This amazing park is home to a thousand black bears. In winter when I went the bears were hibernating, so ducks, deer and elk were the wildlife we saw. Winter here makes the park as beautiful as in other seasons but with completely different and unexpected views of nature and the landscape. Amazing!

We had a great time here. Stopped at the gift shop, Hiked a couple trails and drove through and saw alot of the park. Very cool place!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided my family and me with an unforgettable experience of natural beauty and tranquility. As we entered the park, we were immediately captivated by the breathtaking vistas of rolling mountains, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls. The park's serene atmosphere created the perfect setting for us to bond and reconnect with nature. Exploring the park's numerous hiking trails allowed us to immerse ourselves in the peaceful surroundings. Each step we took revealed a new wonder, whether it was a hidden stream, a vibrant wildflower, or a majestic wildlife sighting. The diversity of the park's ecosystem was awe-inspiring, and we were constantly amazed by the wonders that unfolded before our eyes. One of the highlights of our visit was witnessing the sunrise from Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park. Standing atop the observation tower, we were treated to a panoramic view of the mountains as they were bathed in golden hues by the first light of day. It was a moment of pure serenity and a memory that will forever be etched in our hearts. Overall, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided us with a remarkable and memorable experience. Its beauty and tranquility rejuvenated our spirits and allowed us to forge lasting memories. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or quality time with loved ones, I highly recommend visiting this extraordinary park.

First time hiking here. It was a moderate hike. Beautiful views, lots of parking, they do have bathrooms available before you go on the trail. Lots of traffic getting there on the weekends. To avoid heavy traffic come before 11 am. There are signs for Elk sightings. We didn't get to see any. Lots of wind as you are getting to the top. Loved every minute of it.

Amazing drive, beautiful views in fall. A couple of tips: 1) make sure you have a full gas tank, this road is long and cross between states, it could take you miles to exit depending where you heading. 2) some parts of the road since it is high mountain, you might lose phone signal.

LOVE the Smoky Mountains!! It’s a must see during all the seasons especially summer and fall! Plenty of pull offs for picture taking, enjoying the scenery and hiking. We live less than 2 hours away and frequent here several times a year and we still can’t get enough of the beauty! Also great towns all around with plenty to do and eat!

A simple google review does not do it. Get out there, book that trip, go out there and see it. This place is absolutely beautiful in every aspect. The trails are incredible, even the simple drive through the park … is amazing. I didn’t see any bears here .. granted I wasn’t here for more then maybe 4-6 hours. But definitely be aware of your surroundings if hiking any trails. You don’t get any phone service out here , so DEFINITELY grab a map from one of the offices along the way! Will come in handy more then you think. There’s restrooms and little gift shops and information centers throughout the park that are worth stopping at. All the staff is super friendly and helpful.

Finally got to the most popular national park this summer. Everything is great with much to do except all the people and the traffic, even on a weekday. Was only able to visit half the park as lots of it is far apart. We took 2 days to see everything we wanted to see. The junior ranger program is great, since the park entry is free, they charge $2.50 for the book that needs to be completed to gain the badge which is understandable. Park rangers are always fantastic and informative.

This is an amazing park with so much to do. It’s no wonder the park is packed in the summer. We were here in the spring, mid-April, and it was amazing. The green undergrowth was amazing and provided an assuredly different view than if we’d gone in summer or fall. The park staff was amazing at each encounter, especially the volunteers. Every hike we did provided different experiences and views to enjoy. And best of all, despite all we did there was so much we didn’t do and look forward to future returns to tick those things off. If you’re planning a visit, be sure to pick up the guide pamphlets for $1 or so each, the wealth of information is amazing in helping to plan your experience. There are also plenty of picnic areas to choose from, so packing a lunch to enjoy at them is a great idea. We can’t wait to go back.

The views were good but when we reached there the peak was over. So I could not see the best of fall colors. We did not go to top of mountain we covered half way. In some places there is elevation. There are small walkway bridges which are very good and best for taking our pictures.

Popping fall colors! Spent Halloween at a cabin, tucked away in the Smoky Mountains. Beautiful scenery! Def recommend the hiking trail to Laurel Falls, easy for beginners and families. So happy we saw Mama bear & 3 cute cubs close to our cabin!

What can one say about a National Park? More than I can type here. Everywhere we went was kept very clean and had no issues. The hiking trails are generally well kept and safe. The rest areas have clean bathrooms and the roads are excellent. We enjoyed our time in the southern part of the park very much and will be back again. Be ready to use your brakes and steering wheel a lot while traveling the mountainous roads!

Oke of my favorites in the entire Eastern US. Plenty of wildlife to see, beautiful landscapes, rolling hills and mountains , and waterfalls all over this beautiful land. The parking pass is new to me to be able to pull of the side of the road, but totally worth the $5.

Very nice park. My favorite park from California to Florida. It's always beautiful in all seasons. And tons of things to do. From tourism to skiing and camping there really is something for everyone. If you have time always visit. The wild life is very active and fun to watch. Great family visit.

We recently visited the NC side, and took the drive over to TN just about every day we were there. There are a lot of turns, but the drive is not treacherous. I love that they have so many paths and pull-offs so you can take as many photos as your heart desires. At the top is the NC/TN border, and probably the best view of them all

Outstanding park. Accessible, easy to navigate, friendly staff, great facilities. Spent a few days here and saw the highlights including Clingmans Dome, Rainbow Falls Hike, Cades cove and a couple smaller walks/hikes. Visited a few of the visitor centers and they were excellent. Missed the peak fall colors but still got a nice variety a week or so late. Highly recommend.

We really enjoyed our short trip here. Our first time, so we were just taking in the beauty of nature. The visitors center was great and many gifts for sale at reasonable prices. The staff was very pleasant, knowledgeable and professional. We can't wait to come back and explore much more with weather that is a tad warmer. It was 23 degrees the day we went, but barely noticed with all the surrounding beauty to behold!!

Nothing beats the magic of the Great Smoky Mountains! Amazing trails, hundreds of waterfalls, awesome flora and fauna to see. It is the most visited national park, so plan ahead for visiting during spring and fall when it’s the busiest. Parking passes are required for any parking not at a visitor center. They can be purchased online ahead of time or at any visitor center.

Massive park with so, so much to explore. We only touched the surface for the week we visited, but there were mesmerizing views and beautiful bears. A lot of very long, steep hills, so make sure your brakes are good before heading out. 5 stars doesn't even justify how much I loved it here.

I loved the little pull offs & all the amazing views. We walked down to the creeks & fished (appropriate licenses must be bought). Bought tubes & floated down the creeks a few times... didn't see any big wild life this time but have seen elk & bears in the past... relaxing little get away

Amazing place to visit. We camped in the Cosby campground and it was amazing. There are several hiking trails around the campground so you don't have to travel far for hiking trails. Be aware that you will definitely see black bears. You shouldn't approach them or feed them. They are not as aggressive as Brown bears but still it is dangerous to be around them, especially, the mama bear and its cubs. The beauty is breath taking and it would never be forgotten. There are a lot of wildlife there you may encounter such as turkey, elk, black bear, deer, snake, and salamander, etc. Make sure you bring binoculars because there is a lot to see and observe. We went there mid June and it is much cooler than in cities. Thirty or forty degrees cooler than in cities. Make sure you bring a blanket and sweater as well when you do the ground camping.

We love the Great Smoky Mountains. We visit at least once a year in the fall and sometimes in the spring. The serene, peaceful surroundings are very nice. We like to hike in the mountains and visit Cades Cove and the Roaring Fork motor trail to see the cabins. It is an amazing park. Highly recommended.

Great National Park. Had such a wonderful experience with our dogs. The Gatlinburg trail was so beautiful and our dogs were so exited to be there.

Heavily trafficked park, only 2 roads open the main drag and to the cove. Get there early if you plan to hike! We got to the alum cave trailhead at about 9:25am and 2 designated spots left by the time we came back at 11:15 it was packed with cars parked where they shouldn’t be. Sun was melting all the icicles they were plummeting down had to protect our heads at one point. Dont forget to buy the parking pass your American the beautiful pass does not work for this park system have to pay by your license plate! It’s $5 for the day don’t fret.

Such a lovely drive in, to Cades Cove!. Sweeping curves, lush forest. The stories of bears would make me scared to camp there! But visiting for the day was simply beautiful. I wish I had the mountains of Tennessee, the Smokies, with me back home. It seemed Nature itself decided to be Welcoming. Oh. And, good ice cream at the gift store!

This is an Awesome National Park with gorgeous trees, mountains and river. It's great for easy hiking and it's just stunning and so peaceful. I love taking photographs and this place it's a piece of Heaven to photograph. We went in September and the weather was perfect and there were no mosquitoes or bugs. We enjoyed hiking and taking photographs of God’s country. Every place is just so picturesque! Just stunning natural beauty. If you love natural parks, please visit this one. A extra bonus is there's no charge.

The Smoky Mountains are a must see for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors. The view from atop the mountains is just amazing. There are also many trails and creeks that you can explore with friends and family!

Amazing!!! My friend from Michigan came down to GA to visit and we drove up to Smoky National Park a few days ago. No crowds. Weather was perfect. We stopped at Clingmans Dome and the Oconaluftee visitors center. The walk up to the top of Clingmans Dome is moderate, slightly steep but paved and path evens out.

We hiked the Chimney tops trail, a lot more walking than I am certainly used to, but the views and experiences is 100% worth it to me. Upon our hiking, we also stopped and jumped around on the rocks like children. As long as you're safe, it's totally fun to do, water is nice and cold.

Beautiful! We hiked Andrews Bald and Clingmans Dome. Unfortunately, a downpour started on the Clingmans Dome trail. We went up to the tower anyways after exiting the trail since we put in the work, but as expected there was no view because of the storm. I know it was beautiful though! I wish we had more time there to go back!! The drive along 441 was nice as well and had so many scenic view spots!

Beautiful and must-visit place during the fall season. Enjoyed the road trip, both sides were full of colors! The attached video was taken on Oct 21, 2023. This was on the way to Pigeon Forge from Cherokee.

This place was awesome there was traffic but the elk were out we saw 7 it so awesome to see mother nature at its best. The weather was great and the views were magnificent. I definitely recommend the drive and the visitors center had a little gift shop and staff to answer any questions you might have. The little wooden farm you could go and walk up to and see the structures. And the water running behind was a nice sight

Awesome place. It was bit crowded but the we were on the perfect time. It got all colors and awesome views and weather. Was able to see bears live. Enjoyed a lot with family

This is a beautiful national park. It's also the only big one I'm aware of that doesn't have any entrance fees. The weather can be unpredictable so be prepared. This is the most visited national park and the parking can get crazy. Be ready to deal with crowds and traffic or find spots off the main paths.

Absolutely stunning views and lots of stop offs as your driving threw. We even saw a older couple having a picnic dinner on the back of their truck enjoying the view. It was truly beautiful.

First time visiting the Smoky Mountains and combined with it being fall, it was an unforgettable experience. Went here mostly for the trails and views and they didn’t disappoint. There are plenty of hiking trails for all experience levels and breathtaking views at every other bend in the road/trail. Definitely can see myself coming back here again in the future.

Beautiful and expansive national park! My family had such a great time here in the Summer of 2021. All of the views and overlooks that we stopped at were breathtaking. Roads within the park are easily navigable. So much to do within this park, though we just opted for stopping at visitors centers and hiking a few of the trails. Definitely can't wait to come back!

This park rightfully deserves the 4.9 stars it currently has. It's absolutely stunning and well organized, well kept, didn't see much trash laying around. We hiked the alum Cave trail and it was awesome. Definitely recommend it.

Beautiful to drive through and stop at the look outs. We love to stop and do some of the trails! Alum cave was our favorite and New Found look out. Its unfortunate that by almost end of March the bathrooms at the trail heads still aren't open.

Had an awesome time. The views were phenomenal. Everyone traveling through respected the area & its visitors. Plenty of stopping points to take pictures and see the sights. Will definitely come again.