The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Its national treasure has over eight million visitors each year
More than any other national park in America. Yet even during summer vacation and autumn leaf season those who seek to enjoy it in relative solitude may do so: there are 800 square miles here — divided almost equally between North Carolina and Tennessee of mountains rising to over 6,000 feet, of forests with over 100 species of native trees, 1,500 flowering plants, dozens of waterfalls and 900 miles of nature and hiking trails.
Nor does one have to be a wilderness camper or backwoods hiker to avoid the crowds. At dawn even the scenic Newfound Gap Road (US 441) is quiet, its overlooks offering scenes of deep blue waves of mountain ridges floating in a sea of clouds to pink and mauve horizons. And in the midnight hours even most of the nearly 300 species of wildlife is asleep — yet moon and stars provide light enough to see the majesty and mystery of these silent mountains.
From mid-November to early spring, visitors are few. in winter the scenery, to some, is even more spectacular. Some camping facilities remain open, and most paved roads are kept open all year except for rare and short closings due to snow or ice. The park service closes roads and trails which are considered hazardous during the winter. For those who prefer solitude, the off-season is the best time to visit the park. During the peak season, some of the most popular camping areas may not be available unless reservations are made in advance.
From the Tennessee side, make your first stop the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Publications, information, exhibits and a film are offered here at the intersection of Newfound Gap and Little River Roads. Telephone 615(436-5615.
From the North Carolina side, stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Pamphlets, information and exhibits are offered here. Adjacent to the center, the Pioneer Farmstead lets you see how the early mountain people lived. Just up the road into the park is Mingus Mill, a large, operating (mid-April through October), water-powered mill for grinding corn and wheat. Telephone 704/497-9145.
At Cades Cove you will find another visitors center, open mid-April through October. This broad sheltered valley is the most visited area in the park, a mixture of meadows, forests and preserved pioneer structures. An 11-mile paved loop road circles the valley, offering scenic views of pastureland cabins and farm buildings, watermills and split-rail fences. Wildlife is abundant, including herds
14 of white-tailed deer. The cove is reached via TN 73, the Little River Road, from Sugarland Visitors center of Townsend. The only lodging in the park is at Leconte Lodge, accessible only by trail, and at rustic Wonderland Hotel near Cades Cove.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")