Mountain saddles
Dry Sluice Gap
1,579.1 m
Park geography
A structured analysis of regional boundaries, elevation metrics, and natural terrain.
Geographic Profile and Landscape Context of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This geographic profile details the physical dimensions and environmental characteristics of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Discover recorded boundary measurements, elevation data ranging from 267 to 2025 meters, and insights into the dominant mountain, forest, and riverine landscapes that define this protected area within Tennessee and North Carolina.
Related tags
mountainswaterfallsold-growth forestbiodiversity hotspotUNESCO World Heritage Site
The most biodiverse national park in the United States, protecting ancient Appalachian mountains, misty forests, and a rich cultural heritage
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a sprawling protected area that straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina in the southeastern United States. The park encompasses the majority of the Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains that forms part of the Appalachian temperate rainforest, one of the most ecologically significant forest types in North America. This mountainous region contains some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, with Kuwohi rising to 6,643 feet as the tallest peak in Tennessee and the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. The park covers over 522,000 acres, making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, and preserves a remarkable diversity of ecosystems ranging from cove hardwood forests in the lower elevations to spruce-fir forests atop the highest peaks. Established in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, the park holds the distinction of being the most visited national park in the United States, welcoming more than 12 million visitors annually. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1988, recognizing its outstanding universal value in terms of biodiversity and natural heritage.
- Location
- United States of America
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1934
- Area
- 2,114.2 km²
- Highest point
- 2,025 m
Location overview
Administrative boundaries across North Carolina and Tennessee counties
Geographic Overview of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the United States
Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies in the United States, spanning Tennessee, North Carolina, Swain County, and Sevier County. Geographic records show the reserve has no coastal, marine, island, or transboundary status.
- Countries
- United States of America
- Regions
- North Carolina, Sevier County, Swain County, Tennessee
- Primary location
- Tennessee
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Spatial footprint and coordinate span across 2,114 square kilometers
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary Map and Geographic Limits
Boundary outlines trace the spatial footprint of the protected area to establish geographic context. Structured facts detail the calculated area of 2,114 square kilometers alongside coordinate limits, center points, and spans.
- Boundary area
- 2,107.2 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 599.2 km
- Northernmost point
- 35.8414° N
- Southernmost point
- 35.4269° N
- Easternmost point
- 82.998° W
- Westernmost point
- 84.0139° W
- Geographic centre
- 35.601° N, 83.5083° W
- North–south span
- 46 km
- East–west span
- 92 km
Elevation and terrain
Recorded figures from 267 to 2,025 metres with named features
Great Smoky Mountains National Park terrain and elevation
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is mountain terrain with minimum and maximum elevations of 267 and 2,025 metres. Twenty displayed feature records are within the park and include streams, ridges, saddles, peaks, a waterfall, river, and cliff.
- Minimum elevation
- 267 m
- Maximum elevation
- 2,025 m
- Highest point
- 2,025 m
Selected named natural features
Mountain saddles
Wolfpen Gap
613.7 m
Waterfalls
Laurel Falls
Peaks
Gregory Bald
1,505.1 m
Peaks
Laurel Top
1,798 m
Peaks
Mount Sequoyah
1,819 m
Environmental setting
Temperate mountain relief, dominant forest cover, and diverse hydrological features
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Environmental and Landscape Classification Atlas
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climate zones serve as complementary ways to read the physical setting of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stored classifications connect recorded categories to relevant atlas destinations across the protected terrain.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Dense forest cover
- Seasonality
- Seasonal
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Cliffs · Forest · Grassland · Rivers · Waterfalls
Habitat types
Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Boreal forest · Montane forest · Alpine meadow · Grassland · Shrubland · Heath · Riverine habitat · Karst habitat
Park atlas
Compare the diverse mountain landscapes and protected-area geography of the wider Appalachian region.
Discover Nearby National Parks and Protected Areas Beyond Great Smoky Mountains National Park
After exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park, delve into other national parks and protected areas across the surrounding Appalachian region. Browse diverse mountain landscapes, trace connected forest ecosystems, and compare the distinct conservation efforts shaping this geographically rich terrain.
Protected landscapeNorth Carolina
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
Southeast
Pisgah National Forest: Protected Appalachian Mountain Geography and Regional Mapping
An extensive mountain forest in western North Carolina
Pisgah National Forest represents a major protected landscape in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Its diverse terrain includes high peaks above 6,000 feet, dense hardwood forests, and deep river gorges. Recognized as a historic center for professional forestry, the area protects extensive watersheds and wilderness zones, offering a detailed case study in Appalachian geography, conservation science, and rugged mountain topography.
- Area
- 2,075.06 km²
- Established
- 1916
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
Protected landscapeNorth Carolina
0.1 km away#2 closest
South
Nantahala National Forest: Geographic Overview of Protected Appalachian Mountain Landscapes
Mapping deep river gorges and temperate rainforests in North Carolina
The Nantahala National Forest represents a significant conservation achievement, encompassing diverse southern Appalachian mountain terrain. The landscape features deep river gorges, ancient old-growth forests, and extensive networks of waterfalls. This overview provides mapped context on its vast wilderness areas, including Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock, and the long-distance trail corridors that traverse this temperate rainforest region.
- Area
- 2,150 km²
- Established
- 1920
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
Wildlife reserveNorth Carolina
3.1 km away#3 closest
Southwest
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness: Mapped Topography and Protected Forest Boundaries
Old-growth Appalachian wilderness in North Carolina
Analyze the dramatic valley-and-ridge geography of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. This protected area, encompassing the rare Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, serves as a vital reference for eastern forest conservation, featuring ancient hardwood groves and sweeping mountain vistas across the Unicoi range.
- Area
- 70 km²
- Established
- 1975
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Wildlife reserveNorth Carolina
23 km away#4 closest
Southeast
Middle Prong Wilderness: High-Elevation Appalachian Forest and Watershed Geography
Rugged ridges and headwaters in the Pisgah National Forest
Middle Prong Wilderness encompasses nearly 7,900 acres of protected southern Appalachian terrain. This rugged landscape, ranging from deep valley floors to wind-swept high-elevation ridges, serves as a vital protected corridor adjacent to Shining Rock Wilderness, showcasing a complex mosaic of hardwood and spruce-fir forest ecosystems within the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Area
- 32 km²
- Established
- 1984
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Wildlife reserveTennessee
50 km away#5 closest
West
Gee Creek Wilderness: Geographic Atlas of an Appalachian Forested Wildlife Reserve
Protected mountain terrain in the Tennessee foothills
Gee Creek Wilderness is a federally protected area in southeastern Tennessee characterized by its small, roadless footprint and rich Appalachian forest composition. The reserve showcases the dramatic intersection of forested ridgelines and stream-carved valleys, providing a concentrated look at the ecological character of the Cherokee National Forest's lower Appalachian zone.
- Area
- 10.09 km²
- Established
- 1975
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Upland
Wildlife reserveUnited States of America
55 km away#6 closest
Southeast
Ellicott Rock Wilderness: Geographic and Historic Protected Landscape Overview
A rare tri-state wilderness in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Discover the mapped terrain of Ellicott Rock Wilderness, a protected area defined by its steep river gorges, dense cove forests, and unique position at the tripoint of three U.S. states. This wilderness area preserves the Chattooga River corridor and historic survey landmarks within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, offering deep insight into the regional geography of the American southeast.
- Area
- 33.48 km²
- Established
- 1975
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Protected landscapeSouth Carolina
57 km away#7 closest
Southeast
Sumter National Forest: Mapping Protected Landscapes and Terrain in South Carolina
Bridging Piedmont forests and Appalachian mountain foothills
Sumter National Forest offers a study in geographic contrast, as its three districts span the transition from South Carolina Piedmont ridges to the rugged spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This protected area features the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor, expansive hardwood-conifer mosaics, and complex mountain watersheds. The forest provides a window into regional land restoration, where reclaimed farmland and mountain ridges now form a continuous network of protected natural terrain.
- Area
- 1,500.98 km²
- Established
- 1936
- Relief
- Mixed relief
- Climate
- Temperate
Wildlife reserveGeorgia
79 km away#8 closest
South
Raven Cliffs Wilderness: Exploring the Appalachian Ridges and Protected Forest Landscapes
High-elevation wilderness area in northern Georgia.
Spanning steep ridges and narrow valleys, Raven Cliffs Wilderness represents a significant protected area within the Chattahoochee National Forest. The landscape transitions from high, exposed ridgelines to dense hardwood forest, offering a compact yet varied study in Appalachian mountain geography.
- Area
- 36.89 km²
- Established
- 1986
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Your Geographic Exploration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Landscapes
Deepen your understanding of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by exploring its detailed geographic features and protected landscape context. This national park offers rich opportunities for map-based discovery, revealing its unique terrain and its significance within the regional geography of Tennessee and beyond. Continue to uncover the mapped boundaries and ecological richness that define this important protected area.
Browse next
Global natural geography
Explore related park routes
Explore MoriAtlas Global ParksBrowse All MoriAtlas ParksGlobal Park Map DiscoveryMoriAtlas: Browse All CountriesBrowse All MoriAtlas ContinentsNational Park Environment AtlasGrand Canyon National Park AtlasYellowstone National Park AtlasYosemite National Park Atlas and GeographySerengeti National Park AtlasGalápagos National Park Protected LandscapeBanff National Park Geography and AtlasKruger National Park Atlas EntryUluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park AtlasExplore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park GeographyPlitvice Lakes National Park AtlasFiordland National Park Protected LandscapeGreat Smoky Mountains National Park AtlasAfghanistan National Parks and Protected AreasAlbania National Parks and Protected AreasAlgeria National Parks and Protected AreasAmerican Samoa National Parks and Protected AreasAndorra National Parks and Protected AreasAngola National Parks and Protected AreasAntarctica National Parks and Protected AreasAntigua and Barbuda Park List