Hiking
Wildlife
About
The most-visited national park in the US, known for synchronous fireflies, elk rut, and a fall color season that shifts by elevation.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border and spans over 5,000 feet of elevation change, which staggers its seasonal events — spring, fall color, and wildlife activity all move at different times depending on elevation.
GAO guides for this park:
- Best Time to Visit Great Smoky Mountains, Month by Month — synchronous firefly viewing at Elkmont, elk rut at Cataloochee, and the fall color gradient
Location & Contact
Contact
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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