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Great Places to Stay at
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mount Leconte Hike In Lodge - Sevierville, Tennessee
At 6,593 feet elevation, Mount LeConte is one of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park's highest peaks. When the movement to establish a national
park in the Smokies was in full sway, a tent camp was erected where LeConte
Lodge now stands to entertain visiting dignitaries from Washington. Although
LeConte Lodge is now under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, it
predates the creation of the park in 1930. Jack Huff, a Gatlinburg
mountaineer and founder of the rustic lodge, began building the retreat in
1926. Eight years later, Jack and Pauline Huff were married at a sunrise
service at LeConte's now-famous Myrtle Point, the traditional place to watch
spectacular performances of daybreak. Jack, Pauline and their family
continued to operate the lodge until 1960.
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Bearskin Lodge -
Gatlinburg, TN
Bearskin Lodge promises the best that nature has to offer in Gatlinburg with its
unique mountain charm located at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. At Bearskin Lodge you’ll find state-of-the-art amenities among
its traditional mountain craft decor and massive log beams. Downtown Gatlinburg
shops, restaurants, and attractions are just outside your door. Gatlinburg
became a lodging destination many years ago and our lodge will take you back to
a time when visitors came to enjoy the clean mountain air and cool streams of
Gatlinburg. Those days are here again as you can look at the bubbling mountain
stream from your balcony or enjoy a hike into the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park right from our door step. While at our Gatlinburg lodge, take a float on
our own meandering lazy river, or a dip in our swimming pool that looks upon
Mount LeConte.
Smoky Mountain Accommodations
Gatlinburg Cabins and Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals
Tennessee Smoky
Mountains - Bed & Breakfasts
Timber Tops Chalet Rentals
North
Carolina's Best Bed and Breakfasts
NC ,
Smoky Mountains Lodging
Smoky
Mountain Mall Lodging
The Pigeon
Forge - Lodging
Mountain
Valley Properties
Great Smoky Mountains National Park by the National Park
Service
The national park, in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses
800 square miles of which 95 percent are forested. World renowned for the
diversity of its plant and animal resources, the beauty of its ancient
mountains, the quality of its remnants of American pioneer culture, and the
depth and integrity of the wilderness sanctuary within its boundaries, it is one
of the largest protected areas in the east.
VISITATION:
The most visited national park in the National Park System, with nine million
visitors a year. The peak months are June to August and October during
spectacular autumn color. Lowest visitation occurs in winter months, November to
February, and early spring.
LOCATION:
North Carolina, Tennessee
ADDRESS:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
TELEPHONE:
(423) 436-1200
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
The park is open year-round. Two of the three visitor centers are open all year,
except
Christmas Day.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Elevations in the park range from 800 feet to 6,643 feet and topography affects
local weather. Temperatures are 10 to 20 degrees cooler on the mountaintops.
Annual precipitation averages 65 inches in the lowlands to 88 inches in the high
country. Spring often brings unpredictable weather, particularly in higher
elevations. Summer is hot and humid, but more pleasant in higher elevations.
Fall has warm days and cool nights and is the driest period, and frosts occur
starting in late September. Winter is generally moderate, but extreme conditions
occur with increasing elevation.
DIRECTIONS:
Several major highways lead to the Park. The following routes provide access to
the three main entrances. In Tennessee: 1)From I-40 take Exit 407 (Sevierville)
to TN Route 66 South, and continue to U.S. 441 South. Follow U.S. 441 to Park.
2) From I-40 in Knoxville - Exit 386B U.S. Highway 129 South to Alcoa/Maryville.
At Maryville proceed on U.S. 321 North through Townsend. Continue straight on TN
Highway 73 into Park. In North Carolina: From I-40, take U.S. Route 19 West
through Maggie Valley. Proceed to U.S. 441 North at Cherokee into the Park. From
Atlanta and points south: follow U.S. 441 and 23 North. U.S. 441 leads to the
Park.
TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: the nearest major airport in Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson, TYS) is Alcoa, 45
miles west of Gatlinburg. North Carolina's, Asheville Airport is 60 miles east
of the park. No train or bus service accesses the Park.
In Park: personal vehicle, limited trolley service from Gatlinburg.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
No admission fees. Fees charged at developed campgrounds.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Centers/Exhibits:
Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, TN, is open year-round and offers an
orientation program and natural history exhibits. Oconaluftee Visitor Center,
near Cherokee, NC, is also open year-round and its exhibits focus on mountain
life of the late 1800s. Adjacent to the visitor center is the Mountain Farm
Museum, a collection of historic farm buildings. Cades Cove Visitor Center, near
Townsend, TN, (closed in winter), sits among preserved historic buildings
representing isolated farming communities of the 1800s.
Trails, Roads:
More than 800 miles of trails provide opportunities ranging from ten-minute
saunters on quiet walkways to week-long adventures deep in the forest. There are
about 170 miles of paved roads and over 100 miles of gravel roads. The "backroads"
offer a chance to escape traffic and enjoy the more remote areas of the park.
Lodging and camping facilities:
LeConte Lodge, accessible only by foot or horseback, sits atop 6,593 Mt. LeConte,
the Park's third highest peak. Reservations are required and can be made by
calling (423) 429-5704. The lodge is open mid-March to mid-November. A variety
of lodging facilities are available in the outlying communities.
Frontcountry Campgrounds: There are ten developed campgrounds. Cades Cove in
Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina are open year round. The other
campgrounds are generally open from late March April to early November. Camping
fees range from $10.00 to $15.00 per night.
Backcountry Campsites: Backcountry camping is free but requires a permit. Most
campsites use self-registration at visitor centers or ranger stations, but
shelters and rationed sites require reservations. Reservations can be made 30
days in advance by calling (423) 436-1231, 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. daily.
Food/supplies:
There are no food facilities in the park. Numerous convenience stores and
restaurants
establishments are located in outlying communities.
Accessibility:
Wheelchair accessible facilities, including restrooms, are located at the three
major
campgrounds, Cades Cove and Elkmont in Tennessee and Smokemont in North
Carolina, visitor centers, and many picnic areas. Campsites reservations can be
made for the period May 15 to October 31 by calling Destinet at 1(800) 365-CAMP.
A five-foot wide paved and level accessibility trail, Sugarlands Valley Nature
Trail, is a quarter mile south of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Specially designed
communications media, including tactile and wayside exhibits, large print
brochures and a cassette version are part of the trail.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Camping, hiking, picnicking, sightseeing, fishing, auto touring, horseback
riding, nature viewing, and photographic opportunities abound.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Obtain a $.25 copy of the park newspaper, Smokies Guide. It offers current
information on interpretive programs and services. It is available at visitor
centers and campgrounds or write Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park
Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. A sales publication catalog listing
books, videos, maps, guides, and more is available from Great Smoky Mountains
Natural History Association by writing 115 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg,
TN 37738. Items are also available for sale at the visitor centers. |