- States: NC, TN
- NPCA Region: Southeast
- Est. Date: 1926
Issues
Great Smoky Mountains is one of the country's most popular national park sites, drawing millions of visitors year after year. Its ideal mix of the convenient and the extraordinary offers a region with postcard-perfect views and plentiful wildlife within easy reach of the interstate.
World-renowned for its biodiversity, the beauty of its ancient mountains and its Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this southeastern gem is worth fighting the crowds to see. Seasonal offerings include colorful wildflowers in spring, rare synchronous fireflies in late May/early June and spectacular foliage in autumn.
More about Great Smoky Mountains
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Magazine Article Forest Lights Are the synchronous fireflies of Great Smoky Mountains getting too popular?
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Blog Post Not-So-Beaten Paths: 11 Lesser-Known Hikes in Popular National Parks Hit the trail and avoid the crowds! NPCA staff selected 11 lesser-known hikes in some of the country’s most popular parks.
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Blog Post A Yogi’s Guide to the National Parks Experiencing America’s natural wonders in 9 poses
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Blog Post 9 Wildlife Success Stories National parks provide critical habitat for a variety of animals—in some cases, they are the only places that threatened or endangered species have left to call home. If those species disappear from a part of the country, parks can play an important role in bringing them back. Here are nine animals that have been reintroduced to their native habitats in national parks.
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Trip Splendor in the Smokies Join NPCA for an active hiking adventure that showcases the best of the Smokies during the blossoming spring or the breathtaking fall changing of color.
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Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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Blog Post Parks after Dark: 9 Ideas for Nighttime Fun Summer nights may be short, but national parks often host extra activities to educate and entertain visitors during this popular tourist season. Whether you’re exploring on your own or hanging out with a ranger, try a few of these excuses to stay out late in special places.
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Blog Post Dreaming of Spring? 9 Great Spots to See Wildflowers Soon, national parks in some of the warmest regions of the country will begin blooming with a new season’s worth of wildflowers. What better way to shake off the winter doldrums—or charm your Valentine—than with the promise of a front-row seat at a national park to watch the landscape come alive with color?
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Blog Post 7 Tips for Winter Hiking — Plus 6 of NPCA’s Favorite Cold-Weather Trails The days are shorter and the weather is blustery — but that doesn't mean you need to stay indoors! NPCA has a few pointers and favorite places to explore during the winter months.
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Magazine Article Sketching the Smokies Walt Taylor heads to the mountains with paper, pens, and paint.
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Blog Post A Transformative Victory The largest power company in the United States is phasing out more of its coal plants. NPCA's Don Barger explains the significance of this major victory for clean air.
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Blog Post The Great Plaid Crawly Things of the Smokies Great Smoky Mountains National Park is so biodiverse, it even contains tiny insects that look like a U.S. senator.
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Report Center for State of the Parks: Great Smoky Mountains National Park In this report, the National Parks Conservation Association summarizes findings from an assessment by its State of the Parks program to describe the current condition of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s resources and the stewardship challenges ahead.
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