The Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains that span from Maine to Georgia and Alabama. The Smokies are located in Tennessee and North Carolina.

What is so special about the Smokies today?

This area is lush with greenery, gives us beautiful scenery, and harbors a huge diversity of wildlife including both plants and animals. It is a unique place for many reasons, and attracts many scientists for the study of these plants and animals. While there are many areas along the Blue Ridge and the Appalachians that also have dense forests, the Smoky Mountains carry a certain amount of magic. There is a feeling there that perhaps there is no place like this anywhere else. It is a special place to visit.

Why do the Smokies have such a diverse population of plants and animals?

A long time ago, the Ice Age pushed huge glaciers southward through North America. The ice flow stopped just north of the Smokies in the Southern Appalachians. The ice pushed some plant material from the north, which then took root in some of the higher elevations of the Smokies. Some plant material was brought here by colonists from Europe and other lands, and took root on the gentle slopes of the Smokies, and down in the valleys. The same story applies to the animals. There are animals and plants here that could not thrive anywhere else, due to some specialized habitats here in these mountains.

There are many different elevations in the Smokies that give a huge diversity of habitat to very different plants. There are plants here that are not found anywhere else; there are plants here that are found in many other places; there are plants here that are only found in Canada and the northern United States. This one area, depending upon the elevation, gives us lacy fragile ferns, sending their curling tendrils upward through the warm temperate forest litter, but also gives us tough needled fir trees that thrive in cold rough misty climates.

Spring in brings an explosion of growth and a riot of color to these mountains, and people from all over North America travel here to witness the Smokies' blooming wildflowers. Still others return in the fall to see the tremendous autumn color. Hikers walk the trails, climb over rocks, and ford streams, for the chance to be a part of this most-visited national park in the country. Summer finds people splashing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing the many streams here. Winter gives the die-hard visitor a chance to work for the beauty when the Smokies puts on a dazzling icy show.

How can I explore the Smoky Mountains?

The Smokies can be experienced on any level you wish. You can have an exciting wilderness adventure by hiking the backcountry. You can have a strenuous hike by choosing a steeper trail. Or you can tour by car, and stroll easy trails. The best access to the Smoky Mountains, is of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here hiking is usual, fishing is good, camping is accommodated, shopping is possible, wildflowers are found, animals are watched, and learning is encouraged.

How many miles to the Smoky Mountains?

Click here to see a U.S. map with driving mileage estimates.

Click Here to Read About Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

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 Please reference CoveBear.com as a wonderful Smoky Mountains website!