Introduction
Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an array of exciting activities for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and adventure seekers alike!
From scenic hikes and breathtaking waterfalls to fascinating historical sites and wildlife spotting, the park provides endless ways to explore and connect with nature.
Whether you prefer leisurely drives through mountain landscapes or challenging backcountry trails, Shaka Guide’s tour has it all. Discover the highlights of America’s most popular national park.
This list of the top 10 fun things to do will guide you to some of the area’s most memorable experiences. Explore the best of the national park and its surroundings.
Chase the Waterfalls
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to some stunning waterfalls, each offering a unique experience for visitors.
Laurel Falls is one of the most popular and accessible spots in the park. You can reach this 80-foot cascade via a 2.6-mile round-trip hike.
While only 20 feet tall, Abrams Falls is another stunner, with its powerful flow and scenic surroundings.
The 5-mile round-trip trail is moderately challenging, starting with a steep climb before leveling out.
Want to discover more stunning waterfalls in the Smokies? Check out Shaka Guide’s The 6 Most Amazing Waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains for details.
Go Horseback Riding
Cades Cove Riding Stables
Horseback riding is a popular way to explore the scenic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
You can rent horses at various locations in the park. Guided rides are available for visitors, no matter their experience level.
Cades Cove Riding Stables, Sugarlands Riding Stables, and Smokemont Riding Stables provide guided rides ranging from one to four hours.
These stables also offer special rides, such as carriage or waterfall tours.
Guided rides suit beginners because no experience is required. Expert guides lead, sharing insights about the park’s wildlife and history.
Travel Back in Time at Cades Cove
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Cades Cove is a top destination in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers picturesque views and a range of activities for all visitors.
The centerpiece is the Cades Cove Loop Road, an 11-mile scenic drive that winds through the valley. It provides breathtaking views of rolling meadows, forested mountains, and historic buildings.
The road is perfect for wildlife viewing, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. You may spot deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and other animals that frequent the cove.
Cades Cove offers a glimpse into early Appalachian life with well-preserved historic structures, including churches, log cabins, and barns.
The John Oliver Cabin and the Primitive Baptist Church are highlights of the area. They offer insights into the lives of early settlers who called this valley home.
Here’s a Shaka Guide Tip: Cades Cove Scenic Loop is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, offering a quieter experience. Rent bicycles at the Cades Cove Campground Store and explore the loop at a leisurely pace, surrounded by nature.
RELATED ARTICLES: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Itinerary
Explore a Ghost Town at Elkmont
Joel Kramer
Elkmont was once a thriving logging community. Workers lived in the town, and the logging industry thrived until people nearly depleted the forests.
By the 1920s, as the logging industry declined, Elkmont transitioned into a summer getaway for wealthy vacationers.
In the 1930s, the federal government started purchasing land in Elkmont when they established the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Many cabin owners were given lifetime leases. This allowed them to continue using their properties until the leases expired in the early 1990s.
Once the leases ended, people abandoned the cabins and other structures, turning Elkmont into a ghost town.
Today, you can explore the remains of Elkmont’s once-thriving community. The most notable structures include the restored Appalachian Clubhouse. Several abandoned cabins still stand, though they are in various states of decay.
The atmosphere is both nostalgic and haunting. The overgrown buildings create an almost surreal scene in the quiet forest setting.
Watch a Firefly Show
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Each year, typically from late May to early June, thousands of Photinus carolinus fireflies light up in perfect unison. This creates waves of flashing lights across the forest during their mating ritual. And it’s truly a sight to behold!
The display lasts for about two weeks and occurs in the evening, around 9 to 10 PM. Visitors can view the fireflies using flashlights with red filters to minimize disturbance. The park provides shuttles to manage the crowds and protect the habitat.
This phenomenon is most visible in the Elkmont area of the park. A special parking pass is required, and people obtain it through a lottery system because of the event's popularity.
This magical event is one of the most sought-after experiences in the park. It offers a brief yet unforgettable glimpse of nature's beauty.
Galavant in Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It's located at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And this small town is bursting with activities!
One of the top experiences is a visit to Ober Mountain. You can ride a scenic aerial tram, ski in the winter, or enjoy mountain coasters and alpine slides year-round.
For panoramic views, head to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. You can walk across the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.
Downtown Gatlinburg offers many family-friendly activities. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium, the Gatlinburg Space Needle, arcades, shops, restaurants, and local moonshine distilleries.
Have Some Fun at Dollywood
Dolly Parton owns Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. It offers thrilling rides, live entertainment, and showcases Appalachian culture.
Popular rides include the Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle roller coasters. Family-friendly attractions like the Dollywood Express and Splash Country water park offer fun for all ages.
The park also features live performances, from bluegrass music to theatrical productions, and showcases traditional crafts in Craftsmen’s Valley.
Visitors can enjoy the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary for a closer look at bald eagles. They can also indulge in Southern-style food, including the famous cinnamon bread.
Take a Hike on the Appalachian Trail
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The famous Appalachian Trail runs 2,190 miles from Maine to Georgia. About 71 of those miles go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One of the most popular access points is at Newfound Gap, located along Newfound Gap Road—also known as U.S. Highway 441.
The access point offers parking and serves as a central spot for both day hikes and extended backpacking trips.
RELATED ARTICLE: Know Before You Go, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Get a Bird’s Eye View at Kuwohi
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Until 2024, Kuwohi was called Clingmans Dome. At 6,643 feet, it’s the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The observation tower offers breathtaking, 360-degree panoramic views, with visibility stretching over 100 miles on clear days across seven states.
The summit is a prime spot for witnessing stunning sunrises and sunsets, casting golden light over the misty valleys.
As you ascend the half-mile paved trail to the top, you’ll pass through a unique subalpine spruce-fir forest. It’s home to cool mountain air and wildlife like black bears and red squirrels.
In fact, the word Kuwohi translates to "the mulberry place" in the Cherokee language.
Be in Two States at Once at Newfound Gap Overlook
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans 522,427 acres over two states—Tennessee, and North Carolina. And the two states meet at Newfound Gap Overlook!
Located at 5,046 feet above sea level, the overlook provides stunning panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains. The vistas stretch across Tennessee and North Carolina.
This is a great place to witness the changing seasons. You can see snow-capped peaks in winter, vibrant fall foliage, and lush greenery in summer.
Newfound Gap is also home to the Rockefeller Memorial, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the national park in 1940, offering a touch of history amid the scenic views.
Explore Great Smoky Mountains with Shaka Guide!
Shaka Guide’s tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers 37 fun-filled stops. It includes over 90 audio tracks of stories and driving directions.
tart the tour in Cherokee, North Carolina, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Visit can’t-miss stops like the Oconaluftee Mountain Museum, Alum Cave trail, Sugarlands, Elkmont, Roaring Fork, and Cades Cove!
Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Great Smoky Mountains National Park Itinerary and Know Before You Go article.
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