National Park - Laurel Inn Condos near Downtown Gatlinburg

About the Park

Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country! From hundreds of trails to gorgeous waterfalls, you’ll want to come see everything the Smoky Mountains have to offer.

Motor Tours & Trails

Exploring the Great Smoky Mountains by car is an excellent idea because you can see more scenic landscapes in a short amount of time. When you get to your destination, get out and take in all the history, culture, and remembrances of things from the past.

Newfound Gap Road

Newfound Gap Road is 26 miles of curves and turns up through the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, reaching heights up to 5,048 ft. and offering stunning vistas, bluffs, and roadside exhibits. It is an excellent way to start your visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove takes you on an 11-mile journey filled with the beauty of nature and the rich history of Tennessee. Deer, wild turkey, and sometimes black bears find their way into your line of sight, making this one of the most popular scenic drives in the area. Historical log homes, hand hewn in the Smokies by early pioneers, offer fun and informative stops along the way. It is also possible to bike or stroll along this paved loop road.

Plunging Waterfalls

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has about 2,900 miles of streams, many of which feature waterfalls and other spectacular shows of nature’s beauty. You are formally invited to experience the depth, beauty, mist, and magic of Smoky Mountain waterfalls.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls can be reached via a 2.6-mile round-trip hike on the Laurel Falls Trail. The trail is paved to the falls. The trailhead is located 3.9 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road.

Mingo Falls (outside the National Park)

Mingo Falls is just a 0.5-mile round-trip hike. From Oconaluftee Visitor Center, drive south on US 441 and take the second left onto Big Cove Road. At the first stop sign, turn left and drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground.

Hen Wallow Falls

Hen Wallow Falls is located along a 4.5-mile round-trip hike. Take the Gabes Mountain Trail that begins from the parking area at the entrance to Cosby Campground. Beyond the falls, Gabes Mountain Trail leads to a beautiful old-growth forest.

Indian Creek Falls

Indian Creek Falls can be found during a 2-mile round-trip hike. Take the Deep Creek Trail that starts just past Deep Creek Campground to reach the waterfall.

Juney Whank Falls

Juney Whank Falls is a 0.6-mile round-trip hike. The trail to this waterfall starts from the parking area just past Deep Creek Campground.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is situated along a 5.5-mile round-trip hike. The trail to this impressive waterfall starts from the Rainbow Falls parking area on Cherokee Orchard Road just outside of downtown Gatlinburg.

Ramsey Cascades

Ramsey Cascades is an 8-mile round-trip hike. Take US Hwy 321 (East Parkway) 6 miles east of Gatlinburg to the Greenbrier entrance to the national park. Follow the signs to the Ramsey Cascades trailhead.

Be a Great Smoky Mountain National Park VIP!*

The Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program invites people from all walks of life to step in and lend a hand to help the park staff assist the visitors by doing jobs that otherwise could not be done.

Some of the ways the VIPs help out include:

Staffing Information Desks
Serving as Campground Hosts
Maintaining and Patrolling Trails in the Park
Presenting Living History Programs
Assisting in Resources Management Projects

To apply for the program, you simply call or write the park requesting the Volunteers in Parks information packet. It will contain more details regarding these and other positions available, along with an application form for you to fill out and return to the park. Please keep in mind that housing in the park is not available.

To receive a packet contact:

VIP Coordinator Great Smoky Mountains National Park

107 Park Headquarters Rd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

*provided by www.nps.gov

Park Highlights