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father and son in the Great Smoky Mountains

Top 10 Simple Facts About the Smoky Mountains for Outdoor Lovers

Do you love the great outdoors, especially the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Did you know that 8 to 10 million people visit the Smoky Mountains every year, more than any other national park?

There are many reasons for visiting this gorgeous area, but here are a few facts about the Smoky Mountains that will have you choosing us for your next fun-filled outdoor vacation.

Facts For Everyone Who Loves Hiking

woman hiking in the Smoky Mountains1. There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

2. Of those 800 miles of trails, there are over 550 miles of trails that are open to horses.

3. June through October, the Smoky Mountains National Park provides guided hikes, history demonstrations and other park ranger-led programs. If you’ve never taken part in the park ranger programs, they’re a great addition to any vacation. You can get the full schedule of ranger programs by clicking HERE.

4. There are many places to hike where you can view amazing waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains, including Abrams Falls, Laurel Falls, Mingo Falls, Rainbow Falls, Ramsey Cascades and more!

old buildings in the Smoky MountainsFacts For History Lovers

5. Approximately 78 historic structures can be found throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at places like Cades Cove, Elkmont and more. For more information, take a look at: Historic Log Cabins in the Smoky Mountains.

Facts For Fishing Enthusiasts

fishing in the Smoky Mountains6. Do you know fishing is allowed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Do you know there are more than 2,115 miles of streams and rivers?

7. Permits are required to go fishing in the Smoky Mountains. The varieties of fish include brook, rainbow or brown trout, smallmouth and rock bass. Permits are required to fish in the Great Smoky Mountains. For more information on permits and limits visit here.

Smoky Mountain black bearFacts For Nature Lovers

8. The Smoky Mountains are home to over 4000 plants, 140 species of trees, 1600 black bears and approximately 1,500 species of Smoky Mountain wildflowers – more than any other national park in the United States. Other animal species found in the national park include the Eastern cottontail rabbit, red wolf, groundhog, red fox, coyote, bobcat, river otter, white-tailed deer, elk and wild boar.

9. One of our favorite facts about the Smoky Mountains: the national park is known as the “Salamander Capital of the World” since approximately 30 species of salamander can be found Smoky Mountain Salamandershere. You can find salamanders all over the park, but the best places to look are near streams and other damp areas.

10. The elevations in the national park range from 875 feet in the lowlands to 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome. This means there’s many different kinds of plants and animals, as well as hundreds of great places to take pictures! So, don’t forget your camera!

With these facts about the Smoky Mountains and your enjoyment of the great outdoors, then visiting the Great Smoky Mountains just makes great sense.

What do you like most about visiting the Smoky Mountains? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!