Straddling the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is known world wide for its abundant plant and animal life, coupled together with the old culture of the Southern Appalachians. With over 800 miles of maintained trails, it is the hiker's dream come true.
For those who are beginner hikers, you would do well to take the moderate Abrams Falls Trail. Abrams Falls' round trip is just five miles long and includes a magnificent twenty foot waterfall that ends in a hundred foot wide pool. This pool is great for swimming in the summer months. Abrams Falls connects to Hannah Mountain Trail and Hatcher Mountain Trail, with all three trails leading you by pieces of the past. Boogerman Trail Loop is another moderate trip. A round trip is just under seven and a half miles. The trail is named for a man whose homestead still stands on the trail.
It is said that the most interesting trail of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Old Settlers' Trail. Old Settlers' has many historical landmarks, along with 100 year old oak trees that set it apart from all of the other trails in the park. While on the trail, you will pass several remains of old villages. This trail is both a great walk and a doorway into the interesting history of the Smoky Mountain area. The hardest part about hiking in the Smoky Mountains is choosing which trail you want to walk on!
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