![]() ![]() ![]() Since the road crosses the peaks of the Smoky Mountains, for the first half of your ride you’re headed uphill, and downhill once you reach the top. Although the highway is exceptionally winding, I found that to be an asset since the slower pace provided more time to appreciate all you see on your Smoky Mountains road trip. Thankfully, there are frequent cutouts all along the way, where you can stop and admire the beauty all around you. US 441 is the southern terminus of the famous 469-mile-long Blue Ridge Parkway, a two-lane road that cuts through the verdant forest as it meanders up to Virginia. A Grist Mill along the Blue Ridge Parkway Blue Ridge Parkway Through North Carolina They were unperturbed by the numerous cars and people walking about snapping photos. Moreover, I was amazed at how close they grazed to the road. I pulled to the side, got out and found several elk grazing in a broad flower-dappled meadow. Then I realized that many of the people were getting out of their cars were taking pictures. And after leaving Mingus Mill, I headed further into the forest.Īt one point I came around a bend, found a line of cars stopped and thought there was an accident. Pressed for time, though, I spent a good deal of my day in the car. You can also enjoy bicycling and horseback riding. In fact, the famed Appalachian Trail, stretching from Georgia to Maine, threads its way the length of it. Walking the numerous trails, however, even for a short distance, provides a much richer experience. On a Smoky Mountains road trip you can see many things right from your car. ![]() The Ranger had urged me to visit it and I found it was well worth the half-hour diversion.Įlk on Route 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Stop For Elk I loaded myself up with numerous maps and brochures but before leaving headed out back to the mountain farm. She told me a lot about the park and showed me on a map the popular places to go. I spoke with a park ranger, a retired schoolteacher from Florida, who was exceptionally helpful. The other visitor center, Sugarlands on the Tennessee side, focuses on the geography and nature of the area. It’s the park center that showcases the culture of the region. Many had stopped to take photos of their children in front of the large park entrance sign.Ī way up the road I pulled into the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. ![]() I was soon passing several carloads of families. I started my Smoky Mountains drive on the North Carolina side. Farmstead in the National Park Easy to Take This Smoky Mountains’ Scenic Drive That’s due to its numerous twists and turns, as well as the frequent stops most people make to admire the scenery, flora and fauna. But don’t let the short distance of this scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains fool you it normally takes a few hours to drive across. That’s a 30+-mile stretch of US 441 between the kitschy towns of Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN. It is, astoundingly, the most visited National Park in the USA.Īlthough there are several roads in the park, it’s bisected by only one paved road. Straddling North Carolina and Tennessee, the park encompasses 815 square miles of unspoiled Appalachia. At the time I had no idea what a great decision I had made. One time, when I was driving from Atlanta on my way to Asheville, NC, I decided to take a scenic drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unless you’re a hiker or camper, the best way to see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is to take a scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains. Chimney Tops Picnic Area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park / photos: Jim Ferri ![]()
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