Great Smoky Mountains Audio Tour

Things to do on the Tour Include:

• Welcome - Oconaluftee Visitor Centre

  Your drive through the beautiful, majestic Smoky Mountains begins at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Smokies and discover why this is the most visited National Park in the country!

• Mingus Mill and Trail

  As you drive, you'll have the option to take a detour to the Mingus Mill, an 1886 grist mill which, believe it or not, is still fully functional! If you're here on weekends, you can even see the mill operators grind corn just like they did back in the 1800s.

• Beech Flats Quiet Walkway

  Your first major stop is the Beech Flats Quiet Walkway, a perfect spot for anyone who wants to soak up the natural beauty of the mountains without having to hike an arduous trail.

• Webb View

  Your route takes you next to Webb View, a spectacular overlook offering unmatched views of the Smokies. It's the perfect spot to snap a few photos!

• Clingmans Dome

  Next, you'll have the option to visit Clingman's Dome. Standing at over 6,600 feet above sea level, this peak offers an unbeatable panorama of the Smokies.

• Clingmans Dome Tower

  Heading toward Clingman's Dome, you'll soon see its famous observation tower. You really haven't seen the Great Smoky Mountains until you've seen them from up here!

• Clingmans Dome VC

  Then you'll arrive at the Clingman's Dome Visitor Center, where you'll find the trail leading the final half-mile to the top of the dome.

• Newfound Gap Story

  From there, your drive continues to Newfound Gap, a stunning mountain pass with huge historical significance. Hear the story of how trappers, farmers, and merchants used to cross the Smokies, and how this gap changed all of that.

• Rockefeller Memorial

  Up next is the Rockefeller Memorial, where you'll learn more about Rockefeller's importance to the park! This memorial was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt himself.

• Morton Overlook

  After that, you'll reach Morton Overlook, hugely popular for its unbelievable sunsets.

• Morton Tunnel

  Continuing on, you'll pass through the heart of a mountain using the Morton Tunnel. Here, you'll also hear about how a politician named Ben Morton got his name all over the park.

• Alum Cave

  Next you'll pass the Alum Cave Trail, which takes hikers to the remains of an old salt mine packed with fascinating history.

• Chimney Tops Overlook

  Your route takes you next to Chimney Tops Overlook, where you'll hear all about wildfires in the Smokies and how they cause lasting damage to mountains like this one.

• Turn for Cade Coves Tour Ahead

  After that, you'll have the option to head to Cades Cove for a separate, in-depth tour of that beautiful and historic part of the park.

• Balsom Point Quiet Walkway

  Up next is Balsam Point Quiet Walkway, offering nature-filled solitude and lovely views of Pigeon River.

• Carlos Campbell Overlook

  The next overlook on your route is Carlos Campbell Overlook, which serves up panoramic views of towering mountains and lush forests.

• Sugarlands Valley Trail

  Next up is the most accessible trail in the park: Sugarlands Valley Trail! This scenic trail can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, and offers a great way to venture into the wilderness.

• Sugarlands Visitor Centre

  The tour leads next to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, a perfect rest stop and the site of a few trailheads.

• Cataract Falls

  Your drive continues to Cataract Falls, a beautiful, secluded set of waterfalls tucked beneath a shaded canopy of beech trees.

• Ripley's Believe It or Not!

  Our next stop is perfect for anyone amused by kitschy oddities. This funky museum displays everything from shrunken human heads to rare animal skeletons. We'll get the inside scoop on how it started as a simple one-panel comic strip and grew into a national phenomenon.

• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

  Continue following the road to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This driving trail invites you to slow down and enjoy the forest and historic buildings of the area. It also features three of the park's most famous waterfalls!

• Ogle Place

  Next, we'll pass by the Ogle Place, the historic home of one of Gatlinburg's earliest families, which offers us a fascinating glimpse into how people lived a couple hundred years ago.

• Rainbow Falls

  Our route takes us next to the Rainbow Falls Trail, which leads to the park's most popular waterfall. Standing at 80 feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies, but that's not all! When the sun hits it right, it glimmers like a rainbow--hence the name.

• Grotto Falls

  Keep driving until you reach the Grotto Falls trail. While it's not quite as grand as Rainbow Falls, this secluded, less crowded waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. On your way, hear about a rare salamander you can only find right here!

• Place of a Thousand Drips

  Why settle for one waterfall when you can have several? Our next stop is the Place of a Thousand Drips, where numerous narrow falls come together to form a stunning torrent.

• Baskin Creek Falls

  Our drive takes us next to the Baskin Creek Falls, a sparkling waterfall where we'll hear about the amusing, and slightly misguided history behind the name of these falls.

• Ephraim Bales Cabin

  Up next, we'll pass the Ephraim Bales Cabin, a portal back in time to the 19th century. We'll hear all about the family that lived here, and why there's a big hole in the middle of their cabin!

• Reagan Tub Mill and Cabin

  The road brings us next to the Reagen Cabin, which displays a perfect example of old-timey technology in the form of the so-called "tub mill." Hear all about what that is and why it was useful here.

• Elys Mill

  Next, our drive takes us to Ely's Mill, a historic mill on the outskirts of Gatlinburg which gives us another window into the lives of the early Appalachian settlers. Here, we'll learn about Andrew Ely, the bigshot lawyer who upended his entire life after his wife died, abandoned his law practice, and moved to Gatlinburg to start over and live a simpler life.

• Gatlinburg - Conclusion

  Finally, you'll arrive in the picturesque mountian town of Gatlinburg, where your tour will conclude.