America’s Most Visited National Park Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is the most visited park in the system, hosting
more than 9 million visitors a year. Unlike most national parks,
entry to the park is free. Its surrounding communities depend
heavily on the park, which is the lynchpin of the region’s
tourism economy. Named for the prevalence of fog, which appears
to rise as if from smoke stacks when viewed at a distance, the
park is one of the rainiest habitats in the United States,
racking up more yearly precipitation anywhere in the country
outside of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. That fact, combined
with its steep elevation gradients, make for an abundance of
waterfalls. The park’s ample rainfall and dense deciduous
forestation — particularly at lower elevations — mean that Great
Smoky Mountains National Park is also an excellent destination
for fall foliage viewing. About 36 percent of the park is
covered in old growth forest that predates European settlement
of North America. From scenic vistas