Things to do in  Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Museum of the Cherokee People is home to vibrant displays that tell the story of the Cherokees, from their paleo ancestry to their current lifestyles. Far more than an exhibit of artifacts, the museum keeps the tribe’s culture alive through education, events, and traditional gatherings.

Nestled deep in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains lies the beautiful Roaring Fork Motor Trail, a scenic 5.5-mile (8.8-kilometer) loop that winds past cascading waterfalls, historic log cabins, and the Roaring Fork Stream. The quiet and peaceful setting brings people from all walks of life.

Tucked away in the Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the valley of Cades Cove is one of the park’s most-loved destinations thanks to its scenic beauty, cultural heritage, and plentiful wildlife. Once a Cherokee hunting ground, the area is home to white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, and wild turkeys.

Hilo’s Rainbow Falls is a real-life Hawaiian postcard. This waterfall sits at the top of the Wailuku River on the Big Island of Hawaii. As it cascades down, the mist and sun create rainbows near it at certain times of the day. Unlike other Hawaiian paradises, the paved trail up to it makes it accessible to almost anyone.

Nestled in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains is the Chimney Tops Trail—a hiking trail many visitors like to take on for its panoramic views of the Chimney Tops and Mt. Le Conte. Not suited for beginners, this strenuous trek is well worth the effort it takes to get to the top. You’ll follow uphill stretches, stone steps, and bridges to arrive at a viewing area you won’t soon forget.

One of the most popular historic attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont Ghost Town gives you a taste of what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains more than a century ago. See how the area transformed from a logging camp to a resort town for Knoxville’s elite, plus visit the fully restored clubhouse and eclectic 20th-century cabins that are still standing today.

Carving its way through the Great Smoky Mountains, the Newfound Gap might as well be the bold, black line marking the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina. This low mountain pass has a 31-mile (50-kilometer) roadway, making it the highest driveable route through the Smokies. You’ll see the colors of the evergreen spruce trees as you drive through the center of the national park.

The Foothills Parkway stretches for 72 miles (115 kilometers) through Tennessee, but less than a third of it is actually open to the public—only 22.5 miles (36 kilometers) are driveable, and the rest has been under construction since 1944. As expected, the three finished segments have far fewer visitors than other roadways, making the Foothills Parkway a quieter, more relaxed route through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

An easy trail for any visitor to Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this half-mile (0.8-kilometer) loop takes trekkers along a paved, flat forest walkway with views of towering trees, roaring streams, and historic stone chimneys. This route is ideal for those who want to see the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains up close without tackling the park’s more challenging trails.

Mingus Mill is a historic grist mill in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was the largest mill in the area when it was built in 1886, serving hundreds of pioneer families. The original family that owned the structure sold it to the national park in the 1930s, though it’s still operational today for demonstration purposes. Nearby, there’s also a small cemetery for the enslaved people who labored under the Mingus family.

The Quiet Walkways in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park get their name for being unusually quiet and less crowded. The 14 hidden-gem trails, marked throughout the park with small brown signs with white lettering, are great for families because of their ease. Most trails lead to a creek or stream with plenty of room to appreciate nature.