Great Smoky Mountains National Park - North Carolina Side

Established by the United States Congress in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Known for its thick forest canopy and rich biodiversity, the "Smokies" is America's most visited national park with just over 9 million visitors per year. The park hosts over 4000 plant species, 65 different mammals, 30 types of birds and over 130 species of trees making it one of the world's most diverse ecosystems. The Smokies earned their name from the hazy blue'ish fog that rests between its forested hills.