The beautiful Great Smokey Mountains are located in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The National Park lies on the Tennessee side. Elevations throughout the park range from 800 to 6,643 feet.
There are several options one may choose when deciding to hike the Smokey Mountains. If your hiking level is extreme novice, joining a hiking club at the current experience level may be the appropriate way to go. The hikes vary from light to strenuous, no matter the hiking package one chooses.
The Maryville, Tennessee hiking club organizes hikes that range from one day to two day and weekend trips. There are also moonlight hikes in warmer weather and day hikes no matter what the weather. If one wants to add backpacking to their hiking experience, the hiking club arranges specific trips to accommodate that, as well.
There are more than 500,000 acres comprising the Great Smokey Mountains. 800 miles make up hiking trails that vary in skill degrees from light to challenging. The popular trails take from a couple of hours to a full day to complete. There are campsites available for one night only and all campsites are primitive by design. They do provide running water and flush toilets, but have no hook-ups in the park. Pets are not permitted on hiking trails.
Those choosing the easier trails of the Smokey Mountains will be rewarded by unexpected waterfalls and homesteads decades old. And for the fit and hearty who want the rewards of a challenging hike, meandering creeks, high, majestic bluffs, and vistas to take the breath away await them.
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