Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts & Worksheets

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border with ridge after ridge of forest. This is America’s most visited national park and is recognized for its variety of plant and animal life, the majesty of its historic mountains, and the rarity of its Southern Appalachian mountain cultural relics.

See the fact file below for more information on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Great Smoky Mountains National Park worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ABOUT THE PARK

• This mountain range is known throughout the world for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the majesty of its old mountains, and its history of southern Appalachian mountain culture. It was given the name Smokies because of the persistent morning fog.
• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has approximately 80 historic structures, breathtaking floral displays, and a variety of plants and animals to enjoy.
• Waterfalls can be found across the park, and the bigger falls like Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow, and Mingo attract more than 200,000 tourists annually.

NATIONAL PARK FOUNDING

• Many people and organizations worked hard to establish the Great Smoky Mountains, National Park. The majority of the dedicated supporters were headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Here are a few of the prominent authors.
  • DAVID CHAPMAN. Colonel David Chapman was a key figure in the difficult struggle to realize the park plan, particularly on the Tennessee side of the park, from 1924 through the 1930s.
  • ANN DAVIS. When Ann Davis and her husband returned from a vacation to five Western national parks in 1923, they are credited with coming up with the idea of establishing a national park in the Smokies.
  • PAUL FINK. He had a significant role in deciding how the Appalachian Trail would pass through the Great Smoky Mountains and other neighboring mountain ranges, working with George Masa and others.
  • HORACE KEPHART. His 1913 book, Our Southern Highlanders, which was based on his personal observations of Smoky Mountain residents, was first released. 
  • GEORGE MASA. Many of Kephart’s writing pieces were backed by stunning photos by Masa, which greatly helped persuade the people of the necessity of raising money and buying property for a national park.
  • BEN MORTON. Midway through the 1920s, Ben Morton served as mayor of Knoxville and played a significant role in promoting the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  • CHARLES A. WEBB. During the 1920s and 1930s, Webb served as editor and co-publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times, the top newspaper in Western North Carolina. He deserved a lot of praise, along with other newspaper editors who have continued to back the park movement.

THINGS TO DO IN THE PARK

• The park offers a variety of unique activities every year to aid in your exploration and education of the area. People can visit the Music of the Mountains festival to tap their toes to traditional music, the Festival of Christmas Past to take in tales of Christmases past, or the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage to take in the park’s stunning blossoms.
• WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE. The park holds the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage every spring, a weeklong festival of events, walks, and treks that explore the amazing diversity of life there.
• MUSIC OF THE MOUNTAINS. The goal of the Music of the Mountains festival is to introduce our park’s visitors to the rich musical traditions of the Southern Appalachians. Visitors can enjoy two days of traditional Appalachian music at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and downtown Townsend, Tennessee.
• SMOKIES HARVEST CELEBRATION. People can visit the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to get a glimpse into the past. They can also participate in some of the autumnal customs that were a big deal in the rural communities of these southern mountains. 
• JUNIOR RANGER DAY. Children all throughout the country pledge to safeguard parks, continue learning about parks, and tell their own ranger stories to friends and family by reciting the Junior Ranger slogan, “Explore, Learn, and Protect.“. They can participate in ranger-led tours, the creation of historical toys, tours of a blacksmith shop, and touch tables featuring animal skins, skulls, and scat.

BIODIVERSITY

• The National Park System’s Great Smoky Mountains is the park with the greatest diversity of life. The quantity and variety of various species of animals, plants, fungi, and other creatures in a place or habitat are referred to as biological diversity or “biodiversity.” No other region of comparable size in a temperate environment can compare to the park’s incredible diversity, which spans over 800 square miles in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. 
• Scientists estimate that there may be 80,000–100,000 more species living in the park than the over 19,000 species that have been identified so far. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has developed a number of tools in collaboration with the University of Tennessee to assist visitors in interacting with the park’s natural resources.
• STREAMS. In the Smokies, there are 2,900 miles of streams, but only around 800 of those miles have fish. Since 1981, the park has reintroduced brook trout to 11 streams totaling 17.2 kilometers.
• FLAMED TIGER SNAIL. As a defense tactic, the Flamed Tigersnail produces a bioluminescent, frothy orange mucus.
• ASIAN JUMPING WORM. A non-native species called the Asian Jumping Worm can be used as excellent fish bait but is harmful to the behaviors and food supplies of many animals in the Smokies.
• SALAMANDERS. Salamanders have feet that can “hear”! Despite lacking ears, they are able to hear through the earth.
• TOOTHWORT. The tooth-like projections on the white rhizome of the Toothwort misled ancient doctors into believing it could treat a toothache.

ANIMALS

• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a vital sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife and comprises some of the greatest wilderness areas in the East. Approximately 65 species of animals, more than 200 bird species, 67 native fish species, and more than 80 different types of reptiles and amphibians are protected within the park.
• The American Black Bear, the Smokies’ emblem, is arguably the most well-known inhabitant. The greatest protected bear habitat in the East is found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 
• In the park, sightings of more than 200 bird species are common; 85 of these species migrate from the Neotropics. Here, 120 different species nest.
• The white-tailed deer, groundhog, chipmunk, and a few other species of squirrel and bat are the most often observed of the 65 other mammal species that have been identified in
  the area.
• Climatic and geologic factors have combined to foster the development of 30 salamander species in five families, making this one of the most diverse regions on earth for this order. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been dubbed the “Salamander Capital of the World.” In fact, the park has seen an unusual amount of evolutionary variation among its 24 species of lungless salamanders, making it the hub of the family’s diversity.

NATURAL FEATURES AND ECOSYSTEM

• The Great Smoky Mountains’ environment has changed significantly throughout time. The majority of the rocks in this area are sedimentary in nature. That is to say, they were created by the buildup of dirt, silt, sand, and gravel that was dumped into a significant shallow sea. More and more sediments accumulated over millions of years, eventually forming strata of hard rock at least nine miles deep.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Since the first people set foot on the mountain’s slopes, the Smokies have been both a daunting challenge and a source of inspiration. They are among the oldest mountains in the world and the tallest in the Appalachian chain. However, this habitat was altered by geologic processes, climatic changes, weather, and fire long before humans arrived, resulting in a dynamic ecosystem.
• Natural resources have recently been significantly impacted by human-caused issues, such as air and water pollution and invasive species, both locally and globally. Ten million visitors per year have additional effects on the park that are only starting to be measured and lessened. Researchers are working to comprehend these effects on the ecosystem of the park. The park’s staff keeps a close eye on dangers like air pollution and invasive non-native species and works to take preventative action to protect the park’s priceless treasures.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use Great Smoky Mountains National Park worksheets are perfect for teaching students about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border with ridge after ridge of forest. This is America’s most visited national park and is recognized for its variety of plant and animal life.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Great Smoky Mountains Facts
• I Am The Founder
• National Park vs. National Forest
• The Main Attraction
• Smokies or False
• Smokies’ Bio
• Smoky Time
• Missing Smokies
• Park It My Way
• Help The Smokies
• My Great Mountain

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It is one of the most visited national parks in the United States and is known for its beautiful landscapes, hiking trails, and diverse wildlife.

What can you see at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

At the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can see a variety of landscapes including mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and rivers. There are also many different types of plants and animals, including black bears, deer, wild turkeys, and over 1,600 species of wildflowers.

Can you camp at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Yes, there are several campgrounds located throughout the park where you can set up a tent or park an RV. Some campgrounds are open year-round, but others are only open seasonally.

What is the best time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

The best time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park depends on what you’re looking to see and do. During the spring and summer, the wildflowers and trees are in bloom. In the fall, the leaves change colors. And in the winter, the park is covered in snow.

How much does it cost to enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free, but some activities such as camping or picnicking may require a fee. There are also some facilities that require a fee such as Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome.

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