Smokies Live Blog

Featured Articles

Robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) blossoms along a trailside creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With a focus on spring wildflowers, this year’s Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, April 30 to May 2, will have participants examining brilliant blooms in the park. Photo by Jaimie Matzko.
Keely Knopp

2025 WILDFLOWERS

KEY: ES=Early Stages; JSB=Just Starting to Bloom; Budded; APB=Approaching Peak Bloom; *=At Peak Bloom; BP=Beyond Peak; AG=Almost Gone; VS=Various Stages July JULY 7LITTLE RIVER TRAIL (TRAILHEAD TO CUCUMBER GAP TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Flowering Spurge (BP), Rosebay Rhododendron (BP), Wood Nettle (BP).  SOME BLOOMS—Crimson Bee Balm*, Thimbleweed (BP), Tick Trefoil (BP).  FEW BLOOMS—Common Elderberry (BP), Daisy Fleabane (various stages), Heal All*, Pale Jewelweed (JSB), Spotted Jewelweed*, Tall

Read More »
February 17, 2025 No Comments
Keely Knopp

2024 FALL COLORS

November NOVEMBER 11WEST PRONG TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #18): An estimated 80% of the colorful foliage has fallen though there is still some colorful yellow and gold foliage. Trees that still have some nice foliage: greenbrier, mountain maple, sugar maple, umbrella magnolia, beech or birch—could not determine which one from a distance.   NOVEMBER 4LOWER MOUNT CAMMERER TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #35): Approximately 60% of

Read More »
October 16, 2024 No Comments

Recent Articles

Get the latest from the Smokies

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive eNews from: Smokies Life, P.O. Box 130, Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, US, http://www.smokieslife.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Visitor centers and stores

Instagram Facebook-f Youtube X-twitter Rss

Smokies Life

is a proud partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and National Park Service

115 Park Headquarters Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738

865.436.7318    mailorder@smokieslife.org

Great Smokies

Welcome Center

Hours of Operation

(subject to change)

Open year round (closed December 25)


January - February

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

March - November

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
December

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

Physical Address

7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Townsend TN 37882

Contact

865.436.7318 Ext 320