Check out our ranger-guided suggestions for your U.S. national park visits this summer. First up in our series: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A ranger's favorite spots —
Check out our ranger-guided suggestions for your U.S. national park visits this summer. First up in our series: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
illustration by Stewart Scott-Curran
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.nps.gov%2Fnews%2Frelease.htm%3Fid%3D1457" target="_blank" target="_blank">most visited National Park in the country</a>, with 9.7 million visitors last year.
A ranger's favorite spots —
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the country, with 9.7 million visitors last year.
Christine Hoyer/NPS
Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger Caitlin Worth, shown here on the Mount Cammerer Fire Tower hike, spent a lot of her childhood at the park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park —
Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger Caitlin Worth, shown here on the Mount Cammerer Fire Tower hike, spent a lot of her childhood at the park.
Courtesy Caitlin Worth
Don't oversleep on the day you visit <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fgrsm%2Fplanyourvisit%2Fcadescove.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Cades Cove</a>. Right after sunrise is Worth's favorite time to see active wildlife there.
Cades Cove —
Don't oversleep on the day you visit Cades Cove. Right after sunrise is Worth's favorite time to see active wildlife there.
Christine Hoyer/NPS
For a spectacular view, walk up to the observation tower at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fgrsm%2Fplanyourvisit%2Fclingmansdome.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Clingmans Dome</a>. Once you've visited the tower, you can even walk a little bit of the Appalachian Trail.
Clingmans Dome —
For a spectacular view, walk up to the observation tower at Clingmans Dome. Once you've visited the tower, you can even walk a little bit of the Appalachian Trail.
National Parks Service
Worth's favorite spring and fall hike is to Mount Cammerer Fire Tower, but it's fairly intense: About 11 miles round trip or longer if you hike the loop. It's beautiful in the snow, too.
Mount Cammerer Fire Tower —
Worth's favorite spring and fall hike is to Mount Cammerer Fire Tower, but it's fairly intense: About 11 miles round trip or longer if you hike the loop. It's beautiful in the snow, too.
National Parks Service
While many people (rightly) go to Cades Cove to spot bears, Worth loves to see elk when she hikes the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fgrsm%2Fplanyourvisit%2Focon-river-trail.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Oconaluftee River Trail</a>.
Oconaluftee River Trail —
While many people (rightly) go to Cades Cove to spot bears, Worth loves to see elk when she hikes the Oconaluftee River Trail.
National Parks Service
The historic Mingus Mill, built in 1886, helps children imagine life in the late 1800s.
Mingus Mill —
The historic Mingus Mill, built in 1886, helps children imagine life in the late 1800s.
National Park Service
Worth's family took a trip to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fguis%2Findex.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Gulf Islands National Seashore</a> every year when she was a child, and she credits that park with inspiring her to become a park ranger.
Gulf Islands National Seashore —
Worth's family took a trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore every year when she was a child, and she credits that park with inspiring her to become a park ranger.
National Parks Service