Had a wonderful time hiking this park. Very relaxed and many of the trails had pavement which I wasn't expecting. The people I ran into were very nice. Lots of families hiking here. I did the waterfall trecks which were very scenic so be sure to bring your camera. Was amazed at how many black bears I saw on this trip so be wary of them and stay safe. Well worth the visit here.

Can't beat these National Parks. Great Smoky Mountains NP will not disappoint. Great experience. Do not miss Cades Cove loop. Actually saw a bear there. A lot of structures to see not to mention the wildlife. Besides the bear, saw deer, foxes, and turkeys. Visitor centers are well staffed and the personnel are very helpful. Highly recommend this park.

Love the Park coming from Gatlinburg. Hate getting through Gatlinburg because of traffic. Coming from Gatlinburg, going towards Cherokee NC, you will run across an Awesome Fully Accessible Trail called Sugarlands. There are a lot of sites to see. Some old Foundations, etc from past settlements in the area. The Trail is about a quarter of a mile and completely paved. I was able to go through it all with no trouble. The trail is by the Creek. You can get some great photos throughout the trail. Ample Parking is available for Vans with Ramps. The Park has done a great job on this for those of us who use Wheelchairs. I love the old Foundations !! There are signs telling you to lock your vehicle up and protect your belongings. You will really enjoy this stop !! Thank you Smoky Mountains National Park !!

My husband and I had a great time in the park. The views and hikes are excellent. There is a lot of traffic congestion, and parking is a problem in a lot of areas. I know it is the most visited national parks , and it really felt like like it. For reference, we have visited 31. I do wish they could do more to alleviate some of the traffic issues. It is still worth it to go, just be prepared to be patient.

Fabulous Park but traffic is horrible In October Cades cove loop was a 3 hour bumper to bumper ordeal — this was on a weekday Advise you to start your day EARLY Clingmans dome road — a delight to reach the end and see the views- but prepare for bumper to bumper for 5 miles. Trailheads parking packed by 9 am No bears to be seen but lots of elk! Next time we will visit in September

After booking our tour Chadd responded and was extremely helpful with what to expect and what to bring with us. Picked up on time, and spent a fantastic day in the park. Chadd was knowledgeable and informative throughout.Saw lots of wildlife and learned about their daily routines.Highlight. Momma bear and cubs getting ready for winter! Lots of great photos. This is a must tour to take ! Great way to spend a day.

This writing is dated 10/21/2023. Today we drove the higher elevation as was a very clear day. We didnt even make it to Cherokee. It is the height of leaf color changing season. I am writing so you know what to expect and if you are not ready for this during the next few days, get ready or don't do it. The colors and views are spectacular. The traffic not so much. It took us 2 hrs and 45 miutes bumper to bumper over 80% of the time just to reach the look out tower. We were at a stand still alot and for a long time. Parking there is uncontrolled. There is parking at the end of the circle but no one will move forward because they think they won't get a spot (even though you can see the spots) once at the parking area. On the way back we decided to count cars standing still and miles as entertainment. There were 300 cars standing still in the last 2 miles before parking. Coming back is not better. There are so many places that say do not park but people were parking there and it was not enforced. Also we did not see one $5 parking pass displayed in the parking lot from where we parked all the way to the visitor center-store. So why bother buying it if it is not enforced. And they were not only parked for 15 minutes believe me! Takes longer than that just to use the porta potties and definitely at least 45 minutes to climb the tower.

Great views from cabin or while driving. Finding a parking spot in the park is difficult due to most people not purchasing required parking pass. Lots of great eating places and shopping options. Fun place to visit, heavy tourist traffic.

Besides visiting Clingman's Dome, reviewed here separately, this park has amazing vistas. Parking at the various hikes is very difficult as there is not much of it. We did the Grotto Falls Hike also and enjoyed that a lot; also did the drive by the Trillium Gap Trail and visited the Ely Mill.

This beautiful park should be on your short list of National Parks to visit. It is America's most visited park and can be very crowded especially when the trees turn. We enjoyed the breathtaking vistas, the old mill, seeing the elk and bears and the waterfall. There are old cabins and churches. Parking is a problem, particularly at Clingmans Dome, the picnic area and at the waterfalls. We sat in several traffic jams for up to an hour.