In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Appalachian Trail charts a gritty, 71-mile course, gaining about 18,600 feet in the process. The trail runs nearly the entire width of the park, from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap, clinging to the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The stretch through the Smokies includes the loftiest section […]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains
Stars shine brightest during the most cold and dark parts of night. It is often when you are surrounded by fire that you learn that the fire inside of you burns brighter than any other flame. On Monday, November 28th, 2016, the people of Gatlinburg, TN were faced with their darkest of nights – they found themselves […]
Dawson’s Smoky Mountain Hiking Kit (Winter Edition)
A small collection of essentials can make all the difference when planning a trip into the woods. Everyone has a favorite piece of gear or something that is always in their pack. Here’s a list of items that our co-founder, Dawson takes when he hikes in the Smokies during winter: Pack: “I carry my gear in either […]
The Complete Guide to Winter Camping in the Southeast
What’s not to love about snowy adventures and frozen landscape views? Bring on the cool weather and winter camping! The southeast is packed with some of the most scenic mountain ranges and picturesque valleys in the nation. Matched with a milder climate, camping during the winter months tends to be less harsh than options further […]
Tremont: A Smoky Mountain Hideaway
On the Townsend side of the Smokies you’ll find one of the most charming sections of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. An area that was once a hustling and bustling logging community – complete with hotel, post office and tiny homes… Yes, tiny homes – before they were hip. You’ll find an area that […]
Hiker’s Guide to Hemphill Bald
Article and photographs courtesy of Kristi Parsons for Rock/Creek. Every year, millions of visitors drive the roads of our Great Smoky Mountains National Park – looking for the perfect picnic spot. However, most of them will never see the most amazing of spots in the park. Most specifically, they’ll never see the breathtaking beauty of […]