Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park was established in 1940, and it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting more than 500,000 acres of land and thousands of species of plants and animals. The park is located in the eastern part of the United States on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It is part of the Smoky Mountains contained within the Blue Ridge Mountains, a division of the more extensive Appalachian Mountain range that runs from Newfoundland in Canada to Central Alabama in the US. Initially, the native Cherokee people called the mountains “Shaconage” meaning “Land of Blue Smoke” because of the smoke-like, blue-colored mist that fills the air above the mountain peaks and valleys. The park elevation ranges from 875 to 6,643 feet above sea level, with the Clingmans Dome being the highest point there. Other prominent peaks are Mount Guyot and Mount LeConte. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is considered one of the most picturesque landscapes in the United States, offering beautiful views of the mountains, streams, waterfalls, valleys, and countless opportunities to photograph wildlife, including deer, flying squirrels, and American black bears. In addition, there are over 1,500 species of flowering plans and exquisite colors during the fall season.

Beach Cave Desert Glacier Hot springs Forest Lake River Seeside Waterfall Wildlife

Bird watching Camping Dune bashing Fishing Horseback riding Landscape photography Nature trips Offroad riding Rock climbing Rock crawling Scenic drives Skiing Water sports Wildlife Wildlife photography

Looking for great locations for landscape and wildlife photography?

Photospotfinder can help you identify the best places to photograph landscape and wildlife.

Please log in to access all features, including an interactive map of photo locations and associated photo spots. Login

}