Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sets Visitation Record in 2016! Over 11 Million Folks Feeling Great in the Smokies!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park set an all-new visitation record in 2016 with over 11 million visitors! Last year 11,312,785 folks were…feeling great in the Smokies! Over 2,200 of them joined GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash on the trail for the Smokies Centennial Hike 100 challenge.

GSMNP Sup. Cassius Cash (center) on the trail with students for the Smokies Centennial Hike 100 Challenge (photo: GSMNP)

“I continue to be inspired by the number of people enjoying the park, but more importantly, I am moved by their unwavering support and care for this special place,” said Superintendent Cash in a recent press release. “This support is more critical than ever since we have entered into our second century of service and recovery following the Chimney Tops fire. The response of the Smoky Mountains community, both near and far, has been remarkable and we thank you.”

Known as the “People’s Park,” the Great Smoky Mountain National Park benefitted from over 117,000 hours of volunteer service by over 2,230 wonderful people. These folks volunteer their time and energy to provide trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, and provide visitor information on the trails, at the visitor centers and campgrounds within the park.

For more information about visitation, please go to the National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics web page at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/.