How Much Do You Know About Trees in the Smokies?
Do you know the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with 130 different types of trees? During the fall months, visitors take a trip to the Smokies to see all of the fall colors. You can see all of the beautiful colors and trees on your trip to the Smoky Mountains, so we decided to put together a list of things you probably don’t know about trees in the Smokies.
Things You Don’t Know About the Trees
- The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unique because it has over 100 native species of trees. Other national parks have fewer than 15 native trees, so the Smokies have a variety of trees that make up the beautiful park.
- Oak trees are one of the most important parts of the national park. There are 12 species of oak trees in the Smoky Mountains, and they are very important to the wildlife in the park. The acorns that are produced are a food source to the wildlife during the fall months.
- The oldest tree in the Great Smoky Mountains is a blackgum that still stands at 562 years old.
- One of the tallest trees in the Smoky Mountains is a white pine tree that reaches 186 feet tall.
- The Smoky Mountains have a large population of tulip trees, including some that measure over 20 feet wide.
Don’t let the national park closure stop you from enjoying the colors of the Smokies. There are still roadways through the national park, like Newfound Gap Road and the Gatlinburg Bypass, for seeing all of the eye-catching trees. If you drive the Gatlinburg Bypass, you can stop at the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook to take breathtaking photos of the mountains.
To keep up to date on information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and to see beautiful fall photos, take a look at Visit My Smokies Facebook page.
