Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Top Reasons to Hike The Trails

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Corey_Joe]Corey Joe
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a destination that offers beauty and activities for nature lovers, hikers and campers. Throughout the year, visitors come to this national park to admire the nature and wildlife it offers. Each season of the year offers different things to see, and every season offers beauty in its own unique way. Hikers have been coming here for years for many different reasons.
The Great Smoky Mountains National parks is maintained and offers a mapped extensive trail system. For this reason, hikers are able to visit this park, walk through trails and always know exactly where they are. Hikers should always check their routes prior to taking off, and should download or purchase a trail map before setting out. Route and facility closings are posted throughout the park to alert hikers which paths they should avoid. This national park is one of the best mapped parks in the world, allowing even new hikers the opportunity to set out hiking and not be afraid of getting lost.
People from all over the world visit this park because it offers so many miles of trails, making it the ideal location for hikers. Throughout this national park, there are over 850 miles of trails. Of these trails, seventy miles are part of the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is a famous trail that is over 2,180 miles long and passes through 14 different states. Most of this trail is wilderness; although some parts of it pass through traverse towns and across rivers. Some hikers attempt to hike this entire trail in one season. These hikers are called thru-hikers and most people that attempt this begin their hike in March or April and do not finish until late summer or early fall.
One common reason people choose to hike here is to see all of the diverse wildlife that live in the wild. While hiking, people are likely to encounter numerous different animals; some of which are rarely seen in any other locations. These animals include wolves, white tailed deer, elk, black bears and wild boars. There are also approximately 200 species of birds dwelling in this area. Hikers should be aware for snakes, however. In this national park, 27 species of snakes dwell; two of which are poisonous, the rattlesnake and the copperhead. Bears are becoming more prevalent in this park, and hikers should be aware of this prior to setting out on a hike. Although seeing a bear in the wild is exciting and makes for a great story, it also poses dangers. Biologists have estimated that there are approximately 1,500 bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Another reason that makes this park ideal for hiking is the vast variety of trails hikers can choose from. Numerous trails lead to waterfalls; however there are nine that are the most common to travel. Waterfalls can be amazing to see and experience and many people hike these trails for that reason. Of the most commonly traveled to, Grotto Falls is a beautiful setting, as well as Laurel Falls; which is the easiest waterfall to hike to. There are also numerous hikes in and around Cades Cove, including trails Anthony Creek and Rich Mountain. Both trails lead to beautiful places in the park, and hikers on these trails will enjoy many nature sights. Hikes to history are also offered in this national park. These trails include Kephart Prong, Little Greenbrier and Old Settlers. For hikers who enjoy seeing historical sights, these trails are ideal.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers so much for hikers. It is an ideal location for beginner or experienced hikers and offers trails that will please anyone. Whenever hiking, visitors should remember to follow the rules of the park, including never hiking alone, bringing enough water, carrying the appropriate supplies and keeping up with trail and weather conditions.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park---Top-Reasons-to-Hike-The-Trails&id=6631619] Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Top Reasons to Hike The Trails