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Smoky Mountains

Are you heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and looking for a hike that is much more than just a walk in the woods? Do you have a list of peaks to bag in the Southern Appalachians? If so, we have 3 hikes that will be perfect for you! Each destination can only be reached by taking routes that are rated as strenuous, but also have incredible visual payoffs waiting for you at the end of a beauty filled journey!

In 2018 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed over 11 million visitors, many of which arrived with dreams of experiencing one of America’s most loved footpaths, The Appalachian Trail. At The Appy Lodge, we love all of the trails in the park, but we are a bit bias when it comes to the 71 miles of the AT that pass over the ridges of the Smokies. You see, the entire reason that we were created was to pay homage to the Appalachian Trail, all of the people throughout history that made the trail possible and to the Appalachian mountains. If you’re heading to the Smoky Mountains this year, we would love to share the story of the Appalachian Trail with you by having you as our guest. Here are a few reasons why a stay with us should be included in your AT adventure!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, covering 520,000 acres and making up one of the most phenomenal outdoor playgrounds in our country. It’s a park that is filled with history, wildlife, wildflowers, waterfalls, rivers, breathtaking views, and absolute magic. It’s an area so vast that everyone can find something that they love and one of the best times to explore the park is in the spring. As the mountains come back to life and the spring greens fill in the forest canopy, the Smokies puts on one of it’s best shows of the year. At The Appy Lodge, one of our missions is to encourage our guests to go outside and play as well as fall in love with the great outdoors! Below, you will find 5 incredible hikes to take this year in the Smokies!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park and with 520,000 acres of lush landscape and beauty, it's easy to see why. In 2018 the park welcomed 11,421,200 million visitors. The second most visited national park, the Grand Canyon, had half of the number of guests. Due to the park being our right next door to the city, a large percentage of those traveling to experience the Smokies choose to stay in Gatlinburg. That's why we wanted to put together a few interesting facts about the Smokies and the beautiful mountains that we call home. We want you to have fun facts to add to the excitement of your vacation and when you arrive at The Appy, we want you to feel like you have arrived at your home away from home. As you read along, we hope that you'll enjoy getting to know the Great Smokies!

The Appy Lodge was created with the desire pay respect to everyone that worked to make the Appalachian Trail a reality as well as those that have walked the foot path for the people over the years. While we do have a great love for the past, we also have an unwavering love for the future. We have witnessed first hand the blessings that come with a deep connection to the mountains and the great outdoors. Blessings that then turn into the blessed working to care for and protect our mountains. That is why we hope that during your stay with us you will not only enjoy your visit, but you will also be inspired to explore the mountains that we call home. More importantly, we hope that you will take the children in your life along with you. Because the mountains that they fall in love with today will be the mountains that they protect tomorrow. Mountains that will, in turn, bless their lives for a lifetime. To help get you started we have put together 5 kid-friendly trails in the Smoky Mountains for your next hike.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is one of America's most treasured gems. The trail that runs over 2,000 miles throughout 14 states is a footpath for the people that inspires millions to take a hike each year. Our hotel was created as a homage to not only the trail but also to all of the dreamers that worked to make the Appalachian Trail a reality. While staying with us, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the history of the A.T, the different sections that you would experience on a thru-hike and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Appalachians. Our hope is that during your time with us, you'll find yourself inspired to also explore the trail. That's why we have put together five tips for hiking the Great Smoky Mountains section of the AT. The following tips will help you to have the best experience possible while at The Appy, in the Smokies, and on the trail.

The Appy Lodge sits in the heart of Gatlinburg, TN. We are within minutes of an unlimited amount of restaurants, shops and attractions that will make your trip unforgettable and filled with lifelong memories. Some of those memories, however, can only be made in America's most loved national park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located just 10 minutes from our hotel. To help you make the most of your time at the park, we've made a list of the top ways you can explore the Smoky Mountains while being a guest at our hotel in Gatlinburg.

Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most-visited national parks in the country! Its beauty is unmatched and there are so many ways to experience it. The best part is that when you stay with us at The Appy Lodge, you’ll be only a short drive away! To help you make the most of your trip, here are 4 ways to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Appalachian Trail stretches for more than 2,190 miles and offers incredible scenic views along its length. This popular footpath passes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 71 of its miles. To help you learn more about the trail, we’ve put together a guide of the top 6 things to know about the Appalachian Trail.

Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains are world renowned for their stunning natural beauty. One of our favorite ways to take in the area’s majestic scenery is with a relaxing drive through the mountains. What could be better than admiring the grandeur of the Smokies with the windows down and a refreshing breeze blowing through your hair? To help you make the most of your next vacation, The Appy Lodge has put together a guide to four of the most scenic drives in the Smoky Mountains.

Over 11 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. In fact, the Smokies are the most visited national park in the United States! Blessed with 900 miles of gorgeous hiking trails, numerous scenic roads, lovely picnic areas, and spectacular wildlife viewing, it’s no wonder that the Great Smoky Mountains are so popular. Of course, another reason so many people come to the Smokies each year is that the national park is completely free to enter.

If you have visited Gatlinburg, TN, you can confirm that the name “Smoky Mountains” is a great fit! Spanning across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, this subrange of the Appalachian Mountains features a distinct smoky haze that has inspired countless artists, songwriters, and vacationers. Before Euro-Americans arrived in the region, the Cherokee referred to the area as “Schconage” (Sha-Kon-O-Hey), which means “land of the blue smoke.” Early white settlers took inspiration from the Cherokee when they named the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are located nearby.