Category:Smoky Mountains
From SmokyMountainWiki
The Great Smoky Mountains stretch from the Pigeon River in the northeast to the Little Tennessee River to the southwest. The northwestern half of the range gives way to a series of elongate ridges known as the "Foothills," the outermost of which include Chilhowee Mountain and English Mountain. The range is roughly bounded on the south by the Tuckasegee River and to the southeast by Soco Creek and Jonathan Creek. The Great Smokies comprise parts of Blount County, Sevier County, and Cocke County in Tennessee and Swain County and Haywood County in North Carolina.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park [1] is a United States National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an International Biosphere Reserve that straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Because of its substantial size, its location within a few hundred miles of several large cities, its year-round accessibility, and of course its general appeal to a wide variety of people, it consistently ranks the most-visited national park in the United States of America, with 9-10 million visits per year.
[edit] Understand
[edit] History
[edit] American Indians and settlers of the smoky mountains
They were believed to have been a breakaway group of Iroquois, later to be called Cherokee, who had moved south from Iroquoian lands in New England. The Cherokee Nation stretched from the Ohio River into South Carolina and consisted of seven clans. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee lived (and continue to live) in this sacred ancestral home of the Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee enjoyed a settled, sophisticated agriculture-based life. Their towns of up to 50 log-and-mud huts were grouped around the town square and the Council House, a large, seven-sided (for the seven clans), dome-shaped building. Public meetings and religious ceremonies were held here. They first encountered Europeans in 1540, when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto led an expedition through Cherokee territory.
In the late 18th century, Scotch-Irish, German, English and other settlers arrived in significant numbers. The Cherokee were friendly at first, but fought with settlers when provoked. They battled Carolina settlers in the 1760s but eventually withdrew to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
To come to terms with the powerful newcomers, the Cherokee Nation attempted to make treaties and to adapt to European customs. They adopted a written legal code in 1808 and instituted a supreme court two years later. Sequoyah, a Cherokee silversmith, created an alphabet for the Cherokee language and in the space of two years, nearly all of his people could read and write the language.
But theirs was a losing cause. The discovery of gold in northern Georgia in 1828 sounded the death knell for the Cherokee Nation.
In 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Removal Act, calling for the relocation of all native peoples east of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. The Cherokee appealed their case to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Marshall ruled in their favor. President Jackson, however, disregarded the Supreme Court decree in the one instance in American history when a U.S. president overtly ignored a Supreme Court decision.
In 1838, the U.S. government forced some 13,000 Cherokee to march to Oklahoma along what has become known as the Trail of Tears. About one-third of the Cherokee died en route of malnutrition and disease. Altogether, about 100,000 natives, including Cherokee, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw survived the journey.
A handful of Cherokee disobeyed the government edict, however. Hiding out in the hills between Clingmans Dome and Mount Guyot, they managed to survive. In 1889, the 56,000-acre Qualla Indian Reservation was chartered with a population of about 1,000 people. Approximately 10,500 of their descendants now live on the reservation, which is located along the park's southern boundary.
Like the Cherokee, pioneers who settled in the Smokies in the 18th and 19th centuries coveted the fertile valleys. Land soon became scarce. Later arrivals made their homesteads along steep slopes.
Logging began slowly, but by the time it ran its course, it had radically changed the land and the life of the people. Timber, of course, was vital to the early pioneers. They used it for homes, furniture, fences and fuel. They only began cutting it for cash in the mid-19th century. This had little noticeable effect on the forest, however, because men and animals could only carry so much.
Not so by the turn of the century. Technological advances and the eastern United States' need for lumber nearly eliminated all the southern Appalachian forests. Railroads were the key to the companies' large-scale logging operations. Railroad tracks reaching deep into the mountains made the timber readily available. Steam-powered equipment such as skidders and log loaders also contributed to cost-effective tree removal.
Some 15 company towns were constructed in what is now the park, along with a like number of sawmills. Mountain people who had once plowed fields and slopped hogs began to cut trees and saw logs for a living, abandoning their farms. They were attracted to logging by the promise of security and the stability of a steady paycheck.
Their security was short-lived, however. By the 1930s, the lumber companies had logged all but the most inaccessible areas and were casting their sights to richer pickings out West. Some of the mountain people returned to farming while others left to seek jobs in mines, textile mills and automobile factories. National Park Status
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 NPS 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 NPS 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 some people living within the proposed park boundaries were allowed lifetime residency rights. Most people moved, and consequently were paid more for their land. On June 15, 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established, preserving the land for generations to come.
[edit] Cities and Towns Near The Smoky Mountains
[edit] Within 5 Miles
Gatlinburg, Tennessee | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee | Waldens Creek, Tennessee| McCookville ,Tennessee | Oldham, Tennessee | Calderwood, Tennessee |Zion Grove, Tennessee | Pittman Center, Tennessee | Rocky Grove, Tennessee | Shady Grove, Tennessee | Cove Creek Cascades, Tennessee | Wears Valley, Tennessee | Townsend, Tennessee | Lawson Crossroad, Tennessee | Cosby, Tennessee | Catons Grove, Tennessee | Waterville ,Tennessee | Waterville, North Carolina | Hartford, Tennessee | Grassy Fork, Tennessee | Panther Creek North, Carolina | RavensFord North, Carolina | Maggie, Valley North Carolina | Cherokee North, Carolina | Bird town, North Carolina | Bryson City, North Carolina | Fontana Village, North Carolina | Rymers Ferry, North Carolina | Yellow Creek, North Carolina | Tapoco North, Carolina |
[edit] 5 to 10 miles
[edit] 10 to 20 miles
[edit] Towns and Cities that link us to American Indians in the region
[edit] External links
- National Park Service website
- Official Nonprofit Partner Event Calendars
- [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/research/climo/pcptxtnwd.htm National Weather Service Southern
- SmokyMountainwiki
Appalachian Precipitation study]
- Cornell University study on invasive balsam woolly adelgid control
- History and maps
- The Great Smoky Mountains Regional Project — a collection of documents and early photographs regarding the Great Smokies and surrounding communities
- Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
- Great Smoky Mountains landforms
- Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Smoky Mountains Online Radio Show
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on June 15, 1934 after a long process of land purchases starting in with Congress' authorization in 1926. More than $11 million was required to make all of the purchases. The main benefactor, who came to rescue during the Great Depression, was the Rockefeller family which dontated $5 million. This great deed was honored by the erection of a memorial at Newfound Gap. The park was officially dedicated on September 2, 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
[edit] Landscape
[edit] Flora and fauna
The park is almost 95% forested, with 25% of that being old-growth. Almost 100 different types of native trees can be found in the park in addition to over 1,400 flowering plant species and 4,000 non-flowering plants.
The wildlife is abundant as well, featuring hundreds of different bird species, 66 mammal types, 50 types of native fish, as well as numerous reptiles and amphibians.
[edit] Non-native species
Several non-native species, both plant and animal, now call the park home and often threaten the native species.
[edit] Climate
When planning a trip in the park, it is helpful to keep in mind that elevations in the park range from 800 feet to 6,643 feet and that the topography can drastically affect local weather. Temperatures can easily vary 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies lower down do not guarantee equally pleasant weather at higher elevations. Rainfall averages 55 inches per year in the lowlands to 85 inches per year at Clingmans Dome.
[edit] Spring
March through May: Spring brings with it unpredictable weather. Changes occur rapidly - sunny skies can yield to snow flurries in a few hours. March is the month with the most radical changes; snow can fall at any time during the month, particularly in the higher elevations. Temperatures in the lower elevations have a mean high of 61ºF. Low temperatures, which are often below freezing, have a mean of 42ºF. By mid-April the weather is usually milder. Daytime temperatures often reach the 70s and occasionally the 80s. Below freezing temperatures at night are uncommon in the lower elevations but still occur higher up. April averages over four inches of rain, usually in the form of afternoon showers. May is warmer, with daytime highs in the 70s and 80s and lows in the 40s and 50s. May rainfall averages about 4.5 inches.
[edit] Summer
June through August: Summer in the Smokies means heat, haze, and humidity. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common. Temperatures increase through the period with July and August afternoon highs in the 90s in the lower elevations. Evening lows are usually comfortable with readings in the 60s and 70s. In the higher elevations, the weather is much more pleasant. On Mount Le Conte (6,593' elevation), no temperature above 80 degrees has ever been recorded.
[edit] Autumn
September through mid-November: Clear skies and cooler weather signal the onset of the fall color season. Warm days alternate with cool nights. Daytime highs are usually in the 70s and 80s during September, falling to the 50s and 60s in early November. The first frosts often occur in late September. By November, the lows are usually near freezing. This is the driest period of the year with only occasional rain showers. In the higher elevations, snow is a possibility by November.
[edit] Winter
Mid-November through February: Winter in the Smokies is generally moderate, but extremes in weather do occur, especially with an increase in elevation. It is not unusual to have warm temperatures in the low elevations and snow in the higher areas. About half the days in the winter have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more. Highs occasionally even reach the 70s. Most nights have lows at or below freezing. But lows of -20°F. are possible at high elevations. In the low elevations, snows of 1" or more occur 1-5 times a year. Snow falls more frequently in the higher mountains and up to two feet can fall during a storm. January and February are the months when one is most likely to find snow in the mountains.
[edit] Get in
Note that access to the park is restricted to non-commercial vehicles.
[edit] By plane
Planes will get you to Asheville (60 miles East) or Knoxville (45 miles West).
[edit] By train
There is no train service. You might get a train to Atlanta, but that is a few hundred miles away.
[edit] By car
Travelling by car is the best method to visit the park. The most popular entrance into the park is from the North through Gatlinburg, Tennessee. You can also enter from the South on the North Carolina side of park, through Cherokee, Maggie Valley, or Bryson City.
[edit] By bus
There is no bus service to the park. But you can take the tram and once in the Gatlinburg area you can find hiking trails in the smoky mountains also Cycling trails
[edit] Fees/Permits
There are no entrance fees charged for visiting this park thanks to restrictions imposed when the park was established.
[edit] Get around
Take your car or backpack. Yes, you can walk through the park on the Appalachian Trail.
[edit] Road closures and restrictions
Motorists should be aware that some roads close for several months out of the year. Buses and large motorhomes are prohibited on some roads in the park. There are also temporary road closures due to weather and construction.
Refer to the park's website [2] for all up to date conditions.
Useful tools like will show you trails , camp sites , special interest areas
[edit] See
See the mountains. Great wildlife, too. Heck, it's a rain forest!
[edit] Visitor centers
The park has several visitor centers inside the park as well as some in the surrounding areas. These centers offer various ranger-led programs, facilities, services, and exhibits. Visitors can get information to help plan their visit to the park and get answers to their questions from park rangers. There are two main ones:
- Sugarlands Visitors Center Serves the Tennessee half of the park with a gift shop, small museum, and theater
- Oconaluftee Visitors Center Serves the North Carolina half
In addition, there are visitors centers outside the park in Gatlinburg and Townsend
The official guild to the smoky mountains
The official guild to the smoky mountains
[edit] Do
- The Park has many miles of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail and there are occasional ranger-guided tours.
- A drive around Cades Cove, an historic farming valley, is very popular due to the frequency of wildlife. However, due to congestion and "deer jams," the effective speed on this 11 mile (17 km) one-way loop is very slow — allow a few hours.
- Take the walking path to the top of Clingmans Dome (6643 feet / 2025 m), it is the highest point in the park, the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest point east of the Mississippi river. From the Sugarlands Visitors Center, go south 13 miles on Newfound Gap Road, to the also stunning Morton Overlook, and west 7 miles to the parking lot, before hiking a fairly steep path .5 mile to a concrete overlook. There are many dead trees at the top, victims of bug disease over past decades. Visibility at the top has been greatly reduced over past decades due to pollution. On the 20 mile route from Sugarlands to the peak, you ascend roughly a mile.
- Morton Overlook En route to Clingmans dome, or if you're just going from one end of the park to the other on Newfound Gap Road, this great overlook, close to a mile above sea level, offers great views, plus a sign displaying the Tennessee-North Carolina state border, and the Appalachian Trail crosses here
- The easiest waterfall hike is 2.5 miles round trip to Laurel Falls. The trail is paved and accessible even to strollers.
- US Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) runs north to south through the park connecting Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina. The road has steep grades and some tunnels as it winds through the mountains. There are many pull offs offering different views of the park, including the road to Clingmans Dome. Traffic on this road can be heavy during the park's busy seasons.
[edit] Buy
The visitor centers offer books and souvenirs pertaining to the park. The Cable Mill store, in Cades Cove, offers the same, as well as grains ground in the on site, water powered, historic cable mill. The main focus of the park is nature, not commerce, so don't expect huge selections of goods.
Autotouring is a nice way to see the park; however, gas is not sold in the park. There are gas stations in the surrounding cities.
[edit] Eat
Camp stores are expensive and have limited selection. There might be a restaurant or two, but lines are long and prices high. Since the near-by tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Cherokee are very tourist oriented, they offer a variety of restaurants to suit any taste. Your best bet is to visit a grocery store and buy ready-to eat or picnic style food. Many places in the park offer great locations to pull off the road and have a meal in nature.
[edit] Drink
The consumption of alcoholic beverages, and the possession of opened containers, is banned in the park except in housing, lodging facilities, designated picnic areas, campgrounds, or as allowed by special permit.
Do not drink the water in streams without first boiling it; this water may contain diseases transmitted by the fecal material of animals.
[edit] Sleep
[edit] Lodging
- Le Conte Lodge, tel: 865-429-5704, [3]. The only place to stay within the park is on top of Mount Le Conte, one of the park's highest mountains. It is only accessible by hiking at least 5 miles over one of five trails and reservations are often required more than a year in advance. No electricity is available, however there are flush toilets. Due to the elevation daytime temperature are below 80°F even during summer. Rates vary on lodging type, but all include meals. As an interesting aside, all of the lodge's supplies are brought up by either llama trains or by helicopter on Wednesdays and Fridays.
[edit] Camping
If you insist on being within a short walk from your car, that'll set you back between $12 and $20 a night. There are 10 "car camping" campgrounds in the park:
- Abrams Creek. Mar 12-Oct 31, 16 sites, first come, first serve.
- Balsam Mountain. May 14-Oct 11, 46 sites, first come, first serve.
- Big Creek. Mar 12-Oct 31, 12 sites, first come, first serve. No RVs. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
- Cades Cove. Year round, 161 sites, reservations available May 15-Oct 31: 1-800-365-2267. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available. This is a very popular site for overnight and day trips.
- Cataloochee. Mar 12-Oct 31, 27 sites, first come, first serve. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
- Cosby. Mar 12-Oct 31, 157 sites, first come, first serve. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
- Deep Creek. Apr 2-Oct 31, 108 sites, First come, first serve. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
- Elkmont. Mar 12-Nov 30, 220 sites, reservations available May 15-Oct 31: 1-800-365-2267. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
- Look Rock. May 14-Oct 31, 92 sites, first come, first serve.
- Smokemont. Year round, 140 sites, reservations available May 15-Oct 31: 1-800-365-2267. Group sites (minimum 8 people) available.
These campgronds have restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets. There are no showers or RV hookups in the park. Each campsite has a picnic table and "grill." No more than six people to a campsite with a maximum of two tents or one RV and one tent. You are limited to a seven day stay during the Summer and Fall, and fourteen days during Spring and Winter. Pets are allowed if they are properly restrained.
Keep in mind that bears and other wildlife frequent camp areas. Do not leave any food, or items associated with food, out unattended. Store it in a closed vehicle, not your tent.
[edit] Backcountry
Your best bet is to camp in the backcountry for free, but a permit (available at most ranger stations and visitor centers) is required. Campers must stay in a park shelter or a designated camp site. The shelters, as well as a number of tent areas, require reservations (865-436-1231).
[edit] Stay safe
- Bears The park is home to more than 1,000 black bears. Bears should not be approached. If the bear's behavior changes, you are too close. Visitors to the park can get more information the park's bears in any of the park's Visitor Centers.
- Snakes Twenty-three (23) types of snakes make their home in the park's lands, but only two varieties are poisonous: Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads. Rattlesnakes are part of the pit-viper family and sport a distinctive rattle at the end of their bodies that makes a buzzing sound when the snake is agitated. The Copperheads account for most of the snake bites in the area, however their venom is the least toxic, but this does not mean you should underestimate it. Neither snake is aggressive and if you stay away from places where they tend to sun, you should be able to avoid them alltogether.
- Waterfalls Do not climb on the falls. Fatalities have ocurred as a result of people climbing on the falls.
It is a good idea to have some first-aid knowledge if you wander far into the backcountry, especially off trail. Be sure to get a permit, so they'll know where to look for you if you do not show. And as always, beware of snowstorms.
[edit] Get out
[edit] North Carolina
- Visit the Cherokee Nation at the eastern entrance to the park.
- Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville or to Mount Mitchell (6684 feet / 2038 m), the highest peak in the eastern United States.
[edit] Tennessee
- Visit the tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
- The cities of Knoxville, and further away, Chattanooga
WikiPedia:Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Template:Usable Template:IsIn Template:Related Template:Related Template:Geo
The sources of several rivers are located in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon River, the Oconaluftee River, and Little River. Streams in the Smokies are part of the Tennessee River watershed and are thus entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide. The largest stream wholly within the park is Abrams Creek, which rises in Cades Cove and empties into the Chilhowee Lake impoundment of the Little Tennessee River near Chilhowee Dam. Other major streams include Hazel Creek and Eagle Creek in the southwest, Raven Fork near Oconaluftee, Cosby Creek near Cosby, and Roaring Fork near Gatlinburg. The Little Tennessee River passes through four impoundments along the range's southwestern boundary, namely Tellico Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood Lake, and Fontana Lake.
[edit] Cities and Towns Of The Great Smoky mountains
[edit] Notable peaks
The highest point in the Smokies is Clingmans Dome, which rises to an elevation of Template:Convert. The mountain is the highest in Tennessee and the third highest in the Appalachian range. Clingmans Dome also has the range's highest topographical prominence at Template:Convert. Mount Le Conte is the tallest (i.e., from immediate base to summit) mountain in the range, rising Template:Convert from its base in Gatlinburg to its Template:Convert summit.
| Mountain | Elevation | Prominence | General location | Trail access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clingmans Dome | 6,643 ft/2,025 m | 4,503 ft/1,373 m | Central Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Mount Guyot | 6,621 ft/ 2,018m | 1,581 ft/482 m | Eastern Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Mount Le Conte | 6,593 ft/2,010 m | 1,360 ft/415 m | Central Smokies | Boulevard Trail |
| Mount Chapman | 6,417 ft/1,956 m | 577 ft/176 m | Eastern Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Old Black | 6,370 ft/1,942 m | 170 ft/52 m | Eastern Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Luftee Knob | 6,234 ft/1,900 m | 314 ft/96 m | Eastern Smokies | Balsam Mountain Trail |
| Mount Kephart | 6,217 ft/1,895 m | 657 ft/200 m | Central Smokies | Appalachian Trail/Jumpoff Trail |
| Mount Collins | 6,188 ft/1,886 m | 465 ft/142 m | Central Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Marks Knob | 6,169 ft/1,880 m | appx. 249 ft/76 m | Eastern Smokies | Balsam Mountain Trail |
| Tricorner Knob | 6,120 ft/1,865 m | 160 ft/48 m | Eastern Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Andrews Bald | 5,920 ft/1,804 m | 160 ft/48 m | Central Smokies | Forney Ridge Trail |
| Mount Sterling | 5,842 ft/1,781 m | 663 ft/202 m | Eastern Smokies | Mount Sterling Trail |
| Silers Bald | 5,607 ft/1,709 m | 337 ft/102 m | Western Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Thunderhead Mountain | 5,527 ft/1,684 m | 1087 ft/332 m | Western Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Gregory Bald | 4,949 ft/1,508 m | 1,107 ft/337 m | Western Smokies | Gregory Bald Trail |
| Mount Cammerer | 4,928 ft/1,502 m | 8 ft/2 m | Eastern Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
| Chimney Tops | 4,800 ft/1,463 m | appx. 200 ft/61 m | Central Smokies | Chimney Tops Trail |
| Blanket Mountain | 4,607 ft/1,404 m | appx. 500 ft/152 m | Western Smokies | Jakes Creek Trail |
| Shuckstack | 4,020 ft/1,225 m | 300 ft/91 m | Western Smokies | Appalachian Trail |
[edit] Climate
The Smokies rise prominently above the surrounding low terrain. For example, Mount Le Conte (6,593 feet or 2,010 m) rises more than a mile (1.6 km) above its base. Because of their prominence, the Smokies receive heavy annual amounts of precipitation. Annual precipitation amounts range from 50 to 80 inches (130–200 cm)<ref name=noaa>Southern Appalachian Precipitation Study</ref>, and snowfall in the winter can be heavy, especially on the higher slopes. For comparison, the surrounding terrain has annual precipitation of around 40 to 50 inches (100-130 cm).
Flooding often occurs after heavy rain. In 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Frances caused major flooding, landslides, and high winds, which was soon followed by Hurricane Ivan, making the situation worse. Other post-hurricanes, including Hurricane Hugo in 1989, have caused similar damage in the Smokies.
The Smokies rise prominently above the surrounding low terrain. For example, Mount Le Conte (6,593 feet or 2,010 m) rises more than a mile (1.6 km) above its base. Because of their prominence, the Smokies receive heavy annual amounts of precipitation. Annual precipitation amounts range from 50 to 80 inches (130–200 cm)<ref name=noaa>Southern Appalachian Precipitation Study</ref>, and snowfall in the winter can be heavy, especially on the higher slopes. For comparison, the surrounding terrain has annual precipitation of around 40 to 50 inches (100-130 cm).
Flooding often occurs after heavy rain. In 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Frances caused major flooding, landslides, and high winds, which was soon followed by Hurricane Ivan, making the situation worse. Other post-hurricanes, including Hurricane Hugo in 1989, have caused similar damage in the Smokies.
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Articles in category "Smoky Mountains"
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