An enjoyable escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown gatlinburg that extends to the sugarlands visitor center. This is your source for park information if you arrive from gatlinburg, tennessee, which is located only a few miles outside the park boundary. Beautiful trail along the stream takes you to the visitor center. Stop at sugarlands visitor center to view a free 20minute film about the park.
Every trip to the smokies begins with a drive on the newfound gap road, so pack a picnic and see highlights along the way, including the sugarlands visitor center, newfound gap. Visitor center museum exhibits tell the story of life in these mountains from native americans and early european settlement time periods through the civilian conservation corp and the development of the national park. One of the most popular areas in the park, the cades cove valley is known for its abundant. Situated outside the historic mountain farm museum, the visitor center serves as the gateway to great smoky mountains national park with all its natural beauty, outdoor attractions, and amenities. The adjacent mountain farm museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse. Smoky mountain information visitor center hours, information. Smoky mountains visitor center at townsend tn vacation. We love the national park service and came to the smoky mountains a few years back to explore our local national park. Formerly the site of a cherokee village and appalachian community, the valleys bottomland is now home to the main entrance to the north carolina side of the great smoky mountains national park. When you enter the park for free, might we add, stop by one of the visitor centers there is a lot to see and do in great smoky mountains national park and you can make the most of your time by asking a ranger or volunteer about weather conditions, road closures, and any other factors that might affect your time in the park. About smoky mountain visitor center the center is the hub of the cosby community and focal point of many exciting events. Though the sky harbor resort area is located just on the other side of gatlinburg, these rentals are still only minutes away from the sugarlands entrance to the national park and the smokies main visitor center. Highway 441 newfound gap road near cherokee, north carolina. Sugarlands visitor center near gatlinburg, tn january february 8 a.
This coincides with the partial reopening of the great smoky mountains national park. In addition to the interior exhibits, there are three great hikes all. Are there hikes located atnear sugarlands visitor center. An extensive collection of trail guides atsugarlands visitor center sat this great smoky national park visitors center, you can find a map for almost every trail in the park. Sugarlands visitor center smoky mountain national park. Oconaluftee visitor center and mountain farm museum in. The closures are in response to efforts to inhibit the spread of the coread more. The visitor center provides information on the park, including maps and. Townsend is the peaceful side of the smokies, a gateway community to the great smoky mountain national park. Cabins near sugarlands visitor center smoky mountains. Sugarlands visitors center great smoky mountains national park. Great smoky mountains national park visitor center in cherokee nc. An extensive collection of trail guides atsugarlands visitor centersat this great smoky national park visitors center, you can find a map for almost every trail in the park. Four visitor centers are located within the national park at cades cove, oconaluftee, sugarlands and clingmans dome.
All visitor centers in great smoky mountains national park have an information desk where you can pick up a park brochure and ask questions, a book souvenir store, exhibits, and restrooms. Download the official national park map to see the major park roads, rivers, park visitor centers, and the appalachian trail which bisects the park. Park entrances to great smoky mountains national park the majority of visitors enter through the sugarlands entrance on the parks north side by driving through gatlinburg, tennessee. This steep 4miler gains 1,400 feet in just two miles. Great smoky mountains national park visitor center in. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park. Your guide to the great smoky mountains national park. The mountain farm museum and oconaluftee visitor center are located at the entrance to the great smoky mountains national park on u. Dec 21, 2019 the sugarlands visitor center provides a fantastic introduction to the great smoky mountains national park with maps, natural history exhibits and a free 20minute film about the park. Sugarlands visitors center great smoky mountains national. Great smoky mountains national park has a visitor center in the sugarlands area, located just outside gatlinburg, tennessee at the entrance to the park. This trail will take you from the town of gatlinburg to the sugar. From nearby laurel falls to the chimney tops, youll find the location and routes to some of the the favorite trails in the smokies as well as hidden gems with fewer hikers.
Great smoky mountains national park offers 800 miles of trails to accommodate hikers of all levels. The townsend spring festival features bluegrass and mountain music, arts and crafts booths, wildflower walks, demonstrations of appalachian skills, traditional food including bbq, ice cream, and cast iron cooking. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of southern appalachian mountain culture, this is americas most visited national park. Theres over 800 square miles of land that is made up of hiking trails, driving tours and historic sites, so theres a. Best mountain biking trails in great smoky mountains. Great smoky mountains national park oconaluftee visitor. Visitor centers in great smoky mountains national park my. Open year round, sugarlands offers public restrooms and telephones, a free 20minute video, exciting plant and animal exhibits, the natural history associations bookstore and gift shop, backcountry permit station, snack machines, seasonal rangerled programs, and a. Its one of the most popular in great smoky mountains national park, so hit the trail early to miss the crowds.
Check out two museums in this visitor center just north of cherokee, nc. Jan 31, 2019 the great smoky mountains national park visitor centers offer a variety of resources that help you to navigate through the park and have a truly memorable time. Great smoky mountains national park mountain biking. Points of interest great smoky mountains national park. To get to the sugarlands visitor center, proceed through downtown gatlinburg on the main parkway. The sugarlands visitor center features a 21minute movie about the great smoky mountains national park, nature exhibits, hiking see below, park exhibits, gift. Great smoky mountains national park sugarlands visitor. You can support great smoky mountains national park by becoming a member of gsma, shopping in our stores, and participating in the many exciting programs we offer. Oconaluftee visitor in great smoky mountains national park. The oconaluftee visitor center is great smoky mountains national parks first new visitor service facility to be constructed since the early 1960s. Your guide to the great smoky mountains national park visitor. At 10 am on saturday, may 9, the heritage center will reopen its outdoor facilities the village as well. Stop into one of these convenient smoky mountain visitor centers to learn more about the national park, plan your visit, speak with a park ranger, or to purchase great smoky mountain national park merchandise.
Oconaluftee visitor center holiday homecoming heysmokies. Visitor centers great smoky mountains national park u. Great smoky mountain national park visitor centers close march 17, 2020. Townsend vacation guide smoky mountain tourism blount tourism. One of the best spots to begin your visit to the great smoky mountains national park is at a visitor center. The 10 best great smoky mountains national park visitor centers. For your convenience, here is a guide to each of the visitor centers in the park.
Smoky mountain information on visitor center hours, locations, exhibits and. The center is staffed daily except christmas by knowledgeable, helpful park rangers and volunteers. Visitor centers in great smoky mountains national park. Great smoky mountains national park hosts the oconaluftee visitor center holiday homecoming on saturday, december 16, 2017. Nice trail to jog or mountain bike along the river. In a field behind the oconaluftee visitors center and along the oconaluftee river, the park service has recreated a late 19th century mountain farm with authentic log structures moved from their original locations. The oconaluftee visitor center is a great source of information about visiting great smoky mountains national park. They are sugarlands, cades cove, clingmans dome, and oconaluftee.
Your guide to the smoky mountain visitor centers visit my smokies. The sugarlands visitor center provides a fantastic introduction to the great smoky mountains national park with maps, natural history exhibits and a free 20minute film about the park. May 03, 2020 the great smoky mountains heritage center is first and foremost a museum. This is actually the second oconaluftee visitor center. Across more than 800 square miles of western north carolina and eastern tennessee, great smoky mountains national park is home to amazing wildlife, breathtaking views, and some of the oldest mountains in the world. Jul 26, 2017 check out two museums in this visitor center just north of cherokee, nc. Great smoky mountains national park visitor centers. Apr 27, 2016 welcome to the great smoky mountains national park information page. Located on us 441 two miles north of cherokee at the park entrance, the oconaluftee visitor center is the parks main welcome and information center for the north carolina side. Additionally, these smoky mountain visitor centers offer. Visit nc smokies visitor center the visit nc smokies visitor center in maggie valley offers regional brochures, maps, directions, a calendar of events and public restrooms. Smoky mountain national park shares a guide to the great smoky mountains national park visitor centers, including the facilities that are offered, and more.
There is plenty of free parking near the visitor center. The park straddles the ridgeline of the great smoky mountains, part of the blue ridge mountains, which are a division of the larger appalachian mountain chain. Best mountain biking trails in great smoky mountains national. Operated by the nonprofit great smoky mountains association, proceeds generated by purchases at the store are donated to educational, scientific, and historical projects in the park. Find the information you need to plan your next adventure. Park staff and volunteers will provide handson traditional crafts and activities from 10. Oconaluftee visitor center and mountain farm museum in great. Has great smoky mountains national park reached its. Four visitor centers are located within the national park at cades cove. You dont have to be scottish in order to enjoy this unique. Enjoy your ride, but please be careful around pedestrians on the trail. The chimney tops trail twists up sugarland mountain by gushing streams and beautiful outlooks. Elk were reintroduced to the park in 2001 after being.
Great smoky mountains national park gatlinburg, tn. Oconaluftee visitor center, great smoky mountains national park. Great smoky mountains national park sugarlands visitor center. We provide visitor information to the area and have delightful people to answer all your questions when drop by. Visitors flock to great smoky mountains national park. Sugarlands visitor center near gatlinburg smoky mountains. Dec 27, 2019 avian report get outside great smoky mountains national park visitor s guide, national parks, smoky mountains great smoky mountains national park simonflickrcc by 2. Stop by the oconaluftee visitor center for plenty of maps, guides, exhibits, helpful park rangers and programs. Online store for books, maps, and guides to the park. The main visitor centers are sugarlands and oconaluftee. The sugarlands visitor center is one of four visitor centers in great smoky mountains national park, though it and the oconaluftee visitor center near cherokee, north carolina, are the two main ones. Gps went out halfway back its roughly 4 miles outback from the gatlinburg parkway. Gatlinburg trail great smoky mountains national park. Great smoky mountains national park visitor center information.
The outdoor mountain farm museum and the restrooms are open but there is no date set for the visitor center opening. With over 11 million visitors each year, the great smoky mountains national park is, by far, the most visited national park in the united states. The sugarlands visitor center features a 21minute movie about the great smoky mountains national park, nature exhibits, hiking see below, park exhibits, gift shop, restrooms, and plenty of free parking. Gatlinburg trail is one of only four trails in the park where visitors may ride bikes. The centers offer a bookstore and gift shop, park maps, restroom facilities, and telephones. The appalachian trail passes through the center of the park on its route from maine to georgia. Smoky mountain national park hours visit my smokies. Townsend vacation guide smoky mountain tourism blount. Stop in and we will help make your great smoky mountains and blue ridge parkway vacation one youll never forget.
The cades cove visitor center is located inside the park near the midpoint of the oneway cades cove loop road. Children and adults will have the opportunity to learn about and experience some of the traditions surrounding an appalachian christmas. Review of oconaluftee visitor center in national park. Oconaluftee visitor center great smoky mountains national. The cades cove visitor center is located about midway on the 11mile, oneway cades cove loop road. Visitor centers in great smoky mountains national park my smoky. The civilian conservation corps ccc built the original. Avian report get outside great smoky mountains national park visitors guide,national parks,smoky mountains great smoky mountains national park simonflickrcc by 2. The oconaluftee visitor centerthe first visitor center in great smoky mountains national park built since the 1960sserves as a fantastic introduction to this most popular of u. What to pack for a great smoky mountains park vacation. Top great smoky mountains national park visitor centers. Visitor center visit nc smokies great smoky mountains.
After passing ski mountain road, you will enter the national park. Inside, exhibits on human history teach about native americans, pioneers, and the development of the national park. Details about driving distances, directions, current weather and road conditions can all be obtained at the visitor center. Great smoky mountains national parks mountain farm museum at oconaluftee visitor center will see new growth this summer with the construction of a. There are three entrances to great smoky mountains national park from gatlinburg, and every one takes you into a section of the 800 square miles of unspoiled appalachia. Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area.
Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park. Formerly the site of a cherokee village and appalachian community, the valleys bottomland is now home to the main entrance to the north carolina side of the great smoky mountains national park the oconaluftee area parallels the oconaluftee river as its basin gradually. Great smoky mountains national park visitor centers gifts books. The visitor center provides information on the park, including maps and other information. Exhibits in the center provide an overview of the history of the area and the rare sprucefir forest ecosystem. The gatlinburg trail begins behind great smoky mountains national parks maintenance. While restrooms are open, there is no date set for the visitor center opening.
Theres over 800 square miles of land that is made up of hiking trails, driving tours and historic sites, so theres a way for everyone to see the smokies. Great smoky mountains national park is an american national park in the southeastern united states, with parts in tennessee and north carolina. This visitor center is located just 2 miles inside the gatlinburg entrance to the park on us441. Welcome to the great smoky mountains national park information page. A male elk lays in a field along us 441, north of the oconaluftee visitor center in the great smoky mountains national park on oct. Cades cove, clingmans dome, oconaluftee, and sugarlands. The featured photo above is cades cove visitor center. The three visitor centers are open daily and the operating hours are as follows.
The national park has 5 visitor centers located either inside the park or at the entrance to the park. The national park service maintains four official visitor centers inside great smoky mountains national park. Sugarlands visitors center, great smoky mountains national park. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between north carolina and tennessee in great smoky mountains national park. Great smoky mountains national park has over 4,000 species of plants that grow there. Plan your visit great smoky mountains national park u. The border between the two states runs northeast to southwest through the center of the park. Pi beta phi elementary school students emily blankenship, center, and marc muszik, right, ride the cades cove loop thursday, sept. Mountain farm museum great smoky mountains national park. The park contains some of the highest mountains in eastern north america, including clingmans. Sugarlands was a very nice little visitor center and there were several excellent trails that originated from the visitors center, which was very convenient. Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Great smoky mountains national park is almost open with.
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