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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Roaring Fork
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Mike Maslona Photo | |
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Highlights: wildflower viewing, historic buildings
This narrow, winding, 5-mile-long road invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the Roaring Fork area. This area is a favorite side trip for many people who frequently visit the Smokies. It offers rushing mountain streams, glimpses of old-growth forest, and a number of well- preserved log cabins, grist mills, and other historic buildings.
An inexpensive booklet, keyed to numbered posts along the way, is available at visitor centers and at the start of the road.
To access Roaring Fork, turn off the main parkway in Gatlinburg, TN at traffic light #8 and follow Historic Nature Trail Road to the Cherokee Orchard entrance to the national park. Just beyond the Rainbow Falls trailhead you have the option of taking the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter). This narrow, paved road winds for six miles beside rich forests, waterfalls, and streams. Buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted on the motor nature trail.
Mileage to Roaring Fork:
from Gatlinburg—1
from Cherokee—35
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Operated by the nonprofit Great Smoky Mountains Association, proceeds generated by purchases at the store are donated to educational, scientific, and historical projects in the park.
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Waterfalls Waterfalls can be found on nearly every stream in the park. more... | | Black Bears An estimated 1,500 black bears live in the park. more... | | Download Park Maps Maps of trails and campgrounds as well as general park maps are available. more... | | Spring Wildflowers The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the "Wildflower National Park." more... | |
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Did You Know?
There are at least 30 different species of salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This gives the Smokies the distinction of having the most diverse salamander population anywhere in the world and has earned the park the nickname “Salamander Capital of the World.”
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Last Updated: February 28, 2007 at 16:12 EST |