Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park can enjoy hiking on more than 800 miles of trails that lead to destinations like cascading waterfalls, beautiful vistas and quiet meadows. Miles and miles of trails wind their way through deep forests, high ridges, mountaintops and along rushing streams. Meanwhile, quiet walkways serve as the perfect avenue for families to get out of the car and take an easy stroll into the wilderness.

All National Park trails are ranked according to their difficulty— strenuous, medium and easy. Park officials advise hiking during daylight hours only and caution hikers to always stay on designated trails. During summer months, be sure to take along plenty of water, and in any season, a sturdy pair of hiking shoes is helpful. And never try to interact with the bears.

Self-guided nature trails are ideal places to explore the Smokies' forests and learn about the area's rich natural and cultural heritage. Waterfalls are popular destinations for day hikes, especially on hot summer days, while balds (unique treeless areas high in the mountains) always make for a great photo opt. Backcountry trails are for the more experienced, adventurous hiker and offer an in-depth, backwoods experience.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Information

Backcountry Information Office: (865) 436-1297 for information to plan your hiking or backpacking trip. The office is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until noon (Eastern Standard Time). In addition to answering your backpacking questions, the experienced backpackers in the Backcountry Information Office can provide you with tips to make your trip safe and enjoyable.

Maps

+ Great Smoky Mountains Park Map + Great Smoky Mountains Backcountry Hiking Trails Map

Camping in The Great Smoky Mountains

The park offers several different types of campsites: • Backcountry - for backpackers. Requires hiking several miles to a site located in the park's backcountry. • Frontcountry - camping near your car in a developed campground that has restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets. Each individual campsite has a fire grate and picnic table. Most frontcountry campsites in the park are wooded. • Group Campgrounds - large campsites suitable for groups of eight people or more. Located in frontcountry campgrounds. • Horse Camps - Small campgrounds, accessible by vehicle, that offer hitch racks for horses and primitive camping facilities.

Camping Resources:

+ Great Smoky Mountains National Park Backcountry Camping Guide + Great Smoky Mountains National Park Frontcountry Camping Guide + Great Smoky Mountains National Park Camping Maps * Maps and resources provided by the National Park Service