It was early October when we visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hoping for signs of fall colors. Lucky for us a few of the trees had obliged, offering us a glimpse of coral, red and yellow

A Drive Through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We set out from our base camp in Pigeon Forge to spend the day in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. What should have taken about a half hour, became an hour and forty five minute drive. I think everyone in the world must have decided to visit Gatlinburg that day. Traffic was literally inching along. It was so bad, that at one point Steve hoped we’d get to the park before dark.

Beautiful Downtown Gatlinburg TN

The only part of Gatlinburg that we really saw was driving through the main street which was lined with shops, restaurants and hordes of people shopping. We never even looked for a place to park. For us it was more important to visit the national park than go shopping.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Though the clouds obliterate the mountain tops the sky was deep blue.

We finally found our way to the park entrance and began our drive up the mountain to seek out photo ops. The driving trail though the National Park is well designed with lots of overlooks where you can pull over to take photos. And it felt like we did that every few feet, probably because we did!

Cottony puffs of clouds hide the mountain peaks. Made me feel like I was in heaven on earth.

After the annoying bumper to bumper traffic that we experienced getting to the park we were happy for the calming effect the spectacular scenery had on us. Breathtaking views were everywhere around us.

History and Culture

Just how cold is that creek water? Steve said brrrrrrrr!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural tapestry of Southern Appalachian history. The mountains have had a long human history spanning thousands of years, from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlement in the 1800s to loggers and Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees in the 20th century.

We finally saw signs of the leaves changing color at long last!

Another glimpse of fall colors.

The park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes, and artifacts that tell the varied stories of people who once called these mountains home. To learn more, read bout the people who protect the cultural resource of the park.

Civilian Conservation Corps

Smoky Mountain High

Is that a Village I spy?

The Civilian Conservation Corps or CCC was established in 1933 as a federal work project during the Great Depression. The CCC employed young men in conservation work on federal and state lands. The program provided gainful employment and education to the enrollees from all over the country while also providing much-needed work on public lands throughout the nation. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as many as 4,000 enrollees were assigned to twenty two CCC camps at various times from 1933-1942. They built roads, trails, fire towers, and structures. The legacy of the CCC is enormous, and the work of these young men remains clearly evident today.

Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The view from up here was just amazing!

Whether you delight in the challenge of a strenuous hike to the crest of a mountain or prefer to sit quietly and watch the sun set, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers many activities for you to enjoy. The hardest part may be choosing which auto tour, trail, waterfall, overlook, or historic area to explore!

• Auto Touring
• Bicycling
• Burial Landscapes
• Camping
• Fall Colors
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historic Buildings
• Horseback Riding
• Picnicking
• Ranger-led Programs
• Waterfalls
• Wildflowers and Blooming Shrubs
• Wildlife Viewing

I do believe that village is actually Gatlinburg TN with lots of hotels and attractions.

Lucky for us the drive back to Pigeon Forge was quick and easy. Steve and I could not figure out where all of the traffic went. Our day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was so wonderful and inspiring that it was totally worth being stuck in traffic. Arriving back at Ladybug we felt so rejuvenated from the spectacular, breathtaking vistas.