- and bike-friendly trails in the park. This popular trail is relatively flat, wide, and graveled and follows the Oconaluftee River through elk habitat and hardwood forest.

• Hike to Mount Le Conte on Trillium Gap Trail
• One of five routes to Mount Le Conte, Trillium Gap Trail to Mount Le Conte is 13 miles (20.9 km) roundtrip and rewards hikers with mountain views, diverse forest, and a waterfall. Near the summit, the best views are at Cliff Top and Myrtle Point, both marked with signs.

• Hike to Mount Le Conte on Rainbow Falls Trail
• Hike 13 miles (21 km) roundtrip on one of five routes to Mount Le Conte that includes a waterfall, rocky ascents, and forest views. Lush forests line the trail and hikers will intersect the Bullhead Trail, Alum Cave Trail, and Trillium Gap Trail before reaching the summit.

• Hike to Mount Le Conte on Bullhead Trail
• One of five routes to Mount Le Conte, the Bullhead Trail offers consistent views. The strenuous hike is 13.6 miles (21.9 km) roundtrip. Near the beginning, visitors will see rocky cliffs and climb the Bullhead, a heath-covered bald that may resemble a bull's head from a distance.

• Hike to Mount Le Conte on the Appalachian Trail and Boulevard Trail
• The longest of the five routes to Mount Le Conte, this strenuous hike—16.2 miles (26.1 km) roundtrip—offers a variety of views and includes part of the Appalachian Trail. Charlies Bunion, a rocky outcrop, is a short but rewarding detour.

• Hike to Mount Le Conte on Alum Cave Trail
• Hike 10 miles (16.1 km) roundtrip on Alum Cave Trail as it climbs steadily through dense forest to Alum Cave Bluffs and on to the summit of Mount LeConte. This popular but strenuous hike includes stairs, bridges, and some steep and rocky sections of trail.

• Hike the Little River, Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek Loop
• Hike 5.4 miles (8.7 km) on a pleasant and shady loop connecting three trails with streamside views, historic structures, and prolific spring wildflower displays. Trail conditions vary from paved road and graveled path to narrower and rockier sections with minor stream crossings.

• Walk to John Oliver Cabin
• Explore the scenery of Cades Cove and the historic John Oliver Cabin and homesite with a short path—0.3 miles (0.5 km) roundtrip—suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The trail gives way to level, packed gravel once it reaches the complex of log structures.

• Hike to Grotto Falls
• Hike 2.6 miles (4.2 km) roundtrip on Trillium Gap Trail as it crosses multiple streams and sections of old-growth forest to reach a unique waterfall you can walk behind. This trail is well-traveled but prone to muddy and slippery conditions.

• Hike the Gatlinburg Trail
• Enjoy a riverside stroll approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip through a cove hardwood forest along one of the only dog- and bike-friendly trails in the park. This trail includes sections of sidewalks and roadsides as well as graded dirt path.

• Hike to Andrews Bald
• Hike 3.6 miles (5.8 km) roundtrip descending through high-elevation, spruce-fir forest to a popular grassy bald known for its flowering azaleas in summer and views of the surrounding mountains. The return hike to the trailhead involves a relatively strenuous climb.

• Hike to Kuwohi
• Walk one mile (1.6 km) roundtrip from the Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) parking area along a steep paved path to an iconic and popular observation tower with panoramic views from the highest peak in the Smokies.

• Hike to Alum Cave Bluffs
• Hike 4.6 miles (7.4 km) roundtrip to see the Alum Cave Bluffs and stroll through Arch Rock on this popular hike on Alum Cave Trail. The trail crosses two mountain streams via footbridges before it climbs through sections of old-growth forest.

• Hike on Chestnut Top Trail
• Hike 5.6 miles (9 km) roundtrip on a trail that climbs steadily through mixed hardwood forest to a ridgetop where American chestnut trees were once abundant. Fall leaf color and plentiful spring wildflowers remain a draw on this trail.

• Hike to Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
• Go on a woodland stroll following an old railroad bed along a mountain stream, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) roundtrip, to a dramatic cascade. The trail is mostly wide and flat and gently ascends through rhododendron and some cliff-like rock outcroppings.

• Hike to the Little Greenbrier School and Walker Homesite
• Hike 3.4 miles (5.5 km) roundtrip from Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area through hardwood forest to see remnants of stonework, the historic one-room Little Greenbrier School, and the preserved homesite of the Walker family. This trail includes sections of well-packed dirt path and wide gravel roadbed.

• Hike Kephart Prong Trail to Historic CCC Camp
• Follow the flow of mountain streams 4 miles (6.4 km) roundtrip through hardwood forest and across several log footbridges to the remains of a CCC camp and the Kephart Shelter.

• Hike to Look Rock Tower
• Walk along a short, paved trail 0.8 miles (1.3 km) through the forest to an observation tower with panoramic views of the Smokies and Blount County, Tennessee. This trail includes some mild to moderate inclines.

• Hike to Charlies Bunion
• Hike a popular section of the Appalachian Trail for 8 miles (12.9 km) roundtrip through spruce-fir forest to enjoy panoramic views and a unique rocky outcrop surrounded by exposed cliffs.

• Hike to Chasteen Creek Cascade
• Hike 3.6 miles (5.8 km) roundtrip through hardwood forest following the path of mountain streams to a peaceful cascade. This trail is wide, well-graded, and regularly used by both hikers and horse riders.

• Hike to Abrams Falls
• Walk 5 miles (8 km) roundtrip through rhododendron, hemlock, and pine-oak forest to a 25-foot (7.6-m) waterfall and scenic pool. Swimming in the pool is not recommended due to slippery rocks and a dangerous undertow.

Cades Cove Places Tour

Explore Cades Cove as you drive the 11-mile loop road. Along the way, discover historic homesteads, churches, an active grist mill, and scenic vistas of the surrounding mountains.

Elkmont Historic District Tour

Beginning in today's Elkmont Campground, this walking or driving tour will allow you to explore the rich history of the area that led to the birth of tourism within and the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.