Smoky Mountains

Mount LeConte is the third tallest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. Many people enjoy hiking to the summit and staying in LeConte Lodge, a small gathering of cabins you can rent. If you stay more than a few days, you will probably eat the food the lodge prepares. But there aren’t roads to get to the top, so how do they get their supplies? Llamas! Learn all about the llamas that take supplies to the summit of Mount LeConte below:

The traffic to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park isn’t slowing down. It just keeps breaking records! More than half a million visitors were reported by the National Park Service in January of 2021. This area doesn’t see numbers like that until about March. Keep reading to find out more about the Great Smoky Mountains getting half a million visitors in January 2021:

Protecting Smoky Mountain wildlife is an important part of preserving the national park. To further protect these beautiful creatures, the Safe Passage Fund Coalition has launched the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project. Learn more about this project below:

Despite the pandemic and being closed for a portion of 2020, the Great Smoky Mountains have broken monthly visitation records! More and more people came to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience the beauty of the area and take a much-needed trip away from home. Keep reading to learn more about the monthly visitation records in 2020:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sees 2nd Highest Number of Visitors in 2020!

Despite being closed for a period of time in 2020, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw a near-record number of visitors! In 2020, the park saw 12,095,720 visitors. This is only the second time in park history that visitation has reached more than 12 million visits! The only other year was 2019, when the park saw 12,547,743 visitors. Although it didn't break the overall record, 2020 was still a record-breaking year for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Between June and December, the park saw 1 million more visits than that same time period the year prior, and 2.3 million more visits than the 10-year average for those months. In addition, the park shattered monthly visitation records for each month from August through December. These numbers were high despite partial closures throughout the park from May until September. Roads, trails, campgrounds and backcountry campsites all were busier than usual.

We love learning about the rich history of the Smoky Mountains and the many families who called the Smokies home! One of the best ways to learn about the history of the Smokies is to visit the historic buildings that still stand in the park today. One of those buildings that holds plenty of history within its walls is the Little Greenbrier School. Learn more about the history behind the Little Greenbrier School in the Smoky Mountains and how to get there so you can explore it yourself!

You probably know that Cades Cove is the most popular place to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s full of so many historic buildings people love to check out, but one of the most popular buildings is the cantilever barn in Cades Cove. This is a popular spot to visit along the Loop because it’s unusual. Here’s everything you need to know about the history of the cantilever barn in Cades Cove:

If you love unique things to do, then you will want to experience Smoky Mountain Llama Trek. Animal lovers will love visiting this attraction because you will be able to interact with all the llamas at the farm and on a hike. Keep reading to find out more about the Smoky Mountain Llama Trek:

You’ve probably driven the Cades Cove Loop before, but did you know you can go horseback riding in Cades Cove? This is an incredible way to explore the area in a new way. Plus, it’s a great activity for people of all ages! Find out everything you need to know about horseback riding in Cades Cove:

When you’re hiking through the Smokies, you probably expect to see birds, trees, and waterfalls. You probably aren’t expecting to see man made objects along the trail, but you will see one when you hike on Middle Prong Trail! Here’s everything you need to know about the secret Cadillac along Middle Prong Trail.

Axe throwing in Pigeon Forge has quickly become a favorite activity to do with friends and family. There are several places to go, and one of the newest ones is Country Roads Axe Co. This new attraction is more than just axe throwing; you’ll also be able to eat delicious pizza. Find out even more about this new place for axe throwing in Pigeon Forge now:

If you’ve visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ve probably been to the most popular spot: Cades Cove. There are a ton of cool stops along this scenic drive, such as the cantilever barn, John Oliver cabin, and Cable grist mill. These stops are right along the road, but did you know there are some hidden gems in Cades Cove too? One of them is Gregory’s Cave. Keep reading to find out more about Gregory’s Cave in Cades Cove.

A mandatory mask order in Sevier County went into effect on Friday, July 10 at 12:01 a.m. The mask requirement came after the county saw a rise in the number of coronavirus cases. The original order lasted through August 3 before being extended monthly since then. Executive Order 55 now extends the mask requirement through February 27, 2021. If you have plans to visit the Smoky Mountain area before then, please be prepared to wear a mask in all public indoor areas and businesses. Here is more information on the mask requirement in Sevier County TN:

One of the best parts about visiting Smoky Mountains in the winter is seeing the gorgeous views that surround you everywhere you turn. The Smokies truly transform into a winter wonderland! From snow-covered mountain peaks to frozen waterfalls and icicles, you can see it all during the winter season. To help you decide where to go to see the best views of the Smoky Mountains in the winter, we’ve made a list of the top 6 places!

If you have a sweet tooth, you don’t want to miss the chance to visit Cinnaholic in Pigeon Forge! This gourmet cinnamon roll bakery offers cinnamon rolls with your choice of over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of toppings. From cinnamon rolls topped with fresh fruit, to cinnamon rolls topped with cookie dough, you’re sure to find something you love here! To help you learn more, we’ve created a guide to everything you need to know about Cinnaholic in Pigeon Forge: