Waterfalls
adorn most every stream in the Smokies. Only one waterfall, Meigs
Falls, is visible from the road. It is 12.9 miles west of the Sugarlands
Visitor Center, near the Townsend Wye. All others require hiking,
and range from easy to strenuous. Below is a listing of the Smokies'
best known falls:
Laurel
Falls is the easiest waterfall hike on the Tennessee side of
the park. It is 2.5 miles roundtrip, and follows a paved trail.
The trail cuts through the middle of a series of cascades. Laurel
Falls is 60 feet high.
Grotto
Falls is off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It is 2.4
miles roundtrip through a hemlock- dominated forest. Grotto Falls
is distinctive as the only waterfall in the park one can walk behind.
Chasteen
Creek Falls is a 4-mile roundtrip hike out of the Smokemont
Campground. A small, but graceful fall, this area makes for a good
moderate hike.
Indian
Creek Falls is a 1.5 mile roundtrip hike out of the Deep Creek
Area. Sliding down 35 feet of sloping rock strata, the water livens
and cools the air. Along the route is Toms Branch Falls, another
beautiful fall.
Henwallow
Falls is near Cosby Campground, south of Cosby, Tennessee. It
is 4.4 miles roundtrip along a moderate trail. This 45-foot fall
receives less visitation than many other area falls.
Abrams
Falls has the largest water volume of any park fall, and is
among the most photogenic. Abrams Falls is a 5-mile roundtrip hike.
The trail begins in the back of Cades Cove loop road and is a moderate
hike.
Ramsey
Cascades is a strenuous 8-mile roundtrip hike. The trailhead
begins in the Greenbrier Area. A magnificent scene, Ramsey Cascades
tumbles over 100 feet in a spectacular setting.
Rainbow
Falls, at 80 feet, is the highest single plunge water
takes in the park. It is a 5.5-mile roundtrip hike. It is
rated between
moderate and strenuous. This trail is a good challenge and reveals
a beautiful waterfall.
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More
than 850 miles of hiking trails traverse the Great Smoky Mountains.
They range from easy to difficult and provide half hour walks to
week-long backpacking trips. The Appalachian Trail runs for 70 miles
along the Park's top ridge. Pets are not allowed on any trails
except for the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
Backcountry camping requires a permit.
Safety
is important to consider when exploring the backcountry. Here
are a few basics to help you get started:
- Let
someone know your route and return time.
- Always
hike with another person.
- Carry
a current park trail map.
- Carry
2 small
flashlights or headlamps.
- Take
adequate water - minimum 2 quarts per person per day.
- All
water taken from the backcountry should be treated.
- Wear
shoes or boots that provide good ankle support.
- Carry
a small first aid kit.
- Check
the current weather
forecast and be prepared for quickly changing conditions.
With
so many options, the Smokies offer a tremendous number of hiking
opportunities. Mentioned below are a few of the most popular destinations:
Alum
Cave Trail. This is a 4.4 mile roundtrip hike, rated moderate.
It includes Arch Rock, a natural arch, Inspiration Point,
and the
Alum Cave Bluff. Inspiration Point offers a spectacular view of
the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River's upper basin.
The trail continues to Mt. Le Conte, and its beautiful viewpoints.
Roundtrip distance from the parking to Le Conte is 10 miles.
This
trail can be icy in winter.
Andrews
Bald. A 3.6 mile roundtrip hike, rated moderate. This
hike heads downslope to a bald. Excellent views open to the
south, toward
Fontana
Lake, and in early summer the azaleas explode with color. The
trail head is located at the end of Clingmans Dome Road, which
is closed from December through March.
Charlies
Bunion. This 8-mile roundtrip hike is rated strenuous.
Following the Appalachian Trail, this hike goes out to rocky
crags
along the
state-line ridge. It has excellent views. This trail can be icy
in winter.
These
are only a few suggestions. To order more information or buy
a hiking
map please visit the Great Smoky Mountains Association's Bookstore.
For
those who are interested in completing all of the more than 150
hiking
trails in the Smokies, you can now become a member of the 900 miler
club. For more information on how to join, click here.
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Pets are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, parking
areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash at all times.
The leash must not exceed 6 feet in length. Pets are only allowed
on two short walking paths--the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee
River Trail. Pets are not allowed on any other park trails. Pets
should not be left unattended in vehicles or RVs.
The Southern Highlands region offers an amazing variety of federal
public lands for recreation and enjoyment. Some public lands outside
the Smokies offer a wider range of recreational opportunities than
are available here, including hiking with you pet. For maps and
information about these national forests and recreation areas please
call the following numbers:
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (423) 286-7275
Chattahoochee National Forest (770) 297-3000
Cherokee National Forest (423) 476-9700
Mount Rodgers National Recreation Area (800) 628-7202
Nantahala National Forest (828) 257-4200
Pisgah National Forest (828) 257-4200
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Bicycles
can travel on most roads within the park. However, due to steep
terrain, narrow
road surfaces, and heavy automobile traffic, many park roads are
not well suited for safe and enjoyable bicycle riding.
Cades
Cove Loop Road is an exception. The 11-mile one way road, is a popular
bicycling area. It provides bicyclists with excellent opportunities
for wildlife viewing and touring 19th century homesites. During
summer and fall, bicycles may be rented at the Cades Cove store
(located near Cades Cove Campground). For information call (865)
448-9034. Beginning the second week in May, the loop road is closed
to motor vehicle traffic Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00
a.m. to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the cove. This
closure continues through the second-to-last Saturday in September.
Other
areas suitable for bicyclists include Greenbrier and Tremont roads
in Tennessee, and Lakeview Drive, and Cataloochee Valley in North
Carolina. Cyclists may also traverse unfinished portions of the
Foothills
Parkway in Tennessee. Download
a park map to locate these areas.
Safety
is always a major concern where cars and bicycles must share
the
road. The State of Tennessee requires that children age
16 and under wear a helmet. We strongly recommend that all riders wear
helmets,
use rear view mirrors, and ride properly fitted and well-maintained
bicycles. Please obey all traffic regulations.
There
are no mountain biking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. The Gatlinburg Trail, the Oconaluftee River Trail, and the
lower Deep Creek Trail are the only park trails on which bicycles
are allowed. Bicycles are prohibited on all other park trails.
Mountain
biking trails are open on national forest and recreation lands outside
Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For information on mountain
biking in these areas, please contact the following offices:
Chattahoochee
National Forest (770) 297-3000
Cherokee National Forest (423) 476-9700
Nantahala National Forest (828) 257-4200
Pisgah National Forest (828) 257-4200
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (423)
286-7275
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (800) 628-7207
The
Tsali Recreation Area in Nantahala National Forest (listed
above) is a popular mountain biking area.
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Great
Smoky Mountains National Park has about 2,115 miles of streams within
its boundaries, and protects one of the last wild trout habitats
in the eastern United States. The park offers a wide variety of
angling experiences from remote, headwater trout streams to large,
coolwater smallmouth bass streams. Most streams remain at or near
their carrying capacity of fish and offer a great opportunity to
catch these species throughout the year.
Fishing
is permitted year-round in the park, from 30 minutes before official
sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset. The park allows fishing
in most streams. Certain posted streams are closed to fishing, to
protect threatened fishes. Detailed information, including a complete
list of regulations and a map of fishable park waters, is available
at any visitor center or ranger station.
You must
possess a valid fishing license or permit from either Tennessee
or North Carolina. Either state license is valid throughout the
park and no trout stamp is required. Fishing licenses and permits
are not available in the park, but may be purchased in nearby towns.
Special permits are required for fishing in Gatlinburg and Cherokee.
Tennessee
License Requirements
Residents and nonresidents age 13 and older must have a valid
license. Residents age 65 and older may obtain a special license
from the state.
North
Carolina License Requirements
Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older need a license. Residents
age 70 and older may obtain a special license from the state.
Persons
under 16 in North Carolina and under 13 in Tennessee are entitled
to the adult daily bag and possession limits and are subject to
all other regulations.
Daily
possession limits:
- Any
combination of rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass totaling
5
- 20
rockbass
- A
person must stop fishing once reaching the limit
Size
limits
- Rainbow
and brown trout: 7in. minimum
- Smallmouth
bass: 7in. minimum
- Rockbass:
no minimum
- Trout
or smallmouth bass caught less than the legal length shall be
immediately returned to the water from which it was taken.
Lures,
bait, and equipment
- Fishing
is permitted only by the use of one hand-held rod.
- Only
artificial flies or lures with a single hook may be used. Dropper
flies may be used. Up to two flies on a leader.
- Use
or possession of any form of fish bait or liquid scent other than
artificial flies or lures on or along any park stream while in
possession of fishing tackle is prohibited.
Prohibited baits include, but are not limited to, minnows (live
or preserved), worms, corn, cheese, bread, salmon eggs, pork rinds,
liquid scents and natural baits found along streams.
- Use
or possession of double, treble, or gang hooks is prohibited.
- Fishing
tackle and equipment, including creels and fish in possession,
are subject to inspection by authorized personnel.
Please
report violators to nearest ranger or to (865) 436-1294.
Safety
Standing and wading in streams can drain body heat and lead
to hypothermia. Rising water levels resulting from sudden mountain
storms occur quite frequently, so monitor water level. Water currents
are swifter than they appear and footing is treacherous on wet and
moss covered rocks. Additional information about water
safety.
Be
a clean fisherman
If there's a tangle of line, or an empty can at your feet, clean
up after your fellow angler.
Experimental
Brook Trout Fishery
Brook trout are the only native salmonid in the park. Since the
turn of the century, the brook trout has lost about 75% of its range
in the park due to logging and the introduction of the non-native
rainbow trout.
The park
has had an active brook trout restoration program since 1987. The
primary objective of this program is to restore native brook trout
populations to streams with natural barriers such as waterfalls
that prevent invasion of non-native trout species. To date, this
program has restored nine streams, and the restoration of eight
additional streams at mid-to-low elevations is planned. The park's
brook trout restoration efforts have restored 11.1 miles of stream
or 11% of the 97.5 miles of stream exclusively occupied by brook
trout.
Stream
acidity has increased 5-fold in high elevation streams in the last
20 years due to pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels. These
data add urgency to the need to restore brook trout to streams at
lower elevations with more stable water chemistry.
Because of the results of recent fisheries research and the success
of the park's brook trout restoration effort, park management has
opened sections of eight streams to brook trout fishing and harvest
on an experimental basis. Four of the stream segments are in North
Carolina and four are in Tennessee. The same possession and minimum
size restrictions apply to brook trout in these streams that apply
to trout fishing in other open park waters (maximum possession five
total fish, minimum length seven inches). The eight streams open
to brook trout fishing are shown on the map side of this folder
in yellow. The three-year experimental opening begins July 1, 2002.
The eight
open streams will be monitored annually and anglers catch and harvest
success will be periodically checked. At the conclusion of the experiment,
biologists will evaluate the data and make recommendations for the
future of brook trout fishing in the park.
Frequently
Asked Fishing Questions
Why can't I use bait?
The mission of the National Park Service is to protect and preserve
naturally functioning ecosystems. Research has shown that intentionally
or accidentally introduced non-native species of fish, animals,
and plants can have very serious negative impacts on native species.
In fact, non-native animals and fish now threaten many native fish
species in national parks.
Bait fishing is prohibited to prevent accidental introductions of
non-native aquatic organisms. Anglers often release unused bait
at the end of a day of fishing without realizing their bait can
may be filled with non-native organisms that may harm native fish.
The collection of naturally occurring bait is also prohibited because
it may upset natural ecological balances in habitats where collection
occurs.
Historic
information shows that fish caught with corn or bread suffer higher
hooking mortality, which may alter the natural age and size structure
within the fish community. Chumming with corn or bread is illegal
under National Park Service regulations.
Why
doesn't the park stock fish?
Fishing has been a part of the historic use of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park since its creation. From 1934 to 1974 the fishery
management program stocked fish for recreational angling. Non-native
rainbow trout and northern strains of brook trout were stocked in
most of the park's major stream systems through the early 1950s.
From then until 1975, stocking occurred only in heavily fished streams
and in stream segments adjacent to campgrounds and picnic areas.
During this latter period, park managers realized that stocking
non-native fish was inconsistent with National Park Service policies
and this practice was eliminated in 1975.
National Park Service policies state that in natural areas like
the Smokies stocking is only permitted to re-establish native species.
The only stocking practiced today seeks to restore endangered and
threatened native species like the Smoky Mountain madtom and the
spotfin chub to waters where they once thrived.
Fisheries monitoring activities in the park have clearly shown that
stocking is not needed. This information shows that many park streams
have 2,000-4,000 trout per mile. Many of these are 4"-8"
rainbow trout, but in some streams brown trout 8"-20"
are commonly found.
Why
can't I use a treble hook?
Many of the fish which anglers catch do not meet the park's size
limits and must be released. Current fisheries research indicates
treble hooks cause higher hooking mortality rates than single hook
lures.
Where's
the best place to fish?
The park offers a wide variety of angling experiences from remote,
headwater trout streams to large, coolwater smallmouth bass streams.
Most streams remain at or near their carrying capacity of fish and
offer a great opportunity to catch these species throughout the
year. So the reality is that the best place to fish depends on the
type of experience each angler desires. Remember, fishing pressure
tends to be highest nearest the roads.
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Horseback
Riding
Renting
a Horse
If you
wish to rent a horse, horseback riding by the hour is available
at commercial stables located in the park from mid-March through
late November. There are four stables in the park where you
can rent horses. Rates average $20 per hour. Weight limits and
age
restrictions may apply. Please call the stable you are interested
in for operating
hours and hourly rates.
- Cades
Cove, near Townsend, TN (865) 448-6286
(also offers hayrides and carriage rides)
- Smokemont,
near Cherokee, NC (828) 497-2373
- Smoky
Mountain, near Gatlinburg, TN (865) 436-5634. Visit
website for additional information.
- Sugarlands,
near Gatlinburg, TN (865) 436-3535.
Bringing
Your Horse to the Park
About
550 miles of the park's hiking trails are open to horses. Horses
are restricted to trails specifically designated for horse use.
If you wish to ride your own horse in the park, please obtain
a
copy of the park's trail map. This map indicates the trails on
which you may ride horses and explains the park's rules and
regulations
concerning horse riding in the backcountry. It also provides information
about backcountry camping, and permit requirements. To obtain
an
official trail map, stop at any park visitor center or call (865)
436-0120. The cost of the map is $1. You may also download
a trail map.
Horses
are allowed only on trails specifically designated for horse use.
Off-trail or cross-country riding is prohibited. Horse riders may
use designated campsites located on trails open to their use, however
some backcountry campsites must be reserved in advance. These sites
are indicated on the park's trail map.
Five
drive-in horse camps provide ready access to backcountry horse trails
in the park. Camps are located at Cades Cove (Anthony Creek), Big
Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Towstring. Horse camps are
open from April through October. Reservations are required and may
be made for all five-horse camps through the National Park Reservation
Service by calling 1-800-365-2267 (park code GRE) between 10 a.m.
and 10 p.m. or by visiting the web site http://reservations.nps.gov.
Please write down your reservation number-you will need it when
you register at the horse camp.
Fees
are $20 per site, except for Big Creek, which is $25 per site. You
must pay for the site when you make your reservation. Fees are not
accepted at the horse camp. Payment can be made by credit card.
Personal checks are accepted only if the reservation is made at
least 20 days in advance.
Each
campsite has a limit of six people and four horses. If you have
more than six people or four horses, you will need to reserve another
site. Sites vary, but generally you are permitted to have two vehicles
and two trailers (horse or camping) at each site.
A cancellation
fee will be charged if you cancel your reservation or if we cancel
your reservation because you fail to show up. You will also be charged
for one night's camping fee if you cancel on or after the day your
reservation begins or you fail to show up. To make changes to your
reservation or to cancel, please call 1-800-388-2733. If you will
be arriving late (i.e. after noon of the second day), please phone
865-436-1230 to hold your reservation.
Auto-access
horse camps have picnic tables, grills, designated parking spaces
(usually gravel), refuse containers, hitch racks and space to pitch
a tent or two. Big Creek has flush toilets with cold water. Other
horse camps have portable toilets and no drinking water. Water is
available for horses either in the campground or at a nearby stream.
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Picnicking
in the park
Picnic
areas are located at Big Creek, Chimney Tops, Cades Cove, Collins
Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, Heintooga, Look Rock, Metcalf
Bottoms, and Twin Creeks. Download
a park map to view the location of picnic areas in the park.
The picnic
areas at Cades Cove, Chimney Tops, Cosby, Deep Creek, Greenbrier,
and Metcalf Bottoms remain open year-round. The remaining picnic
areas are closed during the winter.
All picnic
areas have pavilions except Chimneys and Cades Cove. The picnic
pavilions at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek, Metcalf Bottoms,
and Twin Creeks can be reserved for groups up to five months in
advance by calling 1-800-365-2267, or on the internet at http://reservations.nps.gov.
All pavilions except Twin Creeks cost $20 per use. Twin Creeks'
fee ranges from $35-75 depending on the usage. Payment can be made
by credit card or personal check at the time the reservation is
made.
Please
remember that feeding bears and other wildlife is illegal.
The black bear symbolizes the invaluable wilderness qualities of
Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But bears are dying unnecessarily
due to improper disposal of garbage or illegal feeding by visitors.
A bears remarkable sense of smell may lead it to human foods,
such as a picnickers cooler, garbage left in the open, or
food scraps thrown on the ground or left in the grill. A bear that
has discovered human food or garbage will eventually become day-active
and leave the safety of the backcountry. It may panhandle along
roadsides and be killed by a car or it may injure a visitor and
have to be euthanized. Please do your part to help protect black
bears and other wildlife in the Great Smokies. Clean your
picnic area, including the grill and the ground around the table,
thoroughly after your meal. Thank you.
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Ranger-led
Programs
Ranger-led programs are offered during spring, summer, and early
fall in the park. The 2006 schedule of programs will
begin in mid-April.
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