Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Only A Day at Great Smoky
If you only have one day to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drive along Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) between the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers, beginning at either visitor center. Newfound Gap Road, one of the park's two main roads, is the trans-mountain road that connects Tennessee to North Carolina, offering spectacular panoramic views.
Drive south to Oconaluftee, stopping first at Sugarlands Visitor Center to get information and an overview of the park.
A short drive leads to Chimneys Picnic Area, where there is the 0.75-mile, self-guiding Cove Hardwood Nature Trail. Chimney Tops Overlooks have a view of the twin summits called Duniskwalguni, which means "Forked Antlers" in Cherokee. Those who are fit can hike the steep Chimney Tops Trail through a virgin forest to the pinnacles for which the trail and overlooks are named.
Continue on Newfound Gap Road to Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Just beyond the visitor center is Mountain Farm Museum, a collection of farm buildings. Here, costumed interpreters reenact 19th-century farm life from the spring through late October. Nearby Mingus Mill is where a miller in period dress demonstrates how people ground grain for their daily bread.
To finish off your day, spend the evening in Gatlinburg (please see pages 38—42 for more information).
Ranger Picks: Favorite Places at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Glenn Taylor, Biologist—Brushy Mountain is a heath bald and I enjoy the impressive views on a clear day.
Nancy Gray, Park Ranger—Boogerman Trail in Cataloochee is a great hike through old growth forest presenting lush green forest in the summer. If you get to Cataloochee early in the morning, you can see elk in the fields or if you finish your hike later in the afternoon you most likely will have another good chance to see elk.
KK Stuart, Supervisory Park Ranger—I enjoy taking the boat ride across Fontana Lake, especially in the fall.
Kent Cave, Interpretive Media Branch Chief—One of the prettiest views of the Park is from any of several overlooks on the Foothills Parkway-East. You can see a spectacular panorama—Mt. Cammerer to Mt. LeConte.
Smoky Mountains In Depth
News from the Parks
Gettysburg Address to Return for Visitor Center Grand Opening
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
Anglers Wary of North Cascades Plan to Limit Fishing
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
Bison Advocates Go for Space
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
Rapid Climate Change Threatens to Thaw Icy Wonderland of Alaska
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
Park Seeks Construction Comment
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
