Townsend, Tennessee 37882. 2022 2. Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. The peak rises to a height of 6,643 feet and the observation tower offers a spectacular place to be in the morning, so be sure to get there . Longer hikes to Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top (made famous by the popular song) also begin in the cove. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park. 1194 Newfound Gap Rd. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The Mingus Creek Trail, meanwhile, begins not far away from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, providing a nearby route into the high backcountry of the Great Smokies. Keyed to numbered posts or landmarks along the Cades Cove Loop Road, this tour booklet describes the history of the Cove and describes the homes, barns, churchs, Cable Mill, and other historical buildings you'll see as you tour Cades Cove. 201 S. Washington Street Maryville, TN 37804. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and gift shop. Buses, motorhomes, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited on this road. Both provide demonstrations of corn meal milling. Also, there are a number of other historical structures to visit throughout the area. Obviously, the visitor centers cant be run 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, but they are operated for a majority of the year. LeConte, 6593 feet, from numerous trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. The visitor center features knowledgable rangers, maps, restrooms, animal exhibits, informative museum, and a free movie. April May: 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Here are the hours by season for the visitor center: Sugarlands Visitor Center Hours of Operation. You may purchase flour milled here when the mill is in operation. An additional four information centers are located outside the park in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend. Europeans settled the Cades Cove area between 1818 and 1821. Great Smoky Mountains Association Bookstore is inside the visitor center. Collins Creek April 3 Nov. 1 In addition to the interior exhibits, there are three great hikes all located at Sugarlands Visitor Center. Check with the visitor center for times and exact locations. December: 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. April May: 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located two miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina, on US-441, the same highway as Sugarlandsjust on the other side of the park. Cumberland Jack, also known as Smoky Jack, was Paul Adams' companion while he built the first permanent camp on Mount LeConte. Visit the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center from April through November (2022). Visitor centers are a great place to get acquainted with the park. All Rights Reserved. Please visit the following pages for information about seasonal opening and closing dates for: Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center | Photo: Billy Hathorn. Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular activity year round. It has some of the best hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing you'll find in the U.S. We're sharing the inside scoop with you so you can plan your next trip to the Smokies. It closes in winter due to weather conditions. It's the largest and busiest campground in the Great Smoky Mountains and just 8 miles from Gatlinburg! Park Rangers conduct seasonal programs for the public at this location. Turn off Newfound Gap Road (US 441) and drive 7.0 miles. Cades Cove is famous for its access to Abrams Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor centers offer a variety of resources that help you to navigate through the park and have a truly memorable time! The trailhead is located between the visitor center and the comfort station. Share the Smoky Mountains video with the people you'll be camping in the Smoky Mountains with!. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is Great Smoky Mountains National Parks first new visitor service facility to be constructed since the early 1960s. RELATED: Clingmans Dome is the tallest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. September October: 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Check out two museums in this visitor center just north of Cherokee, NC. Roundbottom/Straight Fork Road Open April 3 November 1. For your convenience, here is a guide to each of the visitor centers in the park. Vehicle-free access along the Cades Cove Loop Road takes place each Wednesday, from May 3 through September 27, 2023. Smoky Mountains Visitor Center at Townsend 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. The gristmill is a fully operating mill and is open daily 9:00 to 5:00, March 6 to October 31, 2022; and open Friday to Sunday in November. The typical group of amenities is available at the visitor center, as well as parking for those driving. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is another one of the popular Smoky Mountain visitor centers and is where a lot of visitors begin their trip to the national park. Public Restrooms are located on the opposite side of the visitor center next to the parking area. Cades Cove Story Travelers can see various species, such as black bears, deer, and wild turkeys, driving around the loop. This easy hike is perfect for families with young children. On these days, the 11-mile loop can be enjoyed on foot or bicycle. The Oconaluftee River corridor deeper in the park hosts an array of trailheads, but youve also got a fine hiking opportunity right here at the visitor center. Make Gatlinburg your basecamp for adventure. Sugarlands Visitor Center is ranked #2 out of 15 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Camp under the stars. Open April to November, 10 a.m. to as late as 6:30 p.m. in summer (hours vary seasonally). March: 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Other campgrounds close for the winter season. However, the National Park Service reintroduced them to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001 and 2002. Nestled in the foothills of the Smokies in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, just 45 minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Bush's Visitor Center is a fascinating journey into America's favorite canned bean brand. 2. The parks largest visitor center features natural history displays and shows a free, 20-minute park movie. The visitor center features knowledgable rangers, maps, restrooms, animal exhibits, informative museum, and a free movie. . Full of souvenir shops, craft stores, restaurants and kitschy attractions (think . They are Sugarlands, Cades Cove, Clingman's Dome, and Oconaluftee. Heintooga May 15 Oct. 4 Map. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 4 visitor centers: Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Clingmans . Cherokee, NC 28719. 204 reviews #3 of 20 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Dams Visit website Call Write a review About One may take a cable car ride into the depths of the Fontana Dam. The famous Clingmans Dome is the highest peak in the entire Appalachian Mountains. TN Map and guide with descriptions of the 9 best day hikes in the Cades Cove area. A free twenty-minute film about the park runs on a loop inside the visitor center. November: 9:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m. A bookstore operated by Great Smoky Mountains Association is inside the Cades Cove Visitor Center. That is not to say you wont find information, however, its just that you will most likely have increased access to park officials. Make your trip to the park more enjoyable and memorable! The main difference between Clingmans Dome Visitor Center and others is that Clingmans dome is used more for ranger contact and communication between various parts of the park rather than focused on information. The actual address for Google Maps is 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Here are 2 reasons to visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 1. Pick up park info and browse the gift shop at this smaller center located near the top of Clingmans Dome. While the park itself is open all day, every day, some areas and roads in the park do close throughout the year. You're gonna need a longer stay! Scattered along the loop road are three churches, a working gristmill, barns, log houses, and many other faithfully restored eighteenth and nineteenth century structures. Living-history demos take place here regularly, helping bring these timeworn structures to life. So staying at Smokemont Campground means that you can make it your daily evening activity to go over to the visitor center to see if there are elk! After passing Ski Mountain Road, you will enter the National Park. February: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Fortunately, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has four visitor centers to help you educate yourself and stay safe during your adventures. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for other books, maps, and guides to the park. Open Friday-Sunday in November 1:29. Mingus Mill is the ideal place for those looking to immerse themselves in the natural world of the Cherokee people. Fortunately, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has four visitor centers to help you educate yourself and stay safe during your adventures. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is the highest elevation information center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,300 feet in elevation. Townsend, TN 37882 Contact kmitchell@blountpartnership.com 865-448-6134 Hours 7 days a week - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day. Design by Element Advertising Clingmans Dome Information Center and Store, Park Entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 10 Best Things to Do on a Great Smoky Mountains Vacation, Official Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map PDF, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Region Map PDF. Shop online or visit a bookstore at the following park locations: "Indian Creek," or the offensive version "Injun Creek" in some places, appeared on park maps for decades. December: 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. January February: 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store for other books, maps, and guides to the park. Themes include European American settlement, Civilian Conservation Corp work, and the development of the park. In the visitors center, there are several extensive natural history exhibits, a free 20-minute film about the national park and an information center. November: 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Location. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Open April 10 November 30. You can also ask questions and pick up permits at the Backcountry Information Office here. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is located at the Clingmans Dome Trailhead on Clingmans Dome Road. Cosby April 3 Nov. 1 Pick up the self-guiding tour booklet available at the entrance to the loop road for information about the buildings you'll see in the cove and the people who lived here. This is important because the Smoky Mountains are a wilderness. Explore a historic mill. You can also ask questions and pick up permits at the Backcountry Information Office here. A mere two miles from Cherokee, North Carolina at the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on US 441, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is definitely worth a stop for orienting yourself not only to the immediate area, but the park as a whole. Open/close dates for the remaining picnic areas are as follows: Big Creek April 3 Nov. 1 Explore with Pets Review pet-friendly park activities for a great visit. However, beneath the park's ground lies the main attraction. In 2011, the current, much more spacious building opened as the first Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center to be built since the 1960s. Ranking of the top 15 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is open year round (2022), except Christmas Day. Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Oconaluftee is considered to be the main entrance to the park if you are venturing from the North Carolina side of the park. June August: 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Those who prefer shopping over nature will find the . What makes Cades Cove unique from other visitor centers in the park are the two historical grist mills that are located nearby. The Sugarlands Visitor Center is the perfect spot to begin your Smoky Mountain vacation! Come with a backup destination in mind and park responsibly with all wheels out of the roadway. September October: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The visitor center museum focuses on life in the mountains from the Cherokee to the European settlers and the development of the park through the Civilian Conservation Corps. The northern end of the easy, mostly level 1.5-mile Oconaluftee River Trail lies here; along it you can mosey south to the outskirts of Cherokee through some handsome riparian forests. Learn more about the regions early inhabitants, tap ranger knowledge, and explore historic Smoky Mountain structures next door at the Mountain Farm Museum. It probably comes as no surprise that Clingmans Dome is one of the best sunrise (and sunset) viewing locations due to it being the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Those roads are: Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road. Beyond its interpretive displays, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center also serves as an all-around information hub: Rangers and staff are on hand to answer any questions you might have about the parka useful resource, to say the least, for planning your itinerary here. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. These include Cades Cove Picnic Area, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Greenbrier Picnic Area and Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area. Instead of searching for each individual visitor centers operational schedule, we have created a simple table to show when the centers are open. more information on current conditions Vehicle-free access along the Cades Cove Loop Road, Self-Guiding Auto Tour Booklet Cades Cove. 1. Of the visitor centers, Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cover are only closed on Christmas Day. Townsend Visitor Center. Download a park trail map, Mileage to Cades Cove: April May: 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Sugarlands Visitor Center is 1.7 miles ahead on the right side of the road. Heres more information about the seasonal opening and closing dates for areas in the park: All primary roads in the Smoky Mountains are open year-round, weather permitting. . When is the Sugarlands Visitor Center open? Open every day except Christmas, 8 a.m. to as late as 7:30 p.m. (hours vary seasonally). While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is Great Smoky Mountains National Park's first new visitor service facility to be constructed since the early 1960s. These four visitors centers are Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, Cades Cove, and Clingmans Dome. The National Park Service maintains four official visitor centers inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a state-of-the-art facility featuring an interpretive museum of the area's history. All Purchases Benefit the Park! Theres also benches to take a rest, first aid kits, and food and drinks. See pictures and our review of Sugarlands Visitor Center. Oconaluftee Visitor Center 1,084 Visitor Centers