View source for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

{{Infobox national park
| name         = Great Smoky Mountains National Park
| image        = Great_Smoky_Mountains_view.jpg
| caption      = Mist rising through the mountains — the park's namesake
| location     = Tennessee and North Carolina, United States
| coordinates  = 35.6532°N, 83.5070°W
| area         = 816 sq mi (2,114 km²)
| established  = June 15, 1934
| visitors     = 13.3 million (2023)
| website      = https://www.nps.gov/grsm
}}
'''Great Smoky Mountains National Park''' is located along the border between [[Tennessee]] and [[North Carolina]]. Famous for its mist-covered mountains, dense forests, and rich biodiversity, it is the **'''most visited national park in the United States'''**, with over 13 million visitors annually.

== Natural Features ==
The park is named after the natural fog that often hangs over the mountain range, giving it a "smoky" appearance. Highlights include:
* Rolling Appalachian ridgelines
* Deep valleys and waterfalls
* Dense old-growth forests

== Biodiversity ==
The park is known as a '''UNESCO World Heritage Site''' and an '''International Biosphere Reserve''', boasting:
* Over 1,600 species of flowering plants
* More than 200 species of birds
* Mammals such as '''black bears''', '''white-tailed deer''', and '''elk'''
* One of the world’s richest collections of salamander species

== Historical Significance ==
* Originally inhabited by the '''Cherokee people'''
* Includes preserved '''Appalachian cabins''', mills, and churches from early Euro-American settlers
* Features many historic structures along '''Cades Cove''' and '''Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail'''

== Visitor Activities ==
* Over 800 miles of hiking trails
* Popular hikes include:
  - '''Clingmans Dome''' (the highest point in the park)
  - '''Alum Cave Trail'''
  - '''Chimney Tops'''
* Scenic drives such as:
  - '''Newfound Gap Road'''
  - '''Blue Ridge Parkway'''
* Camping, fishing, horseback riding, and wildlife watching

== Accessibility ==
* No entrance fee — one of the few major U.S. national parks without one
* Accessible from tourist-friendly towns like '''Gatlinburg''', '''Pigeon Forge''', and '''Cherokee'''

== Fun Facts ==
* The park spans two time zones (Eastern and Central)
* Home to more than '''90 historic buildings'''
* Over '''19,000 documented species''', with more discovered each year

== See Also ==
* [[National Parks in the United States]]
* [[Appalachian Mountains]]
* [[Cherokee history]]
* [[Tennessee]]
* [[North Carolina]]