Your online resource for the Smoky Mountains
Beyond the borders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies millions of acres of protected public land across Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. From soaring peaks and ancient rock formations to cascading waterfalls and serene mountain lakes, regional State Parks and National Forests offer incredible hiking, camping, scenic drives, and outdoor recreation with fewer crowds.
The Smokies are encircled by vast national forest lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, providing endless opportunities for wilderness exploration:
Overview: Spanning over 650,000 acres along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, split into northern and southern sections by GSMNP.
Highlights: The Ocoee River (world-class whitewater rafting), Bald River Falls, the Cherohala Skyway scenic drive, and Watauga Lake.
Overview: North Carolina's largest national forest, named after the Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun."
Highlights: Nantahala Gorge whitewater rafting, Whiteside Mountain, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (ancient old-growth trees), and Wayah Bald.
Overview: Famous for high mountain peaks, mile-high crags, cascading waterfalls, and hardwood forests near Asheville and Brevard.
Highlights: Looking Glass Rock, Sliding Rock natural water slide, Linville Gorge Wilderness, and Mount Pisgah along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Overview: Covers the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, serving as the southern gateway to the Appalachian Mountain chain.
Highlights: The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain, Brasstown Bald (Georgia's highest point), and Anna Ruby Falls.
Discover incredible state parks within an easy driving distance of the Smoky Mountains region:
Location: Clayton, GA
Georgia's highest state park, offering breathtaking 80-mile overlook views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, scenic ridge trail hiking, and cool mountain temperatures year-round.
Location: Chimney Rock, NC
Iconic 315-foot granite monolith offering 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, plus access to the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls.
Location: Wartburg, TN
Features 24,000 acres of undisturbed Cumberland Plateau forest, mountain streams, waterfalls, and an observation tower atop 3,324-foot Frozen Head Peak.
Location: Tallulah Falls, GA
Home to a dramatic 1,000-foot-deep canyon with a suspension bridge swaying 80 feet above the gorge floor, offering views of rushing waterfalls and rock cliffs.
Explore thousands of miles of trails ranging from easy paved waterfall walks to rugged wilderness treks along the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail.
Take unforgettable road trips along the Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway, or Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway for stunning overlook vistas.
Cast for wild trout in cool mountain streams or enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating on lakes like Lake Santeetlah, Watauga Lake, and Lake Chatuge.