I enjoy seeing the old settler sites that used to exist before the Park was incorporated into the National Park System and wondering what life was like back then.  Besides the old homesteads, there are still remnants of cars and tractors on the trails.  It’s always cool to stumble upon those and wonder why they were left.  I also enjoy the solitude on top of the ridge line with views into North Carolina and Tennessee.  That’s where I choose to spend most of my time.  From Gregory Bald on the southern end to Mt. Cammerer on the northern end, the possibilities are unlimited.  

I have seen everything from an Easter sunrise from Clingman’s Dome to the night lights of Knoxville, Townsend, Maryville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Townsend pop up when the sun sets in the west.  I’ve been up there in the heat of summer, when bears are foraging for berries, and in the dead of winter, where the path was covered with 8 inches of ice or snow drifts about 5 feet tall.  As long as you are prepared, you will love the adventure any time of the year!

- Chris, Mast Store Home Office

For more of our Mast Family National Park Service adventures and recommendations, click HERE