Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Hiking, Camping, Scenic Drives

by Jason Frye

Overview

From majestic mountaintops to lush forests and untouched wilderness, experience the best of the Smokies with Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Inside you'll find:

• Flexible itineraries: Unique and adventure-packed ideas ranging from one day in the park to a week-long trip
• The best hikes in the Great Smokies: Detailed hike descriptions with mileage, duration, elevation gains, and difficulty ratings, plus individual trail maps and options for backpackers
• Experience the outdoors: Cruise along Newfound Gap Road for epic views from scenic overlooks and watch "smoky" mists rise up through the valleys. Spot local wildlife like 700-pound elk, black bears, and vast herds of white-tailed deer. Savor the refreshing solitude of a night camping under the stars or enjoy a twinkling light show from Elkmont's synchronous fireflies. Trek a segment of the Appalachian Trail, wander through remnants of the region's historic settlements, or try your hand at fly-fishing
• Take a break: Unwind after a day of adventure at one of the trendy craft breweries that earned Asheville the title of "Beer City USA." Head to Dollywood for square-dancing, catching a show, or gliding down the lazy river at Splash Country. Soak in the sweet sounds of Tennessee's music scene, sample some fiery moonshine, or shop for Appalachian folk art
• How to get there: Up-to-date information on gateway towns, park entrances, and tours
• Where to stay: Campgrounds, resorts, and more, both inside and outside the park
• Helpful resources on Covid-19 and traveling to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Planning tips: When to go, what to pack, safety information, and how to avoid the crowds, with full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
• Expertise and know-how: Explore the park with nature lover and Smoky Mountains expert Jason Frye

Find your adventure in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Moon.

Hitting more of North America's national parks? Check out Moon USA National Parks. Road-tripping? Try Moon Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail or Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip.
 

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640496439
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Series:	Travel Guide
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	133,932
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Though Jason Frye calls the coast of North Carolina home, his heart is with the mountains. Born and raised in the rugged Appalachian foothills in southern West Virginia, he developed an affinity for hiking and exploring the woods, coves, and hollows of the hills. His family vacationed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

His love for this landscape deepens with each visit. Jason and his wife Lauren spend as much time as possible exploring the outdoors: wandering the woods and wilds, kayaking the marshes and waterways, and even hang gliding.

Jason is the author of several Moon guidebooks, including Moon North Carolina and Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip. He also contributes to Salt magazine, AAA Go!, Our State and Our State Eats food blog, the Wilmington StarNews, where he is a features contributor and dining critic, the Raleigh News and Observer, the Charlotte Observer, the blog of Virgin Atlantic Airlines, and a number of other print and online publications.

Table of Contents

Discover Great Smoky Mountains National Park 6

8 Top Experiences 10

Planning Your Trip 16

If You're Looking For 18

Best of the Smokies 22

Best of the Park in One Day 23

Family Fun 25

Best Hikes 27

Escape the Crowds 28

Wildlife-Watching 30

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 31

Exploring the Park 37

Newfound Gap Road 44

Eastern Smokies 55

Western Smokies 77

Transportation and Services 97

Appalachian Trail 100

Tennessee Gateways 107

Gatlinburg 109

Pigeon Forge and Sevierville 123

Knoxville 133

North Carolina Gateways 146

Maggie Valley 148

Cherokee and the Qualla Boundary 148

Bryson City and the Nantahaln Forest 164

Robbinsville and the Valley Towns 170

Asheville 176

Background 202

The Landscape 202

Plants 205

Animals 207

Local Culture 208

Essentials 213

Transportation 213

Recreation 216

Travel Tips 217

Resources 225

Suggested Reading 225

Internet Resources 226

Index 229

List of Maps 235

Editorial Reviews

"Moon handbooks are always a pleasure to read. The writing is crisp, the research impressive, and the recommendations practical and down to earth."—Chicago Tribune

“The books are more easily readable than other guides. The main attractions are also marked with a special icon and sidebars and boxes highlight special information, making the Moon handbooks one of the most user-friendly guides in terms of visual appeal and organization…the quality is uniformly excellent."—Transitions Abroad

"Far from narrow minded, each Moon travel guide gives itinerary options for a variety of travelers’ budgets—from frugal to lavish. They make books catering to those who love the outdoors, those who have limited time, those staying exclusively in cities and those who’ve fully committed to living abroad. In all, they have hundreds of titles, ranging Bermuda to Budapest, that’ll teach you to embrace a new culture."—Gear Patrol, “The Best Travel Guidebooks for Every Journey”

"Moon handbooks have become known as well-written and exceptionally informative guides."—The New York Times

"Moon guides are perfect for the relaxed road tripper or outdoor explorer."—No Small Plan

"Moon handbooks are known for cannily combining logistical information with cultural background of a country or state."—Los Angeles Times

From the Publisher