God's gift to East Tennessee, The Great Smoky Mountains are simply too big for words. The coves and valleys and glades have long sustained our culture and history and many histories long, long before that. Throughout the emerald hills, or the auburn curves hitting just below the sky, or the gray ridges and sunken pockets of the Appalachian, you'll still find remnants of the cultures that built our society to what it is today. 

In this area, there are three entrances to the Great Smokies - Gatlinburg at Stoplight #10 and the Sugarlands Visitors Center, Townsend towards Cades Cove, and Cosby near Cosby Creek Cabins.

One of the best ways to enjoy the mountains responsibly and naturally, with few distractions, is to take a hike or several throughout the dozens and dozens of hiking trails here in the Smokies.

National Park Info
	Park Headquarters & General Information 865-436-1200
	Emergencies 865-436-1230
	Back country Reservations 865-436-1231
	Road Conditions 865-436-1200
	In-Park Lodging 865-429-5704
	Lost and Found 865-436-1230
	Oconaluftee Visitor Center 828-497-1900
	Sugarlands Welcome Center 865-436-1291

Mt. LeConte is considered the 'Tallest Mountain East of the Mississippi River', rising up from the valley (Gatlinburg) and towering over us at a height of 6,593 feet! Exploring the Smokies by car gives you a great advantage, you can see more in a short amount of time. But don't be timid, when you get to your destination, get out and take a good look around, and remember that you are looking at our history, culture and remembrances of things and a time long past.

LAUREL FALLS
A 2.5-mile roundtrip hike on the Laurel Falls Trail. The trail is paved to the falls. The trailhead is 3.9 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center on Little River Road.

HEN WALLOW FALLS
A 4.5-mile roundtrip hike. Take the Gabes Mountain Trail which begins from the parking area at the entrance to Cosby Campground. Beyond the falls, Gabes Mountain Trail leads to old-growth forest.

RAINBOW FALLS
A 5.5-mile roundtrip hike. The trail starts from the Rainbow Falls parking area on Cherokee Orchard Road near Gatlinburg, TN.

Please be take care when setting out into our National Park for a hike.
And for bonus entertainment, pick up a copy of Scavenger Hike Adventures, an extremely popular book written by two local guides here in Sevier County. Scavenger Hike Adventures presents an ideal opportunity to involve everyone participating in your family reunion, corporate retreat, or church gathering in a fun and adventurous group activity. You can find it at this link: www.smokymountainscavengerhike.com

Rafting and tubing the rivers is another big hit here in the mountains. Of the best places to tube in the river, Townsend's Wye is the name most often dropped. Townsend is by and large, a riverside town and great for a day trip! There are many places to stop for tubing and swimming in the river. Check out all the great stuff Townsend has to offer: www.townsendvisitorscenter.com

Cades Cove, also in Townsend, is a must see stop for people who want to drink in the spirit of the Smokies and relive the culture that used to call this mountain home. Featured at Cades Cove: Biking, Hiking, Fishing, and more. It is a wonderful one day trip from your comfortable Cosby Creek Cabin.