Most likely, you can pick out Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a map and you know who Dolly Parton is. But- Do you know the true age of the mountains or why they are called the “Smoky” Mountains? Continue reading to freshen up on your mountain facts. You’ll be the informative tell all travel guide among your Gatlinburg cabin crew in no time.
1. Free Entry Forever at Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park does NOT charge its visitors an entrance fee to enjoy the natural splendor through its waterways, hills, and valleys. The fact that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free is actually one of the high points as to why the park gains so many visitors per year. The perk of free entry to this park was made possible by an agreement as the Smoky Mountains were once a vast collection of private land. Tennessee and North Carolina paid to have a connecting road built to join the two communities. This is why Newfound Gap Road exists! When the land was passed on to the government, they made the government pledge in the agreement that they would NEVER ever charge a toll or license fee on the roadway. It is only about a 45-minute drive from our cabins in Gatlinburg to the Tennessee/North Carolina Divide.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Mountain Range Stand Tall As Some of the Oldest Mountains In The World!!
If you’re a Pangea believer- They say this mountain range matches the mountain range of Baltica and parts of Africa. One of the most intriguing facts about the Smoky Mountains is the fact that they are among the oldest mountains in the world! They are basically one gigantic archeological find. Scientists range their age to be between 200 and 300 MILLION years old! The exact age cannot be determined due to elemental factors such as erosion. At one point in time, scientists believe Appalachia was more like the Himalayan Mountains.
3. 800 Brilliant Miles of Hiking
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 150 official hiking trails for visitors. With so many options to choose from, the hiking fun is limitless! You can find a trail map just about anywhere in town. Two of the best places to locate one is at the Welcome Center on HWY 441 just before entering the city of Gatlinburg and also at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. There is a visitor center in Pigeon Forge Next to WonderWorks and The Opry as well. You will be flooded with information on trails and what each of them offers- whether its views, waterfalls, or both! With over 800 miles of hiking to enjoy, you can keep coming back year after year and pick up where you left off! If you plan to track your miles, you can obtain your 800-mile pin from the Park Service.
4. Waterfalls For Days
Waterfalls are very prominent in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are so many waterfalls in the park that it is pretty difficult to keep track of them all, however, we can give you the names of a few favorites: Abrams Falls, Meigs Falls, Laurel Falls, Ramsey Cascades, Rainbow Falls, and Grotto Falls!
5. There Are Roughly 2,900 Miles of Water In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
It is estimated that there are around about 2,900 miles of rushing, dripping, surging, and streaming water that flows throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park! That means nearly limitless opportunities for waterfall watching, catch and release fishing, and summertime swimming.
6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Is Actually A Rainforest
You read that correctly- Great Smoky Mountains National Park is indeed a subtropical rainforest due to the diversity of flora and fauna! The flora species collectively aid in the humidity and precipitation circulation process giving perfect conditions for countless plant life to thrive here. And because we have such diverse terrain and seasonal conditions, several types of animals and reptiles can call out mountains home.
To learn more about these amazing mountains, plan to visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center to watch an informative movie prior to entering the park. Sugarlands is only about 10-15 minutes from our Gatlinburg cabins. You can also stop by the Heritage Museum in Townsend on your way to historic Cades Cove. Booking your Smoky Mountain stay with Heartland Cabin Rentals and reveal new and interesting things about the Smokies along the way.
Hey, wait a second before you go! Be sure to check our Current Cabin Specials, Deals, and Discounts to see if your stay qualifies for a special discount! Book your cabin in Gatlinburg with Heartland Rentals for a memorable moment in the mountains.
