Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Don't Take National Park Landscapes for Granted

How comfortable have we become with national park settings? With the big sweep of granite that frames the Yosemite Valley, with Old Faithful's not-quite-so-faithful demonstrations of steam and hot water, with the fall's colorful deciduous forests of Great Smoky and Shenandoah?

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 22nd, 2011 11:19am

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Here's How You Can Follow Science At Great Smoky Mountains National Park From Afar

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most biologically diverse units of the National Park System. And now you can get a feel for that diversity without leaving the comfort of your home (though hopefully you'll be inspired to visit the park).

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 17th, 2009 11:03am

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Endangered Species Day, What Have We Lost, What Might We Lose In the National Parks?

For many going to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is a town they pass en route to the park. Others spot the Pigeon River, or even spend a day rafting it during their stay. The pigeon that influenced these place names no longer darts through the skies nor perches in the forests. It's extinct.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 15th, 2009 9:27am

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Mountain Life To be Celebrated In Festival at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There's something special about the Appalachian Mountains and the folks who homesteaded them and handed down their traditions to their kin. This Saturday you can experience a rich slice of that lifestyle at the annual "Cosby in the Park" festival at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 12th, 2009 9:30am

3 comments

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Releases Final EIS on Restoring Elkmont Historic District

A slice of the past will be preserved, and a larger slice removed, under Great Smoky Mountains National Park's plans for restoring the Elkmont Historic District.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 8th, 2009 10:43am

Accessible National Parks, Airline Division

Units of the National Park System are really closer than you think. Some are quite literally in your backyard. Today we're pointing out those that are within an hour's drive of an airport with commercial service.

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By Kurt Repanshek - April 22nd, 2009 8:55am

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Some Popular Trails are Closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as Crews Combat Wildfires

If you’ve made plans to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week, inquire about trail closings before you leave home. Five of the park’s trails have been closed as crews deal with three wild fires and some flare-ups.

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By Bob Janiskee - April 29th, 2009 7:02am

National Park Quiz 52: Celebrities

This week’s national park quiz marks the completion of one whole year’s worth of these puzzlers. Can you believe it? Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we'll sic the paparazzi on you.

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By Bob Janiskee - October 30th, 2011 9:45am

Best Solitude in the National Park System? Here Are Traveler's Choices

Solitude. Who doesn’t treasure some from time to time? And some of the greatest draws of national parks is their peacefulness and the ability for you to pass through an entrance gate and escape the pressures of day-to-day life. Where can you find some of the best solitude in the National Park System? Read on for some of the Traveler’s top picks for solitude.

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By Chance Finegan - April 23rd, 2009 7:13pm

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Staying Safe and How Not to Become A SAR Statistic in the National Park System

If you subconsciously want to become a search-and-rescue statistic in the National Park System, your best chance would be in either Grand Canyon National Park, Gateway National Recreation Area, or Yosemite National Park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - April 23rd, 2009 11:15am

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INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.