Great Smoky Mountains versus Shenandoah National Park
January 30, 2022 7:35 AM Subscribe
To aid with trip planning, I'd like to hear some comparisons and advice from people who've been to both!
I'll be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time in April! Planned are a few days of camping and hiking with a stop in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and/or Knoxville en route. I'm coming from up north.
How does it compare to Shenandoah National Park? I know the former very well as I visit all the time but have only passed through eastern Tennessee. (Such friendly people and lush greenery!) I'm interested in landscape, logistics, and more.
Thanks in advance! MeFites have the best travel tips.
I'll be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time in April! Planned are a few days of camping and hiking with a stop in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and/or Knoxville en route. I'm coming from up north.
How does it compare to Shenandoah National Park? I know the former very well as I visit all the time but have only passed through eastern Tennessee. (Such friendly people and lush greenery!) I'm interested in landscape, logistics, and more.
Thanks in advance! MeFites have the best travel tips.
Best answer: I'd say the biggest difference is that entrance to GSMNP is free (it was required by the entities that donated the land) and there is a very large, very popular tourist destination in and of itself immediately adjacent to the park (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Dollywood).
As a consequent, there is a ton of casual day trippers in the park leading to lots of crowds and traffic at any of the sites that are immediately accessible off of the main road that runs rough north/south through the park. This is especially true of anything in the official materials handed out at park entrance or in the guidebooks. Not really different than any other national park but the effect is magnified by the ease of access.
Don't let this scare you...the park is huge so the standard advice of getting an early start and getting off the beaten path applies here as well.
posted by mmascolino at 8:04 AM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
As a consequent, there is a ton of casual day trippers in the park leading to lots of crowds and traffic at any of the sites that are immediately accessible off of the main road that runs rough north/south through the park. This is especially true of anything in the official materials handed out at park entrance or in the guidebooks. Not really different than any other national park but the effect is magnified by the ease of access.
Don't let this scare you...the park is huge so the standard advice of getting an early start and getting off the beaten path applies here as well.
posted by mmascolino at 8:04 AM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you for the great advice so far!
Just to clarify since I realize my initial wording was a bit unclear: I'm looking for tips about Great Smoky Mountains National Park in contrast to Shenandoah National Park. I spent nearly half my life in the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge so I am already very familiar with those areas, although I'm certainly happy for any and all suggestions!
posted by smorgasbord at 8:13 AM on January 30, 2022
Just to clarify since I realize my initial wording was a bit unclear: I'm looking for tips about Great Smoky Mountains National Park in contrast to Shenandoah National Park. I spent nearly half my life in the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge so I am already very familiar with those areas, although I'm certainly happy for any and all suggestions!
posted by smorgasbord at 8:13 AM on January 30, 2022
Best answer: I went to GSMNP late last May, though I avoided Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge - nothing wrong with it if you like noise, but if you've yet to book accommodation, the NC side is quieter and just as close to many trails.
Based on what I experience in May, I wouldn't worry too much about crowds in April. From my own research for that trip, the crowds seem to happen mainly on weekends/once kids are out of school. For my late May trip, I really only encountered a crowd around Clingman's Dome, but even that was pretty manageable, though we purposely did that on a weekday.
Depending on when in April you're going and what the weather has been like, there may still be snow/ice on some of the higher-elevation trails (especially in the morning). For me, Mt Le Conte and Charlies Bunion were my two favorite hikes, but I'd check with a ranger on trail conditions first, especially if you're going early April. And bring some sort of traction for your shoes. If you are able to do Mt Le Conte, make sure you make it to Myrtle Point - it adds a little extra mileage, but it's so worth it - of the two lookouts, I thought that one was much more beautiful.
You may find some of the answers to a question I asked here helpful.
posted by coffeecat at 8:40 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Based on what I experience in May, I wouldn't worry too much about crowds in April. From my own research for that trip, the crowds seem to happen mainly on weekends/once kids are out of school. For my late May trip, I really only encountered a crowd around Clingman's Dome, but even that was pretty manageable, though we purposely did that on a weekday.
Depending on when in April you're going and what the weather has been like, there may still be snow/ice on some of the higher-elevation trails (especially in the morning). For me, Mt Le Conte and Charlies Bunion were my two favorite hikes, but I'd check with a ranger on trail conditions first, especially if you're going early April. And bring some sort of traction for your shoes. If you are able to do Mt Le Conte, make sure you make it to Myrtle Point - it adds a little extra mileage, but it's so worth it - of the two lookouts, I thought that one was much more beautiful.
You may find some of the answers to a question I asked here helpful.
posted by coffeecat at 8:40 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My blog posts from our GSMNP trip last year might be helpful.
posted by COD at 11:22 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 11:22 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
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