
Place all your (and your family’s essentials) like extra layers, extra snacks, a flashlight, binoculars, pocket knife, whistle and simple first-aid kit in it.ĭaypacks don’t need to be the big expensive kind that backpackers use. Make going for a hike on Kephart’s Trail or Porters Creek much more comfortable with a daypack. Daypack for Extraordinary Hikes in Hardwood Forests and Over Log Bridges Park officials urge you to remove your rings immediately if you are stung on your hand. If you have an allergy to wasps, pack an EpiPen (epinephrine injection) or other medications and have them with you at all times. In the fall, the park’s yellow jacket wasps are especially aggressive. Smokemont Riding Stables has vending of snacks and beverages. Elkmont Campground Concession has snack items, ice cream and beverages. The store also has grab-and-go breakfast items, hot and cold sandwiches, pizza and soft-serve ice cream.

The Cades Cove Campground Store does have a limited variety of groceries. There are no restaurants in Great Smoky Mountains Park so you’ll need to bring a sack lunch for a day trip or food for meals while camping. Check out the many brands of rain jackets at 3. Tip: Pick a jacket that claims to be waterproof or watertight, not water resistant.

Be sure to take cover from thunderstorms and lightening. When it rains and temperatures plummet, you want a jacket that can keep you warm and dry. Temperatures, especially if you are higher up in the park, can drop dramatically when it rains, turning a warm day into one that feels freezing. Bring your rain jacket to avoid getting caught in the rain. The lowlands of Great Smoky get an average of 55 inches of rain per year, but that number rises to 85 inches per year at Clingmans Dome. We love the Lowa Locarno Low hiking shoes. If you’re not going more than a couple of miles down the trail, you can pack light with a hiking shoe that can go from the trail to the restaurant. Our friends at Backpacker magazine really liked the Vasque Skywalks GTS.

To get you started on your research, one of our staff members raves about his Sportiva Synthesis Mid GTX. These will allow you to navigate both wet trails beside waterfalls and dry trails up mountainsides with ease and enable you to explore farther than you maybe would have. To make the most out of your trip, pack a pair of supportive, waterproof and breathable hiking boots. Sturdy Hiking Boots to Help You Really Experience the Smoky MountainsĪ good pair of hiking boots is a must. Here are the top 13 items to pack to bring to the park. Are you headed to Great Smoky National Park? Straddling the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, you will find yourself surrounded by rolling hills, forests, wildlife and cultural relics.
