Are the Smoky Mountains Part of the Appalachian Mountains?
Are the Smoky Mountains part of the Appalachian Mountains? We asked our friend Sarah from Explore More NC, to cover this topic in depth.
On the East coast of North America, there is a system of mountains that run from the island province of Newfoundland in Canada down to the state of Alabama.
This mountain range is called The Appalachian Mountains, sometimes referred to as the Appalachians.
Within the Appalachians, you will find many mountain ranges, including the ever-so-popular Great Smoky Mountains, found in Tennessee and North Carolina.
In this article, we will explore some of these ranges within the Appalachians in more detail and get a better understanding of them.
Are the Smoky Mountains Part of the Appalachian Mountains?
The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountains in the world, roughly 480 million years old.
For comparison, the Rockies in the West are only 55 to 75 million years old.
Within the Appalachian belt, there are many different ranges, adding up to almost 38,000 peaks!
A few of these ranges include the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Poconos, and the Great Smoky Mountains.
So to answer the question of whether or not the Smokies are part of the Appalachians, yes, The Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachians.
What is the Difference Between the Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains?
The Smoky Mountains are part of the central crest of the Appalachian Mountain range.
While the mountains are similar and are technically the same range, there is one major difference between them.
The Appalachian Mountains are a large range that stretches all the way from Newfoundland, Canada down to Alabama.
In comparison, the Smoky Mountains are just a subrange of the Appalachians that only cover parts of Tennessee and North Carolina.
The Smokies are also part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are a large subrange of the greater Appalachian Mountains.
Within the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find over 5,000 peaks, including the highest peak in the eastern USA, Mount Mitchell which has an elevation of 6,684 ft (2,037 m).
You’ll also find that the Smokies are overall a more popular area than the entire Appalachian range because they are found within a national park.
It’s also easier to cover this area than the entire AT in a short amount of time.
Why Are the Appalachian Mountains Called the Smoky Mountains?
While it’s easy to think that they’re the same range, the Appalachians aren’t actually called the Smoky Mountains.
There is a specific mountain range that is part of the southern Appalachian mountains that is called The Smokies or The Smoky Mountains.
The Smokies are known for the blue mist fog that you’ll see hanging around the peaks and valleys. From afar, it looks like smoke.
The Cherokee referred to these lands as Shaconage, which means “land of blue smoke.”
What States Are the Applachian Mountains In?
The Appalachian range covers land within 13 states in the United States and four provinces of Canada.
Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia are the states in the USA.
Within this region, you will find 26.1 million residents.
In Canada, you can find the Appalachian Mountains in the coastal provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Quebec.
Between the United States and Canada, the Appalachian Mountains cover nearly 2,000 miles of land or over 470 million acres.
What States Are the Smoky Mountains In?
The Great Smoky Mountains cover the Eastern portion of Tennessee and the Western portion of North Carolina.
So while the entire Appalachian range is found within 13 states and 4 Canadian provinces, the Smokies are only in 2 US states.
Where Do the Smoky Mountains Start and End?
The Great Smoky Mountains rise along the Tennessee and North Carolina borders.
They stretch from the Pigeon River to the Little Tennessee River.
Within the range, you will find Great Smoky Mountain National Park, America’s most visited National Park attracting over 11 million visitors each year.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 and covers about 520,000 acres.
The park is accessible from a few different locations, including from the main entrance at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center near Cherokee, NC.
You can also get into the park through Gatlinburg, TN, which is referred to as the Sugarlands entrance, or from an entrance in Townsend, TN, which is much quieter than the Gatlinburg side of the park.
What States Does the Applachian Trail Go Through?
One of the most famous hiking trails on the East Coast is the Appalachian Trail which is about 2,175 miles long from Mount Katahdin in Maine down to Springer Mountain in Georgia.
It travels through many states including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.
To hike the entire Appalachian Trail most thru-hikers take between five and seven months long.
You’ll also find that the highest point on the AT is within GSMNP, which is known as Clingman’s Dome, standing at 6,643 feet tall.
This point is also the highest peak in all of Tennessee, and the third highest east of the Mississippi River.
Best Things to Do in the Appalachian and Smoky Mountains
There are many great things you can do while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding areas! You will have access to many amazing hikes and waterfalls. Here are some musts you should add to your list!
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: Located near Gatlinburg, TN, this is a trail you drive on. It’s a 5.5-mile-long scenic drive, one-way. It’s a narrow, winding road but a favorite drive for visitors.
- Laurel Falls: This is one of the most popular waterfalls in the park, so it is busy and parking is limited. It features an 80-foot waterfall named after the evergreen shrub called mountain laurel (kalmia latifolia), which blooms along the trail in early spring.
- Grotto Falls: Explore the 25 ft waterfall at the end of the trail after you explore through the old forest, it’s great for a summer hike! You will come across the trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This is a 3-mile round trip hike and is considered to be moderately difficult to easy.
- Abrams Falls: This waterfall is located near Townsend, TN. It’s 5.5 miles out and back and is considered moderately difficult. The 25 ft falls are very popular and note, it can get crowded at certain times of the year. This trail also can be muddy after rain so make sure to wear proper hiking shoes.
- Gatlinburg Trail: Located near Gatlinburg, TN Visitor Center, it’s about 4 miles out and back on a gravel trail. It’s considered an easy hike and very popular for hiking, mountain biking, and running.
- Clingman’s Dome: When you are in the Smoky Mountain region, a visit to Clingman’s Dome is a must, it’s the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 ft. Visit the observation tower and take in amazing 360-degree views of the Smokies and beyond. It’s a steep 0.5-mile walk to the top of the tower. When you have a clear day, you can see for over 100 miles.
- Oconaluftee Visitors Center: Known as the gateway to the Smokies, you’ll find a gift shop and museum exhibits. There is also a large herd of elk living nearby that was reintroduced to the park in 2001. It’s one of the best places to see them, especially in the fall season.
- Hike the Appalachian Trail: Perhaps the most popular activity in this large range is hiking the over 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Trail. Although it will take several months, lots of training, and good nutrition to complete the thru-hike!
FAQs
Why are the Appalachian Mountains Smoky?
The Appalachian mountains are not smoky. The Smokies are known for a blue mist fog that you’ll see hanging around the peaks and valleys. From afar, it looks like smoke. The Cherokee referred to these lands are Shaconage, which means “land of blue smoke.”
Are the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Smoky Mountains the Same?
The Smokies are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which is a large subrange of the greater Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains have several smaller ranges that encompass them including Roans, Black, Great Smoky, Brushy, and Great Balsams Mountains.
Are the Blue Ridge Mountains the Same as the Appalachian Mountains?
Yes, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a portion of the Appalachian Mountains. If you have time make sure to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains and travel the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will experience some of the most stunning views from different overlooks along this 469-mile scenic drive. The parkway connects the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We recommend stopping along the way and visiting some of the top waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Why Are the Smoky Mountains Smoky?
The famous blue smoke that we see in the Smokies is actually just fog from the vegetation in the area. The plants release something known as volatile organic compounds, which have a high vapor pressure and easily form vapors. This causes the blanket of fog that we often see over the mountains.
Wrap-Up: Are the Smoky Mountains Part of the Appalachian Mountains?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering are the Smoky Mountains part of the Appalachian Mountains, then you’ll be glad to finally know the answer.
Yes, the Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains and I hope that you enjoyed learning about the amazing region.
If you love spending time in nature, then take several days to explore all that the Smokies and Appalachian range have to offer.
Pick out some hiking trails, maybe do some touristy stuff if you choose, or just take some time to unplug from your day-to-day life.
