Historically the homeland of the Cherokee peoples, the Great Smoky Mountains soon became a precious commodity after the first European settlers arrived in the region
When the Smokies were made a national park, hundreds of residents were asked to relocate. But the Walker sisters were among the few who were granted a special lifetime lease permitting them to stay.
The Indigenous Cherokee had already inhabited the southern Appalachian Mountains for hundreds of years when European explorers first arrived in the 16th century.
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and magical in every season, it's free to enter, so it’s no surprise that visitors retreat here in their millions each year.
Due to their immense popularity, visiting the Great Smoky Mountains requires some forward planning and preparation, especially when it comes to accommodation.
Crossing verdant valleys, wildflower-flecked forests, and hazy mountain slopes, these routes range from gentle, streamside rambles to calf-burning day hikes and intrepid multi-day treks.
Smoky Mountain Llama Treks organises guided hikes where each participant gets their own loveable llama as a trail buddy.
Another Tennessee gateway into the Smoky Mountains is Sevierville, famed for its bronze statue of country music icon Dolly Parton.