5 Fun Facts About Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It’s finally October, which means it is prime leaf-peeping season!  In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are excited to talk about one of our favorite leaf-peeping parks – Great Smoky Mountains National Park! 

If you are looking forward to learning five fun facts that will enhance your visit to the Smokies, this is the episode for you.

Join us as we cover: 

• The fascinating roots of the Great Smoky Mountains
• The tallest point in the Smokies 
• The life and biodiversity in these mountains
• The native trees that you can find in this park
• The rich human history in this area 

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about the Great Smokies! This park is truly life-giving, not only for creatures and plants but for the people as well. 

We hope you get a chance to get out there and explore these mountains for yourself in the near future! And if you need any help planning your next trip, check out this Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Great Smoky Mountains Overview

Join us in this lively episode as we dive into the enchanting world of “leaf peeping” and the vibrant fall colors of the Great Smoky Mountains! We share some chuckles over regional terms and revel in the beauty of this season, especially in the eastern U.S.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, sees a massive influx of visitors during October — and for good reason. From breathtaking autumnal hues to majestic elk with their impressive antlers, there’s so much to witness.

Whether you’re en route to the Smokies, planning a visit, or just curious, we aim to equip you with intriguing facts and a deeper appreciation for this national treasure. Dive in with us as we uncover the hidden gems and fun facts of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Great Smoky Mountains Fun Facts

1: Great Smoky Mountains National Park can trace its roots to a supercontinent that happened before Pangaea.

Contrary to popular belief, before the well-known supercontinent Pangaea, there existed an even older supercontinent called Rodinia. The Great Smoky Mountains can trace its origins back to this ancient landmass. As Rodinia broke apart around a billion years ago, the erosion from its continents created about nine miles of sediment where the Smokies currently reside.

This deposited sediment from Rodinia eventually was thrust upward to form the initial mountains due to the collision of the ancestral North American and African continents around 270 million years ago, a collision that lasted for 30 million years. Some suggest these mountains might have once stood taller than the Rockies at over 14,000 feet.

As these continents later drifted apart, forming Pangaea, the erosional forces started shaping the mountains into their current form. This entire process not only shaped the Great Smoky Mountains but played a pivotal role in the creation of the Atlantic Ocean.

2: The highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains is also the highest point in Tennessee, and it’s the third highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi.

Clingmans Dome, which stands at 6,643 feet, is not only the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains but is also the tallest in Tennessee and the third highest east of the Mississippi. Despite this impressive height, it is believed that these mountains used to be around 14,000 feet about 250 million years ago, indicating significant erosion over time.

The Smokies are incredibly old, approximately 270 million years, making them much older than the Rockies, Sierras, Tetons, and Cascades. This significant age has allowed for much erosion, which means that visitors today are essentially hiking on the very core of these ancient mountains.

Moreover, due to their age and strategic location, the Smokies acted as a refuge for many species fleeing the advance of ice sheets during the ice ages. This movement of species southward to avoid the ice has resulted in a unique biodiversity in the Smokies. Some animals, like the Northern Flying Squirrel, gray wolves, and others, once sought refuge in the mountains and made it their permanent home, contributing to the park’s rich ecosystem.

3: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most biodiverse national park in the park system.

As the most biodiverse national park in the system, over 19,000 species have been documented within its bounds. Experts estimate an additional 60,000 to 80,000 species may yet be undiscovered there. In recognition of its biodiversity, the park has been designated both a United Nations World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.

Since 1998, the park has collaborated with a non-profit named Discover Life in America to continually catalog new species. Through this initiative, 10,000 species previously unknown to the park and 1,000 entirely new species have been discovered.

Additional interesting facts about the park include:

1. It’s often called the “salamander capital of the world,” boasting 30 different species of salamanders. Of these, 24 are lungless salamanders, which breathe through their skin. The park is also home to the sizable hellbender salamander, humorously referred to as the “snot otter.”
2. The park is renowned for its wildflowers, with over 1,500 varieties of flowering plants. Some enthusiasts even nickname it the “Wildflower National Park.”
3. Among its diverse fauna, the park houses the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel, a unique subspecies that evolved due to its long-term residence in the area. This squirrel traces its lineage back to the ice ages when it migrated to escape glacial conditions.
4. The park is also home to a significant population of black bears, with an estimated 1,500 to 1,900 individuals. This density translates to about two bears per square mile.

4: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to about 100 species of native trees, which is more than any other national park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts vast and impressive forests, home to about 100 species of native trees—more than any other national park. An overwhelming 95% of the park is forested, with a notable quarter being old-growth forest.

Drawing a parallel to New York City, the park’s varied forest communities mirror the Big Apple’s diverse neighborhoods. Each forest zone has distinct characteristics and necessities. Historically, the park served as a vital refuge during ice ages, acting as a sanctuary for a myriad of life forms.

5: Cherokee Legacy and the Making of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Cherokee Indians have inhabited North America for thousands of years. Unlike many tribes, the Cherokee notably integrated much of the American culture, including adopting tools and farming systems from Europeans, which made them prosperous. They even developed a written language, documented their history, and formed their own constitution embracing principles of democracy. Despite their assimilation, the Cherokee faced great suffering, primarily due to greed from outside parties.

The Indian Removal Act, signed by President Andrew Jackson, led to the tragic Trail of Tears, where the Cherokee were forcibly moved to Oklahoma. Of the 14,000 Cherokees who embarked on this journey, around 4,000 died from exposure, hunger, and disease.

However, thanks to William Thomas, who had grown up among the Cherokees and later served as their attorney, a portion of the Cherokee people were allowed to remain in their ancestral lands. Today, their descendants, numbering about 11,000, primarily reside in the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina just outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Interestingly, Davy Crockett, a legendary figure known for tales of his wilderness skills, opposed President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act and was the only voice from Tennessee to do so. This opposition likely cost him his reelection bid.

Settlers in the area, like the Walker family, lived in the Smokies and thrived through hard work and self-sufficiency. Their legacy highlights the resilience of settlers who made the Smokies their home. However, as the idea of establishing national parks became popular in the U.S., the Great Smoky Mountains was eyed for such a designation. This presented challenges as thousands of residents, like the Walker family, already lived there.

Additionally, large portions of land were owned by timber and paper companies. Efforts to establish the park were further complicated by a lack of government funding, requiring the majority of the funding to be sourced from donations.

Through grassroots efforts and significant donations from entities like the Laura Spellman Rockefeller Memorial Fund, the vision for the park slowly became a reality. The negotiation of a significant land purchase from the Champion company was a pivotal moment in this process, securing the heart of what would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Great Smoky Mountains aren’t just majestic peaks and lush forests; they echo the spirit of resilient individuals who once thrived here, birthing the soulful notes of Bluegrass music. This national park is a living tapestry of diverse stories, from its historic inhabitants to its rich flora and fauna.

Venturing through the Smokies is an invitation to experience history, beauty, and rejuvenation firsthand. The facts you’ve learned today are just a glimpse into its vast wonder. So, immerse yourself, let the park’s essence captivate you, and uncover stories that linger in every corner!

Are you hoping to visit Great Smoky Mountains but don’t know where to start? We’d love to help with one of our Great Smoky Mountains National Park itineraries!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Itinerary
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Can’t-Miss List

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