Visiting the Smoky Mountains? Here are 13 things to avoid…

Visiting the Smokies means narrowing down things to do across 5,000 square miles. That’s the size of Connecticut. While we’re happy to give you ideas of what to do, we also want to tell you things to avoid to make more out of the time you have. 

From practical advice to planning trips to plotting the best hikes, let’s dive into things to avoid in the Smokies. 

Avoid Thinking of Only Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

While there’s no doubting the dynamic environment of the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville on the Parkway, you’ll miss so much small-town authenticity if you stick to those anchor towns and park access points. 

The Quiet Side of the Smokies in Townsend, Tennessee, brings a welcome respite from thick crowds and man-made attractions. Plus, you’ll have easy access to the Foothills Parkway. 

Did you know that the park is split in half between Tennessee and North Carolina, almost down to the exact square foot? That means the anchor communities across state lines will offer something unique, too.

Cherokee is the main entrance on the Carolina side of the park, but you also have Maggie Valley, Bryson City, and Fontana Dam to consider exploring. 

Related: 10 Best Smoky Mountain Small Towns

Avoid Looking to the Sky for Weather Conditions

Since the Great Smoky Mountain Region is so large with many different elevations, it’s impossible to know by looking up what the weather will be like one mile down the road or 1,000 feet higher in elevation. 

Here’s a great example. As I wrote this article, the weather in Cherokee, North Carolina, is mild with cloudy skies. If I decided to drive Newfound Gap Road, I’d get a rude awakening because it’s closed due to a High Wind Warning. 

Another risk is that clear skies in Gatlinburg could still mean foggy views at Newfound Gap. Rain in Pigeon Forge might be ice or snow on Foothills Parkway. 

My weather checklist when visiting the Smokies is:

• Get the weather forecast where I am for the next 48 hours
• Explore the weather forecast for the higher elevations in the Smokies for the next 24 hours
• Check the NPS app for alerts or weather-related closures
• Learn the weather from the past 48 hours (this could impact trail conditions)
• Check road conditions for my driving route and set alerts for changes

Don’t Assume Every Hike Offers Great Views

In the Smokies, not every ridgeline or summit trail offers sweeping views. Dense forests cover much of the terrain, so even high-elevation hikes can feel closed in by trees. Many trails follow ridgelines with limited or obstructed visibility, especially in summer when foliage is thick.

I put together this list of the 10 Highest Peaks in the Smokies, complete with how good the view is at the summit. While this will mostly apply to peak baggers, the 4th highest summit is SO close to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) but is shrouded by trees.

Avoid Hiking Without Talking to a Ranger

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has about 850 miles of trails among 150 trails. That’s about the distance from New York City to Nashville. Rangers and volunteers can’t possibly survey and clear all storm damage around the clock. 

What they can do is know when a trail is facing storm damage, muddy conditions, or maintenance happening that could impact your hike. Stop by a visitor’s center or call the park office to ask about a trail’s condition before you go. 

Avoid Underestimating Trail Difficulty

For those who are used to the West Coast Mountains, the trails of the Smokies might not seem all that intimidating.

However, even notable names like Good Ole Rocky Top can be a beast for even experienced hikers. At nearly 14 miles round trip and an elevation gain of 3,700 feet, it’s going to take at least seven hours for experienced hikers. Plan for 10 and hope you make good time. 

Also, it’s not always the “up” that gets you on these hikes. The descent can be brutal on your knees and take much longer. At the halfway mark of Rocky Top, I realized one reason the song says, 🎶“Strangers ain’t come down from Rocky Top; Reckon they never will”🎶 might be because they were too exhausted. 

Err on the side of “harder” than a trail’s difficulty listing level and read reviews of each hike through forums to get a realistic idea of what lies ahead.

Related: 7 of the Best Smoky Mountain Hiking Trails [Easy to Moderate]

Avoid Rushing a Drive Over Newfound Gap

For about 31 miles, this winding, wonderful road threads through the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Newfound Gap Road is a drive meant to be savored, not treated as a speedway. 

Every detail of the roadside, from mile markers to shrubs to viewpoints, was carefully chosen to maximize the experience. Stick to the speed limit and let faster cars pass you at the next pullout.

Avoid Bears, Boars, and Elk

At least avoid getting too close to the wild animals of the Great Smoky Mountains. Black bears and elk are native to this region, while wild boars are an invasive species, but they all need space.

As a general rule, if you are close enough that an animal notices your presence, you are too close. Fifty yards or more is the ideal distance back from these animals. 

You can carry bear spray in the park but only use it as a last resort. Other practices like bringing bear-proof containers, speaking calmly but firmly, and backing away slowly will generally keep the bears away. Don’t freak out if a bear stands on its back legs. That’s more of a curiosity sign than a threat. 

Elk are larger than bears and can be aggressive, especially during the fall rut. Wild boars usually stick to remote areas at lower elevations. For the most part, they’ll run from you, but considering how many diseases they carry, it’s best if you go the other way, too. 

Avoid Relying on Cell Service for Anything

You probably don’t expect a great mobile phone signal inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but you might not realize how quickly your reception will disappear. Feel free to check your provider’s coverage map before you go, but even spots in Newfound Gap, Cades Cove, and Kuwohi Roads are limited at best from my provider. 

In addition, you can’t always trust your mobile device or GPS to be accurate, according to the National Park Service. Carry a paper map with you, even if you have downloaded offline maps on your mobile device. 

Don’t try to send images or do social media posts, as that can quickly drain a battery. If you want to try texting, use SMS messages and not MMS messages. What’s App is another backup plan that might have a better chance of working in low-coverage areas. 

Avoid Skipping the Arts and Crafts Communities

Many people miss the chance to see authentic local crafts by only shopping in big souvenir shops. The Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community, for example, has a loop of artist studios where visitors can see and buy handmade pottery, paintings, and other crafts unique to the region. The drive is eight miles long along East Parkway, Glades Road, and Buckhorn Road. 

On the North Carolina side, scout out the locations on the Blue Ridge Heritage Craft Trail. That includes cities such as Bryson City, Cherokee, Dillsboro, Maggie Valley, Sylva, and Asheville. 

Don’t Miss an Important Cultural Lesson

Speaking of Cherokee, a visit here offers an essential perspective on the Indigenous heritage of the Smokies, highlighting the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI) who have lived here for centuries. 

The Qualla Boundary, the EBCI’s tribal land, preserves Cherokee culture, history, and traditions. You’ll understand so much more about the legends and folklore of the park while also learning the meaning behind name adjustments of popular spots.

One example of that is the recent change from Clingmans Dome to the original name for the highest peak in the Smokies, Kuwohi. 

Avoid Thinking the National Park Is Your Only Option

An especially important note for anyone visiting during peak season (summer and fall) – there are more public lands to see than just Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Three national forests are nearby. 

Nantahala National Forest has scenic rivers ideal for rafting, Pisgah National Forest is popular for waterfalls and diverse hiking, and Cherokee National Forest offers rugged, secluded trails.

These areas provide quieter alternatives with additional activities than national parks allow, beautiful landscapes, and fewer crowds.

Avoid Leaving on a Sunday or Visiting on Weekends

Understandably, weekends and holidays are the busiest time in the Smokies. If you can swing a trip mid-week, like Monday through Thursday, you’ll face less traffic and smaller crowds. 

If you must visit on a weekend, try to work your schedule to leave on Monday morning instead of Sunday afternoon or evening. That tactic has always saved me at least an hour of drive time. Traffic getting out of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge on Sundays can be heavy.

One Last Thing to Avoid in the Smokies

We get a lot of questions about the Blue Ridge Mountains versus the Great Smoky Mountains vs the Appalachian Mountains. Avoid assuming they are all the same. Here’s how it breaks down. 

• Appalachian Mountains: The massive range spanning from Canada to Alabama, covering the eastern U.S.
• Blue Ridge Mountains: A subrange within the Appalachians, stretching from Pennsylvania to Georgia, known for its blue-tinted haze.
• Great Smoky Mountains: A misty, biodiverse subrange of the Blue Ridge straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Smokies’ “smoky” haze is denser and mistier due to high humidity and thick vegetation, while the Blue Ridge’s “blue” haze comes from sunlight scattering through drier air and plant emissions, giving it a lighter, bluish tint.

You might just want an extra day or two to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway more during your trip to the Smokies just to see the stunning difference.