Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 522,419 acres of land in the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is situated in four counties that include Swain, Haywood, Sevier, Blount, and Cocke. The Smoky Mountains are a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are in turn a part of the greater Appalachian Mountain Chain. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the most visited national park in the United States.
The main entrances to the park are along the Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Highway 441) which pass through the towns of Gatlinburg and Cherokee. Two of the more popular visitor centers are at the Sugarlands Visitors' Center near the Gatlinburg entrance and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near the Cherokee entrance. These popular visitor centers exhibit history of the park as well as geology, and wildlife.
Other popular activities that you can experience at the park include sightseeing, fishing, and hiking. The hiking trails loop across 850 miles of unpaved roads and trails and this includes 70 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail. Hikers can enjoy the Smoky Mountains throughout the year since every season has something special to offer.
Dogs are only allowed on two trails, which are the Oconaluftee River Trail and the Gatlinburg Trail. Generally, dogs are prohibited on National Park trails and you should, therefore, be careful not to stray away from either of these two trails. If you would like to explore the area beyond these two trails, then you can visit surrounding areas outside the Smokies that offer plenty of recreational opportunities that include hiking with your pet.
Otherwise, within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed in picnic areas, camping grounds and along roads as long as they are kept on a leash that must not exceed 6 feet in length. Additionally, your dog’s excrement must be collected immediately and disposed of in available trash receptacles. Also, you must not leave your dog unattended in any vehicle and you should prevent your dog from excessively barking.
