Nature knows how to astonish us! Its wonders are just jaw-dropping, and the beauty is hard to describe. It makes us all pause, sit, and let the mesmerizing views swipe us from our feet. Among these spectacular wonders are the Appalachian Mountains, and at their summit lies the place of blue smoke known as the Smoky Mountain Range. Nature lovers, we feel your curiosity about the blue mist of the Great Smoky Mountains.
We are here to fulfill your quest: What part of the Appalachian are the smoky mountains? Let us uncover where the Great Smoky Mountains are and whether the Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains.
Where are the Smoky Mountains?
The Smoky Mountains are a part of the Appalachian mountain range, famous by the name – Smokies, the land of blue smoke or the Smoky Mountains. It is the largest in the southeastern United States of America. It is a rising jaw-dropping cluster of mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border and a subrange of the Appalachians.
The Great Smoky Mountains are also known as the “Iron Mountains”. However, nowadays, it is known by the name “Place of Blue Smoke” due to its dreamy blue haze.
3 Easy Ways to Identify Where are Smoky Mountains
Our majestic Smoky Mountains are spread across the Pigeon River in the northeast and towards the Little Tennessee River in the southeast. The Great Smoky Mountains starts from Canada and ends in Georgia. For the newbies in hiking hobby, we have other better alternatives for you to find out where smoky mountains are.
Wildlife
Smoky mountain ranges are home to almost 412 different kinds of species. These animals mark their territory around this widespread landscape. There are approximately 65 mammals, 200 types of birds, 67 native fish, and almost 80 reptiles and amphibians.
You will witness the American black bear around this area, and there are approx. 1,500 black bears in Smokies. Besides these magnificent creatures, Smokies is home to famous animals called Salamander. They live and breathe in this area, which gives the tremendous smoky mountain title Salamander Capital of the World.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is named a part of the International Biosphere Reserve. These Smokies have contributed and played their part in sustaining and conserving the ecosystem.
Elevation
Another way to identify where the Smoky Mountains are is by recognizing the area’s noticeable peaks. The peak point called Clingmans Dome is part of the Smoky Mountains. It is also the third tallest among the entire mountain ranges.
Geography
The total area of the Great Smoky Mountain is 522,419 acres (2,114.15 km2). This means you may be in the Smokies blue area without even knowing. It almost covers the land along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. That sounds like a lot! Right? So here is how you can identify where the Smoky Mountain range is.
These mountains form a section of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. This is a mountainous belt stretching from Pennsylvania southwest to Georgia. You will see a lot of deformed and dangerous metamorphic rocks in this area.
Apart from this, the Smoky Mountains also release a high amount of isoprene. This is an organic compound that creates fog and a blueish tint. Besides this, the Tuckasegee River, coco Creek, and Jonathan Creek are ample indications of the Smoky Mountains.
Are the Appalachian Mountains the Same as Smoky?
Smoky Mountains is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. This mountain range is part of this 1.2 billion-year-old Appalachian mountain range. However, the Smoky Mountains were approximately 200-300 million years ago. It may sound complex, but it’s simple: this mountain range has changed a lot due to climatic changes and years of history. Due to its association with the Appalachian Mountains, the Smoky Mountains have some surprising facts such as:
- The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the United States.
- This is one of the oldest mountains in the world.
- Smokey mountain range has more than 800 miles of hiking trails.
- The temperature is moderate primarily, and the mountaintop rarely reaches above 80 degrees.
- Above 2,900 miles of streams
- Home to a large diversity of plants and animals
- The Smoky Mountain National Park has more than 90 historic structures preserved.
The Smoky Mountains are the most mesmerizing, breathtaking, and mind-blowing mountain subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains are known to be the “land of blue smoke” of the Appalachian Mountains.
Why are the Appalachian Mountains Called Smoky Mountains?
Smoky Mountain is the name of one of the Subrange Mountains in the Appalachian Mountains. Smoky Mountain is not the name of Appalachian Mountain. However, the commoners near these ranges like to call this beauty with its respective fields, such as:
- Blue Ridge Mountains (Southern Section)
- Unaka Mountains (Tennessee & North Carolina)
- Black Mountains (North Carolina)
- Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee & North Carolina)
- Newfound Mountains (Tennessee & North Carolina)
- Nantahala Mountains (North Carolina)
What is the Biggest Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains?
Once you reach 6,643 feet, consider yourself lucky. This mountain range is known as Clingmans Dome. You have successfully achieved the highest point of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clingman’s Dome is the highest and iconic point of the Smoky Mountains and the highest point in Tennessee. It is also the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi. If you get a clear day, you can see the seven states through the observation tower of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Best Time to Go to the Smoky Mountains
Hikers and nature lovers, I recommend you enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the Smoky Mountains from June to August. This is the perfect time to enjoy the sounds of the smoky mountain river and the full bloom of wildlife.
What City has the Best View of the Smoky Mountains?
All the high points of the Smoky Mountains in the Appalachian Mountains are total of panoramic views. However, one city stands out and wins as having the picture-perfect view of the Smoky Mountains. Anakeesta in Gatlinburg ranks first as having the best view of the Smoky Mountains.
What States Are the Appalachian Mountains in?
The Appalachian Mountains range covers 13 states in the US and four provinces in Canada. The 13 states of the United States are:
| Alabama | Georgia | Kentucky |
| Maryland | Mississippi | New York |
| North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania |
| South Carolina | West Virginia and Virginia | Tennessee |
The four provinces which Canada covers are:
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Quebec
1.2 billion-year-old Appalachian Mountains cover 2,000 miles of land or over 470 million acres with almost 26.1 million residents.
What States Are the Smoky Mountains In?
Compared to the vast Appalachian Mountains, the smoky mountains are only found in 2 US states: North Carolina and Tennessee. The perfect gateway towns to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee are:
- Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
- Townsend
- Cherokee anchors the southern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Bryson City
- Hot Springs
- Maggie Valley and Waynesville
- The highest point of the Smokies is the Clingmans Dome, and it is in Tennessee at 6,643 feet.
Appalachian Trail Great Smoky Mountains
There are some of the best trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an adventurous hike with your hyped-up buddies or family. Take a look at some of the most high and moderately difficult smoky mountain trails:
Charlie Bunion via Appalachian Trail
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Estimated Time: 4h and 16 min
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 575 m
Length: 12.9 km
Chimney Tops Trail
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 2 hours and 19 minutes
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 392 m
Length: 5.8 km
Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome Trail
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 9-10 hours
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,101 m
Length: 24.0 km
Mount LeConte via Appalachian Trail
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 9 hours and 20 minutes
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,214 m
Length: 29.0 km
Myrtle Point via Appalachian Trail and Boulevard
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 7 hours and 56 minutes
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,034 m
Length: 24.6 km
Chimney Tops and Road Prong Trail
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 5 hours
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation Gain: 835 m
Length: 13.7 km
Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Dave
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 16 h 20 min
Route Type: Point-to-point
Elevation Gain: 1,715 m
Length: 49.6 km
Fontana Lake to Mount Squires
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 8 h 16 min
Route Type: Point-to-point
Elevation Gain: 1,591 m
Length: 24.6 km
Newfound Gap and Low Gap
Difficulty Level: Hard
Estimated Time: 16 h 29 min
Route Type: Point-to-point
Elevation Gain: 1,864 m
Length: 50.4 km
Newfound Gap to Silers Bald
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Estimated Time: 5 h 30 min
Elevation Gain: 1,371 m
Length: 26.31 km
Mountains to Town Trial
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Estimated Time: 6 h 6 min
Elevation Gain: 1,864 m
Length: 33.8 km
Note: Smoky mountain trails affected by fire are still a concern for the hikers. The airborne sulfur and nitrogen around the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a threat and spread through cloud water, dry particles, and acid rain.
In a Nutshell
While we unravel the mystery of the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s hard to miss the terrific Appalachian Mountains. Almost 200-300 million years old, the Smoky Mountains are home to wildlife, ancient rocks, healthy soil, and various trees. The Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and have multiple hiking spots—a perfect getaway for nature lovers, hikers, and family vacations.
Cristina Silva has graduated from New York University and has written for the Associated Press, the Tampa Bay Times, Salon, and NPR. She has reported from Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, Germany, Italy, and Bahrain, as well as from across the United States.