Marking a portion of the boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina, the Smokies are a high subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. There's nearly a 6,000 foot difference in elevation between the park's highest and lowest points, and this dramatic relief fuels the park's incredible biodiversity, offering an array of habitats and ecosystems throughout these rugged and ancient mountains.

The highest point in the park is also the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and the highest point in Tennessee. At 6,643 feet above sea level, Clingmans Dome sits squarely in the heart of the park and is a popular destination in spring, summer, and fall (the road is closed in the winter). Though the summit is covered with dense spruce-fir forest, an observation tower lifts hikers above the trees for 360º views of the Southern Appalachians.

This is the tallest waterfall in the park, dropping 100 feet down tiers of rock towards a small pool at the base of the falls. Situated deep in the Smokies backcountry, Ramsey Cascades doesn't get as much traffic as the roadside falls, so hikers who make the 8-mile round-trip journey up Ramsey Prong are often rewarded with a quieter mountain experience. Plus, the trail passes by some true giants of the forest: towering tuliptrees that stand right next to the trail.

Ringed by an 11-mile loop road, Cades Cove is one of the most popular spots in the Smokies. The valley affords wider views than any other low-elevation area in the park, making it perfect for admiring fall colors on the mountainsides and looking for wildlife in the fields. Cades Cove is also home to an impressive collection of historic barns, houses, churches, and other structures left from the days before the creation of the national park.

Mount Le Conte is a special place in the Smokies. It's the highest peak entirely within Tennessee, the third-highest peak in the park, and home to the only non-campground lodging in the park: the historic Mount Le Conte Lodge. The summit, High Top, stands a full vertical mile above Gatlinburg, TN, and the views from two slightly lower peaks, Cliff Top and Myrtle Point, are some of the grandest vistas to be had in the park. All hikes to the top of Le Conte are strenuous.

When elk were reintroduced to the Smokies in 2001, they were brought to this valley near the eastern edge of the park. Like Cades Cove, Cataloochee has open views and numerous historic structures, but the elk herds set it apart, along with the smaller crowds that frequent this corner of the Smokies. It takes a bit more work to get into Cataloochee, winding up and down curvy mountain roads, some of which are unpaved.

Of all the spots in this guide, Gregory Bald is probably the most difficult to get to. I takes at least a 9-mile round-trip hike with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain to reach the bald, but most hikers find a well-timed hike in June to be completely worth the effort. Flame azaleas bloom in brilliant orange here each summer, and hikers can enjoy the beautiful and fragrant blossoms while surveying Cades Cove far below.

The Smokies were heavily logged prior to the establishment of the national park, so most of the forests visitors encounter today are younger, second-growth woods. However, patches of old-growth forest can still be found in a few spots, and Albright Grove is one of them. Accessing the grove takes some work: it's a seven-mile round-trip hike to get up to the trees and back to the trailhead. For lovers of forest giants, though, it's worth every step.

An old fire tower stands 60 feet above the summit of Mt Sterling on the eastern end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a 2.5-mile hike up from Mt Sterling Gap, with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain, but the views from the tower justify all that climbing. Built in 1935, the old lookout is the highest still standing in the eastern US, lifting visitors above the spruce-fir forest to take in the grandeur of the surrounding mountain scenery.