• Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube
National Park Photographer Rectangle Logo
  • National Parks
    • National Park List and Map
    • National Park Wildlife
    • Acadia National Park
    • Arches National Park
    • Badlands National Park
    • Big Bend National Park
    • Biscayne National Park
    • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
    • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Canyonlands National Park
    • Capitol Reef National Park
    • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
    • Channel Islands National Park
    • Congaree National Park
    • Crater Lake National Park
    • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
    • Death Valley National Park
    • Denali National Park and Preserve
    • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Everglades National Park
    • Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
    • Gateway Arch National Park
    • Glacier National Park
    • Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
    • Grand Canyon National Park
    • Grand Teton National Park
    • Great Basin National Park
    • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    • Haleakalā National Park
    • Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
    • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana Dunes National Park
    • Isle Royale National Park
    • Joshua Tree National Park
    • Katmai National Park and Preserve
    • Kenai Fjords National Park
    • Kings Canyon National Park
    • Kobuk Valley National Park
    • Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
    • Lassen Volcanic National Park
    • Mammoth Cave National Park
    • Mesa Verde National Park
    • Mount Rainier National Park
    • National Park of American Samoa
    • New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    • North Cascades National Park
    • Olympic National Park
    • Petrified Forest National Park
    • Pinnacles National Park
    • Redwood National and State Parks
    • Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Saguaro National Park
    • Sequoia National Park
    • Shenandoah National Park
    • Theodore Roosevelt National Park
    • Virgin Islands National Park
    • Voyageurs National Park
    • White Sands National Park
    • Wind Cave National Park
    • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
    • Yellowstone National Park
    • Yosemite National Park
    • Zion National Park
  • Featured National Park Photographers
  • Shop

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, Tennessee | Photo Credit: Pixabay
Great Smoky Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, Tennessee | Photo Credit: Pixabay

Spanning North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be summed up in three words: “It’s worth it!” If you love nature, hiking, and photography, then this National Park has it all! With over 11 million visitors last year, according to National Geographic, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has ranked #1 as the most widely visited US National Park year after year. It’s no wonder why! Minutes from Dollywood and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the park quickly transports you into another world. Upon entering the National Park, dense forests surround you and scenic byways take you atop stunning mountain vistas. In addition to the beautiful drives, hidden hiking trails lead you past cascading waterfalls deep within black bear country. All in all, this park does not disappoint! Be sure to visit the park website for current closures and conditions.

Map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Photography Locations and Sights at Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

As photographers, we know that many of you will only have one chance in a lifetime to visit the National Parks. To make your life easier, we have compiled a list of our top photography locations and sights at Great Smoky Mountains National Park! While this is not comprehensive, and there are many more amazing sights to see, it should give you a good feel for the park.

Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls
Alum Cave Bluffs
Alum Cave Bluffs
Arch Rock
Arch Rock
Cades Cove
Cades Cove
Cataloochee Valley
Cataloochee Valley
Chimneys Picnic Area and Hike
Chimneys Picnic Area and Hike
Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls
Hen Wallow Falls
Hen Wallow Falls
Indian Creek Falls
Indian Creek Falls
Juney Whank Falls
Juney Whank Falls
Laurel Falls
Laurel Falls
Little Pigeon River
Little Pigeon River
Little River Road
Little River Road
Luftee Overlook
Luftee Overlook
Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls
Mingus Mill
Mingus Mill
Morton Overlook
Morton Overlook
Mount Cammerer Fire Tower
Mount Cammerer Fire Tower
Mouse Creek Falls
Mouse Creek Falls
Mt. Le Conte Hike
Mt. Le Conte Hike
Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road
Porter's Creek Trail
Porter's Creek Trail
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls
Ramsey Cascades
Ramsey Cascades
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Spruce Flats Falls
Spruce Flats Falls
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Sugarlands Visitor Center
ADVERTISEMENT

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildlife Photography:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with wildlife and biodiversity. If you like wildlife photography, you will love what this park has to offer!

Black Bear Great Smoky Mountains
Black Bear Great Smoky Mountains
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Box Turtle
Red Headed Pileated Woodpecker
Red Headed Pileated Woodpecker
Red-cheeked Salamander
Red-cheeked Salamander
Two Deer Standing in the Snow
Two Deer Standing in the Snow
Wild Turkey on a Tree
Wild Turkey on a Tree

Want to learn more about Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Check out these maps, guides & books:

  • Great Smoky Mountains Day Hikes and National Park Map [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
  • Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Guide to the Park’s Greatest Hiking Adventures (Regional Hiking Series)
  • Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Hiking, Camping, Scenic Drives (Travel Guide)
  • Fodor’s InFocus Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Full-color Travel Guide)
  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN) (Images of America)

Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.

ADVERTISEMENT

Featured National Park Photographers:

  • Mike Goad: Cades Cove
  • Vezzani Photography: Clingmans Dome, Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Morton Overlook, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Sugarlands Visitor’s Center
  • NPS: Chimneys Picnic Area, Eastern Box Turtle, Newfound Gap Road, Luftee Overlook, Mount Cammerer Fire Tower
  • NPS / Robert Crootof: Mingus Mill
  • Pixabay: Great Smoky Mountains
  • Shutterstock / AlexBuess: Abrams Falls
  • Shutterstock / Arlene Waller: Ramsey Cascades
  • Shutterstock / Ben McMurtray: Red-cheeked Salamander
  • Shutterstock / cameronbailey8912: Mouse Creek Falls
  • Shutterstock / ehrlif: Little River Road
  • Shutterstock / jadimages: Two Deer Standing in the Snow
  • Shutterstock / Kelly vanDellen: Arch Rock, Cataloochee Valley
  • Shutterstock / KLiK Photography: Black Bear Great Smoky Mountains
  • Shutterstock / kurdistan: Indian Creek Falls
  • Shutterstock / Jill Lang: Mingo Falls
  • Shutterstock / John Brueske: Juney Whank Falls
  • Shutterstock / Joseph Creamer: Mt. Le Conte Hike
  • Shutterstock / Larry Knupp: Lynn Camp Prong Cascades
  • Shutterstock / leaena: Wild Turkey on a Tree
  • Shutterstock / Martina Sliger: Porter’s Creek Trail
  • Shutterstock / NaturalStock: Little Pigeon River
  • Shutterstock / Photosbyjam: Rainbow Falls
  • Shutterstock / Robert Lynn: Spruce Flats Falls
  • Shutterstock / Schwartz Nature Images: Red Headed Pileated Woodpecker
  • Shutterstock / Theron Stripling III: Alum Cave Bluffs
  • Shutterstock / Weidman Photography: Hen Wallow Falls

Want to visit more parks? Check out our complete list of the US National Parks!


Do you want to be featured on National Park Photographer?

Why wait! Contact us today at nationalparkphoto@gmail.com for a chance to be featured as a National Park Photographer!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • ©2024 National Park Photographer, LLC