The national park, in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses 800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal resources, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of the wilderness sanctuary within its boundaries, it is one of the largest protected areas in the east.

The Smokies offer activities for visitors of various ages and interests. Recommended activities include camping, hiking the park's more than 800 miles of trails, picnicking, sightseeing, fishing, auto touring, horseback riding, nature viewing, and photographic opportunities abound. Guided horseback rides are available in season at four horse stables in the park in Tennessee and North Carolina.

General Park Information:

CABLE MILL IN CADES COVE
Open From March 15 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving 9:00-5:00
Location - Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Exhibits - Water-powered grist mill.

MINGUS MILL
Open From March 15 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving 9:00-5:00
Location - Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441.
Exhibits - Turbine-powered grist mill.

Seasonal road opening and closing dates are listed below. Click for information about temporary weather and construction related road closures.

Balsam Mountain  
Open May 11 - October 31, 2007
Buses and large motorhomes prohibited on the road.

Cades Cove Loop Road
Open all year from sunrise until sunset
This road will be closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. from May 9 through September 26, 2007 to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the cove.

Clingmans Dome
Open April 1 - November 30, 2007

Heintooga Ridge Road
Open May 11 - October 31, 2007

Buses and large motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

Little Greenbrier
Open March 9 - December 31, 2007

Parson Branch
Closed due to flood damage. Expected to reopen in mid-June.

Rich Mountain
Open March 9 - November 9, 2007
Buses and large motorhomes are prohibited on this road.
 


Visitor Centers
*CADES COVE VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Open From 9/01/03 To 10/31/03 9:00-6:00
Open From 11/01/03 To 11/30/03 9:00-5:00
Open From 12/01/03 To 12/31/03 9:00-4:30
Location - *Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Cove Loop Road.
Special Programs - Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for times.
Exhibits - Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures.
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms.

*OCONALUFTEE VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Open From 9/1/03 To 10/31/03 8:00-6:00
Open From 11/1/03 To 11/30/03 8:00-4:30
Location - *Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441.
Special Programs - Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the vistor center for location and times.
Exhibits - The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally.
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Backcountry permit station.

*SUGARLANDS VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Open From 9/1/03 To 10/31/03 8:00-6:00
Open From 11/1/03 To 11/30/03 8:00-5:00
Open From 12/1/03 To 3/31/04 8:00-4:30
Location - *Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US 441.
Special Programs - Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor center for locations and times.
Exhibits - Free admission to 20-minute film with Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Extensive natural history exhibits.
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Backcountry permit station.

GATLINBURG WELCOME CENTER
Open All Year
Open From 11/01/02 To 3/31/03 8:00-5:30
Open From 4/01/03 To 10/31/03 8:30-6:00
Location - Located 2 miles outside of Gatlinburg on 441 South
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. City of Gatlinburg information. Public restrooms and telephones.

GATLINBURG WELCOME CENTER AT THE AQUARIUM
Open All Year 9:00-5:00
Location - At Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. City of Gatlinburg information. Public restrooms and telephones.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 9:00-5:00
Location - At I-40 exit 407 (Highway 66) in the Smokies Stadium complex.
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville information. Public restrooms and telephones.

TOWNSEND VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Open From 11/01/02 To 5/31/03 9:00-5:00
Open From 6/01/03 To 10/31/03 9:00-6 :00
Location - Townsend, Tennessee, on US 321.
Available Facilities - Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Townsend and local area information. Public restrooms and telephones.

Park Phone Numbers 
General Park Information: (865) 436-1200
Backcountry Information: (865) 436-1297
Park Literature: (865) 436-0120