Great Smoky National Park

Fall in the Great Smoky National Park is pretty sublime. The mornings are cold, the bugs are few, and the humidity is low. It got very cold at one point. Go prepared for all weather and enjoy one of the most iconic National Parks in the United States. To me, it is the big park of the East Coast.

We spent a couple of days in the park with our middle son, Walker, who was about 6 months old then. The area was emerging from the Great Recession in 2010, so hotel rooms were quite affordable in the area at the time. While we were there, we hiked many regions of the park, to old towns, graveyards, and water mills.

(I had written posts about our visit, but they were lost when our site was hacked about 8 years ago, and this is a reposting in 2025)

From what was then known as Clingman’s Dome (Kuwohi’s name restored to the highest peak).

The concrete ramp up to the overlook.

Kirk waving down to me.

This high spot in the park is worth the drive up to it.

And if it is cold, down low it’s often far nicer weather.

One of the many forests we walked through.

The old settler homes were great to see.

Rivers and creeks are everywhere.

An old water mill is still used to grind flour.

Would it be a trip if I weren’t making food?

~Sarah