East Tennessee

HISTORY OF THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

In 1904, a librarian from St. Louis named Horace Kephart came to the Smokies for a respite to restore his health. Kephart found that large-scale logging was decimating the land and disrupting the lives of the people. As the years progressed, he promoted preserving the Smokies as a national park. In the 1920s, prominent Knoxville residents took up the cause and formed a citizens’ organization. The National Park Service was looking for park sites in the East after having established parks in the West. Founded in 1916, the young agency hoped to generate further public support for national parks with a park closer to the majority of the nation’s population. Along with private efforts, the National Park Service promoted the idea of a national park in the Smokies. The states of Tennessee and North Carolina, and countless citizens responded by giving millions of dollars to purchase parkland. The federal government was reluctant to buy land for parks; national parks in the West had been formed from land it had already owned. Eventually, it did contribute $2 million. Coupled with John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s donation of $5 million, the NPS reached its goal. Lumber companies were bought out in agreements that phased out operations over several years and people living within the proposed park boundaries were allowed lifetime residency rights. On June 15, 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established, preserving the land for generations to come.
HIKING

Walking and hiking are favorite ways for many people to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Much of the interest and mood present in the park depends on finding subtle variations in nature not seen from automobiles. For example, wildflowers, cascading streams, the scent of evergreens, and the sounds of birds are best seen and experienced away from roads. For this reason, the National Park Service maintains 800 miles of trails. There is a complete list of day and night hikes on the official website of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
STREAMS, RIVERS AND WATERFALLS

You may enjoy hiking to a waterfall or just listening quietly to a stream and observing the plants and animals that live in these cool waters. At any time of year, streams are inviting. Throughout the Smokies you may be enticed from your car by the sight, sound, and feel of clear, cool mountain streams that tumble downslope as frothy cascades and waterfalls. Such water is the result of an abundant annual precipitation that averages about fifty (50) inches at lower elevations and up to eighty three (83) inches at Clingmans Dome. Warm, moist air masses that move inland from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean tend to cool as they rise over the mountains. This cooling air loses its ability to retain moisture so the higher elevations receive an increasing amount of precipitation. Precipitation in the form of rain either enters the ground, runs off into streams, or evaporates. Winter snows temporarily delay this recycling. Once the rain or melted snow enters the ground it begins to slowly percolate down to the water table. Natural springs occur throughout the mountains where the water table is close to the surface. This water and the run-off of frequent rains results in streams that flow constantly the year round. A complete list of streams, rivers and waterfalls can be found on the official website of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
WILDLIFE

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains the largest remaining areas of wilderness sanctuary in the East. Despite its vastness, the park is primarily composed of land that was altered substantially by white settlers and commercial enterprises over the past two centuries. Though the land now within the park boundaries has again reverted to forest, wildlife here reflects those changes. Animal life continues to thrive in the Smokies but some of the species the Indians knew are gone. There are new animals too, brought in by people who either did not know or did not care about problems created by the presence of exotic species in communities of native animals.
LODGES IN THE NATIONAL PARK

There are two wilderness retreats located deep in protected national lands. LeConte Lodge can only be reached by hiking: Charit Creek Lodge can be reached by hiking or horseback. When you arrive at either lodge, you’ll find comfortable accommodations and a hearty meal. Dinner at either Charit Creek Lodge or LeConte Lodge requires an overnight stay. Reservations must be made far in advance by phoning 865-429-5704.
CAMPING IN THE NATIONAL PARK

Great Smoky Mountain camping is primitive by design. Besides sites nestled in the woods and along rivers, all campgrounds provide cold running water and flush toilets. No hook-ups are available in the Park. Pets must be restrained at all times, and are not permitted on hiking trails. The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at eight locations in the park:

Campgrounds:
Abrams Creek Campground
Balsam Mountain Campground
Big Creek Campground
Cades Cove Campground
Cataloochee Campground
Cosby Campground
Deep Creek Campground
Elkmont Campground
Backcounty Camping for Backpackers

Horse Camps:
Look Rock Campground
Smokemont Campground

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