The Smokies are full of waterfalls, beautiful mountain overlooks, scenic hiking trails, historic sites, and many other cool things to see. Want to discover a few points of interest to check out while you’re in the area? Here are the top 6 places you should visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
1. Cades Cove
The most popular place people love to visit is Cades Cove. You can do just about everything, from driving and hiking to fishing and having a picnic. The Cades Cove Scenic Loop is 11 miles of paved road where you can drive or even bike the loop to take in the beauty of the Smokies. You might see black bears and other wildlife, and you’ll definitely get beautiful mountain views! You can stop almost anywhere along the road to walk through historic buildings or take a hike along one of several nature trails, and you’ll find a fantastic picnic area just outside the Loop Road entrance.
2. Kuwohi
Another great place to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). This incredible overlook is off Newfound Gap Road, and you’ll hike up a steep half-mile paved path to get to the observation tower. Once you’re at the top, you’ll have an incredible panoramic view of the Smokies. On clear days, you will be able to see up to 100 miles away; in fact, Kuwohi is actually the tallest point of elevation in the national park!
3. Andrews Bald
If you want to see a beautiful view of the Smokies at the end of a family-friendly hiking trail, you should hike to Andrews Bald. The roundtrip length is 3.6 miles, and the trail is considered moderate. The view from the bald at the end of the trail is worth it! A bald is a meadow on the top of a mountain, and there are beautiful wildflowers in the spring and summer and an incredible year-round view of the mountains from Andrews Bald.
4. Alum Cave Bluffs
Want to see unique geological features? You’ll have the opportunity to see all kinds of natural features along the Alum Cave Trail, including Arch Rock and several rock staircases that have been added to make the trail a bit easier to climb. You’ll find old forest growth and plenty of mountain views along this trail, especially at Inspiration Point. Once you reach the bluffs, you’ll be amazed by their size at over 80 feet! This out-and-back trail is around 5 miles roundtrip and considered moderate; you can keep going for another 5 or so if you want to hike to the summit of Mount LeConte!
5. Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls is a beautiful waterfall to hike to that’s less than 3 miles roundtrip. While only 25 feet tall, it’s one of the unique waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because it’s the only one you can walk behind. Just take special care since the mist and algae can make the rocks extra slippery. It can also be a great place to see a ton of salamanders and other amphibians too!
6. Foothills Parkway
If you prefer to go on a scenic drive instead of hiking, you should go on the Foothills Parkway. You’ll see beautiful mountain views along this drive, from Mount Cammerer to Thunderhead Mountain (aka Rocky Top). There are also quite a few places where you can pull off and areas to get out and explore or have a picnic. We recommend taking the short hike to the Look Rock observation tower!
You won’t want to miss out on seeing these places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Now you just need to plan your trip to the Smokies since you know what you want to see when you’re here! Look through our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals and pick the best one for your next vacation!
