The Great Smoky Mountains: Beyond the Reach of Human Memory

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unlike any other national park. It is more down to earth. There are no lakes here. There are no seashores or geysers. No glaciers or volcanoes. Great Smoky isn’t home to the widest river, or biggest waterfall. It doesn’t have the deepest canyon, or the highest peak. Yet, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the number one most visited national park in the nation. Twice as many people visit the Great Smoky Mountains than any other national park. That’s about nine million visitors a year. One must ask, "What is it about these ancient mountains that is so intriguing, so utterly magnificent that people are drawn here from all over the world?"

First of all, never underestimate the overwhelming ability of over a half of million acres of trees! More than anything, those that visit the Great Smoky Mountains recall the trees being the most overpowering aspect. Great Smoky has nearly as many trees as all of Europe. It’s as exciting as nature can get!

These plush green mountains are sprinkled generously with waterfalls, cool rivers, coves, wildflowers, balds, floral and fauna, and rushing streams. Oh, and the glory of fall, with its glamorous red, orange, and gold colors. Not to mention the wide variety of wildlife, both incredible and adorable creatures of all kinds. From the symbol of the Smokies, the American Black Bear, to the lungless salamander, this enormous park preserves an unparalleled variety of plants and animals.

All of this extraordinary nature and wildlife is held within 800 square miles of mountainous tree covered terrain. And lying beneath these trees are the magical little things that give the Great Smokies their name. The tangle of  flora and the fauna that flows beneath the shelter of the trees, contain leafs that readily exude water and hydrocarbons, giving rise to the “smoke” that gently enchants the mountain tops. And under the layer of hazy blue smoke, great adventure awaits you! 

Throughout the Smokies you can find a myriad of activities and various ways of inspiring emprise. There are a variety of man-made routes and services to assist you in experiencing the Great Smoky Mountains. With over 800 miles of hiking trails that thread the park’s natural fabric-ranging from half a mile to 70 miles long-it’s a backpackers paradise. For the more auto-prone traveler, Great Smoky has 384 miles of mountain roads that are rife with vistas and panoramic views, as many of Great Smoky’s mountain peaks are higher than 6,000 feet. 

With all this prevalent beauty, and teeming natural resources, it’s no wonder these mountains have been at the heart of many historical conflicts; some to posses the land, others to protect it. The Great Smokies hold legends and memories of those who have lived here, struggled here, and died here. Some legends are just whispers, and stories passed along through the generations. Other memories come in the form of relics that have been delicately preserved throughout the years.

Today, much of the Great Smoky Mountains functions as a tourist destination and a time machine. The park is like an open air museum, with more than 90 historic buildings. Though there are barely any signs of Native Americans who once inhabited these great mountains, there are many materialistic items, and other signs of existence, preserved from later settlers: roads and buildings, footpaths and fences, apple trees and daffodils.

There are many historical locations throughout the park in which to view these natural and cultural artifacts. 

Cades Cove is one of the most popular portals to the past. Common sights at Cades Cove are deer, streams, wild turkey, grazing cows, old wagons, and historic homesteads.  There is a 7 mile loop that is very good for bike riding, especially in the early mornings since cars are not allowed on the road before 10 a.m.

As you travel around the loop, you will encounter many historical buildings: churches, cabins, mills, and farms. Walk through the buildings and you can feel the past wash over you. Pioneer times were very different from today, without any of the modern conveniences that we sometimes take for granted. The people who inhabited the coves were very close to God as well as to the land.

A Cades Cove visit will let you see the Great Smoky Mountains through the eyes of those who came through this land before you, and as you look through their eyes at the beautiful vistas on which they stood, a sense of awe will rush over you for this incredibly special place. 

The Great Smoky Mountains have been a part of history beyond the reach of human memory. The human history of the mountains spans between the Native Americans inhabiting the area nearly 14,000 years ago to present day; these ancient mountains have witnessed it all. They held as the main objective during the struggle of territory between the Cherokee and European settlers of the 1800’s, ending in the tragic “trail of tears”. They stood as backdrop juxtaposed to the carnage of the bloody American Civil War. They were victim of the destruction of the great logging industry in the 19th century, where two-thirds of the virgin forests were destroyed and only 20 percent of the trees were left uncut. Finally, in 1934, the Smokies found salvation when the mountains were transformed into a National Park.  

The Great Smoky Mountains are now an International Biosphere and Reserve and a World Heritage Site. Properties recognized by the World Heritage Committee are cultural or natural properties that have been of outstanding universal value. Without a doubt, the Great Smoky Mountains have contributed more to mankind than we can ever fathom or even hope to deserve. Our greatest step, in regards to these ancient mountains, has been to preserve them, to understand their great value, and respect their magnificence. The Great Smoky Mountains are surely a joy that justifies the existence of the earth.