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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
DRIVING
The majority of people visiting the national park
enjoy it from their vehicles. Cades Cove Loop
Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are
perfect places to slow down and enjoy nature’s
beauty and historic buildings found in the park.
BICYCLING
There are no designated bicycling trails in
the national park; however, Cades Cove Loop
Road is an exceptional place for cyclers. On
Wednesday and Saturday, early May until late
September, 6-10 a.m., the road is open to bicyclists
only. The 11-mile, one-way loop road offers wildlife
viewing and tours of 19th century homesteads.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
BLOOMING SEASONS
The National Park Service turns 100 in 2016,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known
and it’s a great time to get reacquainted with
for its wildflower diversity. More than 1,500 kinds
protected treasures like the Smokies, as well
of flowering plants are found in the park, more
as city and state parks, forests and greenways.
than in any other North American national park.
Tell us how you found your favorite park at
Blooming flowers can be found in the park year
FindYourPark.org or on social media using the
round. Spring blossoms include columbine, violets
hashtag #FindYourPark.
and jack-in-the-pulpit. Summer brings black-eyed
National parks across the country will host
celebration events and programs throughout
2016. Learn more at
nps.gov.
susans and purple-fringed orchids, among others,
while fall features sunflowers, coneflowers and
asters. Azaleas can be seen in April; mountain
laurel blooms in early May; rhododendron in June.