Unique in all the world, the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park was mandated by the United States Congress in 1926 to preserve what was left
of the wild, rugged wilderness area. The land was donated to the Federal government by
North Carolina and Tennessee and the Park was finally established in 1930. A very generous
gift by John D Rockefeller, Jr., coupled with the Federal appropriation, got the
restoration and conservation efforts underway.
Geologically, the most massive uplift in the eastern half
of our continent, the region was in immediate danger of ruination: over hunted, over
logged, over everything. Its comeback under the protection of the National Park Service
has been very rewarding to the tens of thousands of visitors who are drawn to it every
year. In this mountain expanse of over half a million acres there are sixteen peaks over
6,000 feet high. Clingmans Dome (which may be reached via the Newfound Gap Road), is some 6,642 feet high. Only Mounts Mitchell and Craig in the Blue
Ridge mountains (see Blue Ridge Parkway) are higher.
There are nearly 200 different kinds of trees in the
Park. Because the Smoky Mountains are imposed in the normal weather patterns, they catch a
good part of the rain. The coolness made possible by the higher elevations combined with
the mildness of summer days realized by the southern location create an environment which
welcomes both flora usually found only in northern climates combined with the flora
normally associated with southern climates. Literally, this is the best of both worlds.
The wild animal population, too, has recovered. Deer,
bear, wild turkey and ruffled grouse are frequently observed by tourists. Hunting is
absolutely prohibited and there has been a great effort to balance the wildlife
populations through natural means. There are some 800 miles of trails in the Park (most of
which allow horses) and many camping areas. Access to the Park from North Carolina is via
US-441 (Cherokee). From Tennessee, US-321 and US-441 provide entry points.
The Park Office is in Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(phone 615-436-1230) at
