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the USA🇺🇸 | national parksGreat Smoky MountainsHazy ridges, Kuwohi, Cades Cove, black bears | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Great Smoky Mountains
UNESCO World Heritage site
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #18
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Most travelers have to decide between the Tennessee side and the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains, and the answer is traffic: Gatlinburg jams, while Cherokee and Cataloochee stay calmer. The park sits in the southeastern United States, east of Knoxville. Trails are superb, bears are common, and the scenery is ridge after hazy ridge, but roads clog in summer and fall. My coffee and biscuit at a Gatlinburg diner cost about US$9, and I would repeat it. Spend your first day driving Newfound Gap Road early, then walking Alum Cave.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #18 national park in the USAReasons people choose to explore here

Great Smoky Mountains rewards self-guided travelers because the park charges no entrance fee, and you can stitch together your own route on over 800 miles of trail. Campers get the best deal: backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail section (about 70 miles inside the park) let thru-hikers and weekenders sleep cheaply, while frontcountry campgrounds like Elkmont sit near trailheads. Tours mostly cover the drive-up sights, so skip them. The park also has Cades Cove, where an 11-mile loop is easier on your own schedule, especially by bike on car-free mornings.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome): The park’s highest point at 6,643 feet, reached by a steep half-mile paved path to a concrete observation tower with ridge views across both states.
  2. Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte: Passes Arch Rock and a bluff overhang, then climbs to LeConte Lodge, reachable only on foot.
  3. Cades Cove: An 11-mile one-way loop past log cabins, churches and meadows where deer and black bears feed at dawn.
  4. Laurel Falls: A paved 2.6-mile round trip to an 80-foot waterfall, easy but popular.
  5. Newfound Gap: Pass on the state line where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road, with wide overlooks.
  6. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: A narrow one-way loop with old homesteads and a stream-fed forest.
  7. Cataloochee Valley: A remote valley where reintroduced elk graze near historic buildings.
Great … read more 👉
  1. Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome): The park’s highest point at 6,643 feet, reached by a steep half-mile paved path to a concrete observation tower with ridge views across both states.
  2. Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte: Passes Arch Rock and a bluff overhang, then climbs to LeConte Lodge, reachable only on foot.
  3. Cades Cove: An 11-mile one-way loop past log cabins, churches and meadows where deer and black bears feed at dawn.
  4. Laurel Falls: A paved 2.6-mile round trip to an 80-foot waterfall, easy but popular.
  5. Newfound Gap: Pass on the state line where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road, with wide overlooks.
  6. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: A narrow one-way loop with old homesteads and a stream-fed forest.
  7. Cataloochee Valley: A remote valley where reintroduced elk graze near historic buildings.
Great Smoky Mountains is best started with Cades Cove at sunrise, since wildlife is active and the loop clogs by midmorning.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Great Smoky Mountains

3-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience

3-Hour Nantahala River Fully Guided Rafting Experience

4.9(206) 3h
From €59
per personViator
Chasing Waterfalls: A Smoky Mountain Guided Hike

Chasing Waterfalls: A Smoky Mountain Guided Hike

4.9(173) 3h
From €86
per personViator
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

4.1(330)
From €15.42
per personViator
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Great Smoky Mountains

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Great Smoky Mountains

4.7(140)
From €15.42
per personViator
Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours

Great Smoky Mountains & Cades Cove Self-Guided Driving Tours

4.3(110)
From €23
per personViator
Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket

Museum of the Cherokee People Admission Ticket

4.1(143) 24h
From €13.61
per personViator
River Magic: An Easy Smoky Mountain Guided Walk

River Magic: An Easy Smoky Mountain Guided Walk

5.0(48) 3h 30m
From €99
per personViator
Sharing Nature with Children: Hands-On Smoky Mountain Discovery

Sharing Nature with Children: Hands-On Smoky Mountain Discovery

5.0(40) 2h
From €50
per personViator
Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Cades Cove Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

4.2(78)
From €13.60
per personViator
Best of the Smokies: Full-Day Private Guided Adventure

Best of the Smokies: Full-Day Private Guided Adventure

5.0(22) 8h
From €295
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Spring (April to May): Highs of 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F), wildflowers peak in late April, and crowds build on weekends.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs of 27 to 31°C (80 to 88°F) in the valleys, cooler above 1,500 m (4,900 ft), with long days, afternoon thunderstorms and peak crowds and lodging rates.
  • Fall (October): Highs of 15 to 21°C (59 to 70°F), color peaks on the ridges mid to late October, and traffic is heaviest then.
  • Winter (December to February): Highs of 5 to 9°C (41 to 48°F), short days, quiet trails and the lowest rates, though high roads like Newfound Gap can close for ice.
Book backcountry sites early for spring and October, and choose weekdays.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
united-states-national-park-great-smoky-mountains
© Google | National Park Photos And Reviews

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The only lodging inside Great Smoky Mountains is LeConte Lodge, a rustic cabin camp reached by a 8 to 11 km (5 to 7 mi) hike, plus eleven developed campgrounds such as Elkmont, Cades Cove and Smokemont. Most backpackers sleep outside the park. Gatlinburg has hostels, motels and the busiest crowds on the Tennessee side. Pigeon Forge is cheaper but packed with attractions. Bryson City and Cherokee in North Carolina are quieter and closer to Deep Creek and Smokemont trailheads. Townsend, on the quiet side of Tennessee, suits Cades Cove and Elkmont. Backcountry campsites and shelters, including spots … read more 👉
The only lodging inside Great Smoky Mountains is LeConte Lodge, a rustic cabin camp reached by a 8 to 11 km (5 to 7 mi) hike, plus eleven developed campgrounds such as Elkmont, Cades Cove and Smokemont. Most backpackers sleep outside the park. Gatlinburg has hostels, motels and the busiest crowds on the Tennessee side. Pigeon Forge is cheaper but packed with attractions. Bryson City and Cherokee in North Carolina are quieter and closer to Deep Creek and Smokemont trailheads. Townsend, on the quiet side of Tennessee, suits Cades Cove and Elkmont. Backcountry campsites and shelters, including spots along the Appalachian Trail, need a permit and reservation.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A day in Great Smoky Mountains costs roughly US$60 to 110 for a backpacker, since the park itself charges no entrance fee. The main costs are parking, camping and food.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntranceUS$0Free entry, but a parking tag is required: US$5 per day, US$15 per week, US$40 per year.
AccommodationUS$15 to 30 (camping); US$40 to 90 (hostel or motel)Backcountry permit about US$8 per person per night; developed campgrounds US$25 to 36 per site; town motels climb sharply in October.
Local TransportUS$0 to 20Little public transit, so budget for rides, shuttles or shared fuel.
Food and SuppliesUS$15 to 30Groceries in Gatlinburg, Bryson City or Townsend; park food is limited.
Total Daily BudgetUS$60 to 110Based on high-season camping or budget lodging, food and transport.


source: nps.gov
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsWhere to hike in Great Smoky Mountains: trails for every level

Great Smoky Mountains offers hiking for every level, from paved strolls to multi-day ridge walks through spruce-fir forest, rhododendron tunnels and hardwood coves.
  • Alum Cave Trail: About 11 miles round trip to Mount LeConte, 7 to 9 hours, strenuous, rocky steps and cable-assisted sections with big drop-offs.
  • Laurel Falls Trail: 2.6 miles round trip, about 1.5 to 2 hours, easy, paved but with a steady grade.
  • Chimney Tops: About 3.5 miles round trip, 3 to 4 hours, strenuous, steep stairs to a rebuilt viewing platform.
  • Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion: About 8 miles round trip,
… read more 👉
Great Smoky Mountains offers hiking for every level, from paved strolls to multi-day ridge walks through spruce-fir forest, rhododendron tunnels and hardwood coves.
  • Alum Cave Trail: About 11 miles round trip to Mount LeConte, 7 to 9 hours, strenuous, rocky steps and cable-assisted sections with big drop-offs.
  • Laurel Falls Trail: 2.6 miles round trip, about 1.5 to 2 hours, easy, paved but with a steady grade.
  • Chimney Tops: About 3.5 miles round trip, 3 to 4 hours, strenuous, steep stairs to a rebuilt viewing platform.
  • Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion: About 8 miles round trip, 4 to 5 hours, moderate, narrow ridge with exposed rock views.
  • Abrams Falls Trail: 5 miles round trip, 3 hours, moderate, ends at a wide pool.
Black bears are common, so keep distance and store food properly. Wildlife also includes elk, deer, salamanders and synchronous fireflies in early summer near Elkmont. Public transport is minimal, so a car or shuttle from Gatlinburg is the practical way in; Elkmont requires parking tags at some trailheads, which cost a small fee. Entry is free, though parking tags are required. Summer weekends and October are very crowded, so start early.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Great Smoky Mountains is well managed, and most problems come from weather and underpreparation. Storms build quickly on the ridges, and temperatures at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) can run 10°C (18°F) below the valleys, so carry a rain layer and warm clothing even in summer. Trails are rooted and muddy, with creek crossings that swell after rain. Black bears are common. Store food in the cable systems or bear-proof canisters at campsites, never feed them, and stay at least 50 yards (46 m) away. Cell service is patchy, so download maps first.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 3 to 4 days for Great Smoky Mountains if you want to see Cades Cove, Kuwohi and a couple of day hikes such as Alum Cave Trail (about 18 km or 11 mi round trip to Mount LeConte). A weekend covers the highlights by road. A 3 to 5 day backpacking loop or a section of the Appalachian Trail takes 4 to 7 days.
Getting around Great Smoky Mountains without a car is difficult. Gatlinburg has a trolley system and a seasonal shuttle to some trailheads, but most of the park, including Cades Cove and Kuwohi, has no regular public transport. Hiker shuttles run from Gatlinburg and Bryson City for roughly US$30 to 80 per person, and the nearest major airport is Knoxville (about 1 hour away).
Great Smoky Mountains has no entrance fee, but all vehicles parking longer than 15 minutes need a Park It Forward parking tag: US$5 per day, US$15 per week or US$40 per year. Overnight backcountry trips require a permit, about US$8 per person per night, booked on recreation.gov. Campground sites run roughly US$25 to 36 per night and also need reservations in busy months.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American national parks near Great Smoky Mountains

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Great Smoky Mountains pairs well with a Blue Ridge Parkway drive through Asheville, giving you ridgeline hiking first and a walkable mountain city for food afterward. I would start in Cherokee side mornings, then finish in Asheville. Skip Gatlinburg on weekends.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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