A Day In The Smokies

04/07/2026

Learn some of the fascinating things to know about flying squirrels in Tennessee, many of which live within Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

11/01/2024

Happy Halloween from the spookiest flower in the Smokies: ghost pipe! 👻

This hauntingly beautiful bloom is lurking in the darkest corners of the forest, and you better keep an eye out, because this eerie flower doesn’t need any sunlight.

The secret to its unique nature lies in its lack of chlorophyll (green plant pigment responsible for photosynthesis) and its ability to survive as a parasitic plant, feeding on its host. Nature can be wonderfully mysterious.

Kenzie Connor Photo

09/20/2024

News Release—Kuwohi name restored to the highest peak in the Smokies

The U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted today in favor of the formal request submitted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to change the name of Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee).

Kuwohi is the Cherokee name for the mountain and translates to “mulberry place.” In Cherokee syllabary, the name is ᎫᏬᎯ. The National Park Service strongly supported the name restoration and applauds today's decision, which also received support from local communities and governments.

Kuwohi is a sacred place for the Cherokee People and is the highest point within the traditional Cherokee homeland. Kuwohi is visible from the Qualla Boundary, the home of the EBCI. Efforts are already underway to update signage, website and other materials with the Kuwohi name.

“The Great Smoky National Park team was proud to support this effort to officially restore the mountain and to recognize its importance to the Cherokee People,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The Cherokee People have had strong connections to Kuwohi and the surrounding area, long before the land became a national park. The National Park Service looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee People to share their story and preserve this landscape together.”

The proposal was submitted in January of this year by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks following an effort started in 2022 by Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, both enrolled EBCI members, to restore the traditional name of the summit.

Kuwohi is one of the most popular sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year. It is the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River.

Clingmans Dome has always been known as Kuwohi to the Cherokee People. The mountain became known as Clingmans Dome following an 1859 survey by geographer Arnold Guyot, named for Thomas Lanier Clingman who was a lawyer, U.S. Representative and Senator from North Carolina, and Confederate Brigadier General.

Full news release: go.nps.gov/KuwohiNameRestored

NPS Photo/View from Kuwohi

06/03/2023

Don't miss out on the 2023 Wildfire Preparedness Expo this weekend (Saturday, June 3rd).

The event is free for everyone to attend and will be at the Sevier County Fairgrounds (754 Old Knoxville Hwy) from 10 AM to 3 PM. The event includes interactive demonstrations, kids activities, an aerial exhibit, door prizes and more.

04/25/2023

Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acauleare) are in full bloom here in the Smokies! These orchids are a beautiful and rare sight! They have very specific habitat and soil requirements, so they do not survive transplanting. For this plant to thrive, please only take pictures and remember to leave no trace!

📷 Source: NPS Photo

04/15/2023

04/14/2023

Get trees to plant in your yard. Planting trees is one of the most important things you can do to make a difference for our air, land, water, and communities. Here's how you can participate and help...

04/12/2023

https://www.greeninterchange.org/tntrees2023.html

Get trees to plant in your yard. Planting trees is one of the most important things you can do to make a difference for our air, land, water, and communities. Here's how you can participate and help...

08/15/2022

85 years ago today, the last portion of the was built on a ridge between Spaulding and Sugarloaf mountains in Maine. The A.T. was officially connected through 14 states!

Though much of the original Trail has been moved over the years to more sustainable and protected locations, we remember 1937 as the year when Benton MacKaye's dream — and the dream of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and nature lovers — officially became a reality!

08/12/2022

While out exploring Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you've likely seen a rock cairn or two. The term rock cairn comes from the Gaelic term meaning "heaps of stones". These stacks of balanced rocks have been used as an important navigational tool throughout history. However, it is important to be aware of the downsides of building them inside our park.

Building rock cairns disturbs the natural habitat of the park wildlife including salamanders and fish that nest underneath the rocks. It can also dislodge plants and soil growing there giving way to erosion that may wash away these delicate habitats.

Do your part to help us protect these habitats by not moving or stacking rocks.

Find out more here: https://friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/dont-move-rocks/