*Updated Late Fall 2022

I enjoyed a pleasant, less busy excursion to Cade's Cove on November 21st. Hiking to Abrams Falls was a highlight as I had the waterfall all to myself for a good 10 minutes before another hiker arrived. The temperatures were between 36 and 50 during my visit (2-10 C), there were icicles around much of the falls and river. During the first trip and this one, I was able to see a black bear. 

With some extra time I also visited a somewhat less frequented portion of the park, just past the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Taking the dirt road for a few miles and crossing two small one car only bridges, you arrive to the Middle Prong Trail. While the whole trail is around 8 miles, I only went 2 miles or so, but the scenery was pretty and the river had plenty of photogenic cascades.

*Summer 2021

Great Smoky Mountains National Park deserves a minimum of two days. Gatlinburg is the hub for most visitors (beware weekends in the Summer). I visited the National Park on a Monday and Tuesday. As a general rule in popular National Parks we make sure to get on the trails early, rest in the middle of the day, and head back out to explore around 4pm until dark. Pleasant hikes to waterfalls (such as Laurel or Grotto Falls) are really for all hiking abilities and if you have the time, make sure do to at least one of them (aim for 7am or 8am to avoid crowds).

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park now includes the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, built in 2019. The SkyLift park is touristy and expensive at about $20 a person and is not within the boundary of the world heritage site (though surprisingly close). The views of the National Park can be stunning and it may be worth adding to your itinerary for that reason alone, albeit depending on your tolerance for the kitsch nature of main street Gatlinburg.

Kuhowi, formerly Clingmans Dome (changed because of its association with a prominent Confederal General) rests just across the state line in North Carolina and it's one of the better viewpoints within the National Park. However, on particularly "smoky" or cloudy days you will not see much, so check the weather for visibility. There are plenty of overlooks from Kuhowi to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, as well some historic sites. *Kuhowi means 'mulberry place' and was requested by the Cherokee Tribe to restore the original name

While hiking at Laurel Falls we saw a Black Bear and later on a herd of Elk near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. In two days we got a nice overview of the park, but I felt in the end it deserved much more time. I would like to visit again for another 2-3 days to add another 5-10 more miles of hiking. In my experience the only National Parks in the Eastern United States that even remotely compare to their Western counterparts are Acadia National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Everglades National Park.