Sitting on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the seemingly endless ridges of the Smoky Mountains attract more annual visitors than any other national park in the country. Don’t let that scare you away, it’s not too hard to find a small piece of the park to call your own for the day. Hailed for their biodiversity, scenic lookouts, and Southern charm, the Smokies belong on every adventurer’s national park bucket list. Check out some of our favorite hikes in the park and start making plans to see them for yourself.
Photo: Nathan Szwarc
Photo: Nicholas Voyles
Photo: Seth Berry
Photo: Tiffany Edmiston
Photo: Matthew Chang
Photo: Spenser Reid
Photo: Johnathan Duncan
Photo: Nathan Szwarc
Photo: Adam Welch
Photo: Adam Welch
Photo: Joshua Contois
Photo: Chaney Swiney
Photo: Joshua Contois
Photo: Joshua Contois
Photo: Nathan Szwarc
Photo: Joshua Contois
Photo: Steve Yocom
Photo: Cassandra Harrison
Photo: Robin Pfeifer
Photo: Jon King
Cover photo: Adam Welch