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I love hiking, and I have made it my personal mission to visit all the national parks in the United States. This fall, I visited Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The station was full of great information and maps. I carried a backpack with all the necessary items, including water and trail mix. The ranger asked me if I was alone hiking. He was kind and collected a lot of my personal data, which was necessary to protect me in the event that I forgot to check back by sunset, so they were on the lookout.
This security measure was appreciated because there were wild bears and other wildlife in the park.
Although the trails I used were clearly marked, I was unable to hike more than a mile to reach the rainbow falls. The rainbow falls were the reason I wanted to hike through the park. They were stunning, and many people have taken pictures of them.
3 Best Hikes in the Smokies – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
It was more relaxed in the autumn, and the leaves were changing. The fresh rain had fallen a few days earlier and could still be smelled in the trees. It was challenging to climb up the steep rocks to get to the photo points. However, it was still fun to explore the park.
I was able to see where to go on the map, which also had lots of wooden signage. Because some of the rain had caused branches and leaves to fall, I started making a mess, trying to get it off the signs to ensure I was getting there.
It was so peaceful to be able to walk silently through the park. When I finally reached the rainbow falls, it was so peaceful. I spent hours listening and taking photos. It was a lovely hike, and I was the only one there.
After taking many photos, I put my backpack back on my back and headed back to the station. I checked in with the ranger to make sure they knew I was back. He asked me which trails I had followed and given some suggestions for where to go the next time I was in town. I thanked him and asked for the map. I left feeling full of the experience.
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Source by Trev Fenner