Since I live just 20 minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I get a lot of questions about this beautiful park. And I love answering them!
One of the most common questions I’m asked is “Why are the Smoky Mountains smoky?”
So that sparked an idea for a blog post.
I’ve written this blog post not only to answer that question but to answer all of the other common questions I get about the Smoky Mountains! Throughout this article, I’ll share fun facts and answer all of your burning questions about Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Why Are the Smoky Mountains Smoky? + Other Fun Facts!
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Why Are the Smoky Mountains Smoky?
Before I answer this question, let me tell you a little bit more about the area’s geology.
Where Does the Smoke Come From?
First, the smoke is actually fog! This fog, or “smoke,” comes from the area’s vegetation. Plants release oxygen, but they also exhale something called VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Example: Do you love the smell of Christmas trees? The VOCs released from the pine trees create that divine scent!
So, in addition to the plants in the Smokies giving off various scents, the released VOCs generate fog. The VOCs have an elevated vapor pressure, so when millions of plants in the Smoky Mountains give off this vapor, this creates that fog and signature “smoky” look.
What Makes The Mountains Blue?
VOCs are also responsible for the fog’s blue color. When vapor is released from the plants, the particles that make up the gas scatter blue light.
Any forest with a plethora of pine trees will also see a similar blue hue. For example, Acadia National Park’s forests have this blue haze. But the reason why the Smoky Mountains seem “bluer” than that forest or any other ordinary pine forest is that the Smoky Mountains have the quintessential natural conditions for it.
The most common trees in the Smokies have elevated concentrations of VOCs that scatter blue light. Also, the Smoky Mountains receive a significant amount of rainfall and sunlight, experience high humidity levels, and have an abundance of stagnant air. When you mix all of these ingredients, you’ve got a recipe for some of the most gorgeous mountains in the world!
So Why are the Smoky Mountains Smoky?
The Smoky Mountains are smoky because of the vegetation! The vegetation exhales VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which creates that signature fog.
Fun Facts About the Smoky Mountains
Where Are the Smoky Mountains?
The Smoky Mountains straddle the border of Tennessee and North Carolina and form part of the central crest of the Appalachian Mountain range.
Nearly the entire Great Smoky Mountains range sits in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
What Is the Tallest Peak in the Smoky Mountains?
The tallest mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). Kuwohi sits at an elevation of 6,643 feet above sea level.
Unlike the other two tallest mountains in the Smokies (Guyot and LeConte), visitors can access this summit fairly easily via a 1-mile roundtrip trail.
The tallest peaks in the Smokies (and their elevations):
- Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) – 6,643
- Mount Guyot – 6,621
- Mount Le Conte (High Top) – 6,593
- Mount Buckley – 6,580
- Mount Love – 6,420
- Mount Chapman – 6,417
- Old Black – 6,370
- Luftee Knob – 6,234
- Mount Kephart – 6,217
- Mount Collins – 6,118
How Many Mountains Are in the Smoky Mountains?
There are 324 named mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains range.
The most famous peaks are Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) and Mount LeConte.
How Many Miles of Trails Are in the Smoky Mountains?
There are currently 848 miles of hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can hike to spectacular waterfalls like Spruce Flats and Laurel, summit mountains like LeConte and Cammerer, stroll creekside along Deep Creek and Big Creek, and much more!
There’s even a 900-mile club for those who want to hike every single mile in the Smokies!
Does the Appalachian Trail Run Through the Smoky Mountains?
Yes! 74 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT) run through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Is It Great Smoky Mountains or Smoky Mountains or Smokies?
Sorry for the confusion, everybody, but those are three ways to say the same thing!
Great Smoky Mountains is the official name of the range and National Park. Smoky Mountains is just a shortened name for that mountain range. And Smokies is its common ultra-shortened name.
How Did Great Smoky Mountains Get Its Name?
The native Cherokee people called the Great Smoky Mountains Shaconage, which translates to “land of blue smoke.”
Euro-American settlers drew from the Cherokee’s original name and titled the range the “Smoky Mountains.” They later added “Great” to highlight the magnitude and immensity of the mountain range.
Other FAQs About the Smoky Mountains
Is There an Entrance Fee Into Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
There is no entrance fee. However, vehicle parking passes are required to park anywhere inside the National Park boundaries for more than 15 minutes.
Read more about the parking tag program in my full guide.
What Are the Best Things to Do In Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
There are so many great things to do in the Smokies, but I’ll list 5 things that you must do on your first visit! All of these things are classic introductions to the most visited National Park in the USA!
- Bike Cades Cove
- Summit Mt LeConte
- Visit Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome)
- Tube Deep Creek
- Hike to Laurel Falls
What Unique Things Are There to Do in the Smoky Mountains?
See the synchronous fireflies. Every year, around late May to early June, the synchronous fireflies put on a spectacular show in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For a couple of weeks, the forest quivers with thousands of flashing lights; there’s truly nothing like it. A difficult lottery system is implemented for the official 8-day event, so it can feel impossible to get tickets. Read my guide to find out how you can see the fireflies without winning the lottery.
View the wildflowers. Wildflowers and flowering plants pop off in the Smokies during the spring and summer months! You can find trillium, mountain laurels, pink turtleheads, lady slippers, bleeding hearts, rhododendrons, flame azaleas, and 1,500 other species! In fact, Great Smoky Mountains has the most wildflower and flowering plants diversity than any other North American National Park. Some of the best places to see wildflowers are Whiteoak Sink, Andrews Bald, and Gregory Bald. Read more about wildflowers in the park here.
Go horseback riding in Cades Cove. This is a unique way to explore Cades Cove! Hire a guide and follow him down forested trails through one of the most beautiful parts of the Smokies.
Swim in a natural swimming hole. Natural swimming holes are the perfect way to cool off in the hot summer months! Midnight Hole is the most picturesque and requires a 3-mile roundtrip hike, while The Sinks and Townsend Wye are accessible by vehicle and are perfect for families and small children.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Smoky Mountains?
The best time to visit the Smoky Mountains is March – October. During the summer, all of the roads, campgrounds, and picnic areas are open. And conditions are comfortable for summer activities like tubing and swimming.
However, if you are looking to avoid crowds, visit from November – February. These are great months to hike and chase waterfalls, but they are not great months to swim and tube. Many roads, campgrounds, and picnic areas are closed during these months.
Check out my detailed guides about visiting the Smokies in EACH season!
How Many Days Do You Need in the Smoky Mountains?
I would recommend 3-5 days.
What’s the Closest Airport to Great Smoky Mountains?
The McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee is the closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Townsend Entrance of Great Smoky Mountains is just 24 miles (roughly 35 minutes) from McGhee Tyson Airport.
The Gatlinburg Entrance of Great Smoky Mountains is just 40 miles (roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes) from McGhee Tyson Airport.
READ NEXT: 7 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Great Smoky Mountains
Should I Visit the Tennessee or North Carolina Side of the Smoky Mountains?
Both sides are beautiful and are worth visiting!
The Tennessee side of the Smokies is the most visited for a reason. It is close to touristy destinations like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, which each have endless activities, lodging, and dining options.
Inside the park on the Tennessee side, there is an abundance of “crowd-favorite” hiking trails, exquisite waterfalls, bustling campgrounds, and popular viewpoints to keep visitors busy for days or even weeks.
The North Carolina side is the least crowded and least visited side of the Smokies, but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth visiting.
In fact, many visitors venture to the North Carolina side simply for the solitude and the wild, rugged atmosphere. It is near the quiet town of Cherokee, making it a more relaxing and simplified escape into nature. And the trails are typically quieter, more rugged, and more difficult, which attracts avid hikers.
Check out my guide where I compare both sides of the Smokies!
READ NEXT: Tennessee Vs. North Carolina: Which Side of the Smokies Should You Visit?
Finish Planning Your Trip to the Smokies
No matter which season you’re visiting, I’ve got a guide for you!
- Smoky Mountains in the Summer: What to Expect
- Smoky Mountains in the Fall: What to Expect
- Smoky Mountains in the Winter: What to Expect
- Smoky Mountains in the Spring: What to Expect
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Frozen Head State Park
- Rock Island State Park
- Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Denny Cove Falls
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