Every spring people flock to the Smokies to view our park’s spectacular displays of wildflowers that begin blooming at the lower elevations and creep uphill as the temperatures warm and days grow longer.
Did you know… Geographers calculate that every 1,000 feet of elevation gain in the Smokies is equal to traveling 330 miles north and going 10 days backward on the spring calendar. That means when you hike to Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet from down around Bryson City, N.C., at about 1,600 feet, you experience many of the same environmental changes you’d see driving from the Smokies clear up into northern Maine.
With all that happens in the park during the first weeks of spring, how can you manage your time most effectively? It starts with gearing up to Branch Out, of course.
First things first
Review the Leave No Trace Seven Principles . Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s favorite with an annual visitation of more than 11 million people in 2018! Please tread lightly.
Second
Build your daypack by starting with the essentials:
Third
Don’t forget the fun stuff. Your bonus gear can make all the difference!
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.
