The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Established in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2009. Granting it national park status assured that the 500,000 acres within the park would remain protected. According to the Gatlinburg Visitors and Convention Bureau, this order of protection extends to all scenery and resources within its boundaries, including: more than 1,500 types of plants, 60 native mammals, 58 species of fish, 38 types of reptiles, 40 different breeds of amphibians and over 200 bird species. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was home to a thriving community of farmers and commercial lumber businesses in the early 1900's. Today, it is the most popular national park in the country, with an annual average of nine million visitors. What keeps people flocking to the Smokies, year after year? What makes this shared Tennessee / North Carolina national park a cut above the rest?

Majestic scenery abounds in the Smokies, and you have many different means from which to relish the view. The park boasts 800 miles of hiking trails, from beginner to expert levels in difficulty. A general Smoky Mountain information site, gsmnp.com, states that sixty-nine miles of the famed Appalachian Trail form the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, right through the national park. There are also a number of auto tour routes available that offer fantastic landscapes and photo opportunities. A favorite auto tour among visitors to the Smokies is the Cades Cove Loop. The Cades Cove area beckons drivers to park and explore the preserved churches and homesteads of early settlers, as well as a visitor information center. From here, you can also access a hiking trail leading to one of the park's many waterfalls: Abrams Falls, as well as Abrams Creek, which offers spectacular trout fishing. Another wildly popular auto route is the Blue Ridge Parkway. This stretch covers nearly 500 miles of road, but there are many opportunities to turn around and backtrack when necessary. Along the path, you'll find ample options for distraction, including: overlooks, picnic areas, a museum, visitor centers and waterfalls.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an impressive array of flora and fauna. The National Park Service reports that more than 1,660 types of flowering plants exists within the park's boundaries, "more than in any other North American national park". Annually, visitors to the national park can participate in the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage. For one week in the spring, this festival explores the widely varied floral population through assorted events and educational programs. The animal inhabitants of the Smokies are equally remarkable. Among the many species of the furry populace are deer, black bear, raccoons, elk, wild turkeys, woodchucks, rabbits and squirrels. The Smokies are also home to the most diversified assortment of salamanders in the world. A popular draw to the park, fishing is permitted year-round. Fishing is restricted in some areas, and licenses are required to fish in both Tennessee and North Carolina, so it is advisable to brush up on regulations at a ranger station prior to fishing. The most prized fish in the national park is the Rainbow trout, but the Brook is the only trout species that is actually native to the area.

There are ten maintained campgrounds throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Camping facilities within the park are divided into four main categories: group sites, frontcountry, backcountry and horse camps. If your camping party consists of eight or more people, you will need a group site. Horse camps are small, primitive sites that offer hitching posts for campers with horses in tow. Frontcountry camping allows parking for cars near your camp site. These campgrounds are developed with restroom facilities and individual picnic sites. Backcountry camp sites are accessible only by foot, and are located off the beaten path. They are primitive sites recommended for more experienced campers / hikers. In most cases, camp sites in the national park are first come - first served, but certain locations do require advance reservations. Nightly rates vary from $14-$23 Check with a ranger's station for more information on campsite availability, or call 1-800-365-2267.

During the year-long celebration of the national park's 75th anniversary, there will be numerous events planned to commemorate the occasion. On May 16, pay tribute to the history of the mountain community of Cosby at Cosby in the Park. Free to the general public, the event features music, crafts, games and storytelling for the whole family. Join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for a unique, outdoor performance at Cades Cove on June 13. Recreating President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1940 speech, there will be a Rededication of the national park at Newfound Gap's Rockefeller Memorial on September 2. Celebrate the autumn harvest at The Mountain Farm Museum's Mountain Life Festival. This event includes music and demonstrations of traditional, rural mountain life during harvest season. The holidays will be bustling in the mountains this year with two lively events in December. The Festival of Christmas Past takes place on December 12, showcasing old-time holiday traditions and domestic demonstrations. One week later, on the 19th, visitors can enjoy music, demonstrations and refreshments at the Holiday Homecoming in Cherokee. For more information on any of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary events, please visit their official site.

Beyond the traditional national park activities covered here, the Great Smoky Mountains offers unparalleled natural majesty that is unique to its area. The knowledgeable rangers and park staff frequently host educational programs and guided tours throughout the park. Gift shops, information centers and canteens are sporadically located in the park to meet the shopping needs of visitors as well. Everything you need and everything you want are within your grasp on a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So, enjoy your next trip to the Smokies, and make it a truly awesome, enriching and adventurous experience!

Gatlinburg Visitors and Convention Bureau, "Great Smoky Mountains National Park" http://www.gatlinburg.com/things-to-do/national-park/

Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce "Great Smoky Mountains National Park" http://www.gsmnp.com/

U.S. National Park Service "Great Smoky Mountains National Park" http://www.nps.gov/grsm

Great Smoky Mountains National Park "Welcome to the Great Smokies 75th.org!" http://greatsmokies75th.org/welcome-to-the-great-smokies-75th/