Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina, Tennessee

Tracing the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is famous for the bluish haze that often shrouds the rolling mountains. The smoky coloring is caused by water vapor released from the dense, old growth forests that cover 95 percent of the park.

This is the USA's most visited National Park, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture drawing travelers from all over the world. You can experience the diverse wildlife and the stunning scenery as you explore the 150 hiking trails found within the park’s boundaries, including a rugged, roughly 115-kilometer stretch of the Appalachian Trail.