Smoky Mountains

One popular road in the Smoky Mountains is getting a new name! The Tail of the Dragon has been renamed to “Captain Johnny Leon Bryant Memorial Highway.” The new name honors Bryant, who was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. We’ve got all the details on the Tail of the Dragon and the dedication!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw a record number of visitors this June! While visitor numbers may be down overall this year due to the park’s temporary closure, things are looking up for the Smokies. We love hearing that so many people are getting to enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains! We’ve got all the info on the park breaking visitation records in June below:

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. A new executive order extends the mask requirement through August 29. 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:

Do you love biking in the Smoky Mountains? Then you’ll love hearing this news! There is a proposal to build a mountain bike trail network in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail system would be located on the 13-mile, unfinished section of the Foothills Parkway. Learn more about this proposal and biking in the Smoky Mountains below:

Temperatures can get hot during a Smoky Mountain summer! If you have plans to visit during one of the summer months, be prepared to handle the summer heat. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep cool in the Smoky Mountain area. To help you out, we’ve made a guide for how to beat the heat during summer in the Smoky Mountains.

Nothing compares to the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, and Steve Harvey agrees. The famous entertainer posted a video clip on his Facebook talking about how beautiful the mountains are and how everyone should drive to see them! We couldn’t agree with him more. If you need more convincing, we’ve made a list of the top 4 reasons you should plan a visit to the Smoky Mountains.

One of the best parts about visiting the Smoky Mountains is being surrounded by gorgeous views everywhere you turn. From waterfalls to mountain scenery, you’ll want to make sure you have your camera ready to capture all the breathtaking sights! If you want to know the best places to go to see these beautiful views, we can help. Take a look at these 10 photos of the most scenic places to visit in the Smoky Mountains:

Through these uncertain times, we know many of you are wishing you could be back in the Smoky Mountains. If you do have a trip scheduled to the area, know that things may look a little different than your previous vacations. Masks are required throughout Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, and social distancing guidelines have been set at businesses. To help guarantee you still have the best time on your vacation, we’ve put together a guide with some helpful tips for visiting the Smoky Mountains right now.

The Smoky Mountain area is rich in history, and we know you love learning more about it each day! Today, we’re traveling back in time to 1946, when a major military plane crash happened near Clingmans Dome. While they say all the wreckage from the crash has been cleared, you can hike past the crash site when you visit! Read on to learn more about the old plane crash near Clingmans Dome:

When you visit the Smoky Mountains, you don’t want to miss the chance to explore some of the trails in the national park! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 850 miles of hiking trails, offering everything from historic structures to waterfalls. If you want to see the beauty of the Smokies up close, you have to go for a hike on your vacation! Here are 8 hikes in the Smoky Mountains with the best views:

Are you visiting the Smoky Mountains soon? Make your trip more fun with a Smoky Mountains scavenger hunt! There are plenty of incredible sights and places to see in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ve put together a list of the top 8 things for you to see when you visit. See what’s included in our Smoky Mountains scavenger hunt:

We know you love finding secret spots in the Smoky Mountains, from fairy houses to hidden tunnels. But, did you know that some of the best spots in the Smokies to visit are the bridges in the area? There are a number of bridges, both popular and lesser known, that allow visitors to explore the area in a new way! Check out these 5 unique Smoky Mountain bridges you have to cross.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is one of the most popular scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains! This 5.5-mile loop road offers glimpses of an old-growth forest, historic structures and more. The motor nature trail also provides access to some of the most popular spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, like Grotto Falls! To help you plan your visit, we’ve put together a guide to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park began reopening May 9! The reopening is happening in phases. In the first phase, many of the park’s roads and trails opened to the public. Phase 2 of the reopening plan kicked off on Tuesday, May 19. More areas of the park are continuing to open as time goes on! We’ve gathered as many details as we can about the reopening of the park to share with you!

The Smokies is the place to be in the summer season! Everyone enjoys spending time outdoors in the beautiful weather. With so many places to explore, you’ll have plenty of options for where to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To help you decide, we’ve made a list of 6 of the best places to visit in the Smoky Mountains in the summer.