Top Winter Activities in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country and for good reason. It's location in East Tennessee puts it within an eight hour drive of about three-fourths the U.S. population. It's also one of the least expensive places to visit. The park has no user fees for daytime visitors. Overnight camping charges are very cheap and most trails remain open all winter. The only exception is the Newfoundland Gap area and U.S. 441, which runs from Gatlinburg, Tenn., to Cherokee, N.C. Bad weather does intermittently close this road.

Here are some great things to do in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the winter. Enjoy!

1. The 17th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week runs Jan. 13-21 and Music Road Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge serves as the base for this event, which has all types of workshops and lectures spread throughout Sevier County. This year, over 100 wildlife experts are planning to take part. Guided hikes and photography and art courses are always included. For a brochure on the event, call 1-800-WINTERFEST.

2. See nature in the winter. The park is beautiful in the winter, with everything taking on a different attitude than in the summer. First, few tourists visit the park during this time of the year. Usually, you can travel through the park without the bumper-to-bumper traffic of the spring, summer and fall. The park recommends Cades Cove and the Roaring Fork Motor Trail as excellent routes for those hoping to catch glimpses of wildlife. I agree. Both areas give you the chance to travel at your own pace. You're close enough to see a variety of animals, but far enough away so that the animals appear and act as though in natural settings. You can find information on both of these by stopping at the Sugarlands Visitors Center close to the park's entrance or visiting http://www.nps.gov/grsm.