Looking for some Great Smoky Mountains Books?
With over 12.5 million visitors in 2019, the Great Smoky Mountains have easily become one of the most beloved National Parks to visit in the United States.
Full of rich Appalachian history, some of the best scenic drives, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails, there is so much to see and do when visiting the Smoky Mountains!
Whether you are looking to hike, camp, explore or just take in the rich heritage from the area, be sure to check out some of these Great Smoky Mountains books and guides to enhance your next visit to the Smokies!
And if you have friends or family that love the Smokies, these also make excellent gifts for holidays and special occasions!
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Great Smoky Mountains Travel Guides
If you are new to the Great Smoky Mountains region, a good travel guide is a great place to start! Here are a few guides to learn more about the area.
Lonely Planet Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Hike, Bike, Camp)
Fodor’s InFocus Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Travel Guide)
Great Smoky Mountains Hiking Books
If you plan on doing any kind of hiking in the Smoky Mountains, be sure to do a little research before you hit the trails. While there are plenty of online resources out there to help you map out your hike, we definitely like to keep a good hiking book on hand as backup since cell service is not available in most areas of the Smokies!
Hiking Trails of the Smokies
This little brown book s is one of the local favorites!
Day Hikes of the Smokies
Waterfalls of the Smokies
Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Guide to the Park’s Greatest Hiking
Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 50 Must-Do Hikes for Everyone
Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Best Easy Day Hikes Series)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Maps
From trail maps to maps that cover a certain area of the park extensively, these guys definitely can come in handy at times! Keep in mind that there are many areas in the Smokies with no cell phone reception, so be sure to pick up a map to familiarize yourself with the area before you head that way!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (229))
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Day Hikes (National Geographic Topographic Map Guide (1702))
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Map & Day Hikes [Map Pack Bundle] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
Cades Cove, Elkmont: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (316))
Clingmans Dome, Cataloochee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (317))
Great Smoky Mountains Books about Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most beloved places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains. This area is full of rich history of the early settlers in this region. Be sure to check out some of these books to learn more about what life was like for many families before Cades Cove became part of the National Park.
Cades Cove (Images of America)
Legends of Cades Cove and the Smokies Beyond
The Cades Cove Story
Cades Cove: The Life and Death of a Southern Appalachian Community 1818-1937
A Cades Cove Childhood
Great Smoky Mountains Books about Elkmont
The Elkmont area is full of history of the logging era and summer vacation homes that many occupied during that time. These books will give you a good look into what it was like during that time and how it affected the Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas.
Lost Elkmont (Images of America)
Last Train to Elkmont: A Look Back at Life on Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains
Elkmont’s Uncle Lem Ownby: Sage of the Smokies
Clingman’s Dome Books
At 6,643 ft, Clingmans Dome is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Be sure to check out one of these books to learn more about the history of this region and how the tower and this area came to be one of the most popular places to visit in the Smokies.
Clingmans Dome: Highest Mountain in the Great Smokies
Clingmans Dome Revealed: A Natural, Historical and Cultural Gem in the Smoky Mountains
Books about Nature in the Smokies
Did you know the Great Smoky Mountains is the most biodiverse park in the National Park System? Over 19,000 species have been documented and scientists believe there are TONS more out there that haven’t been identified yet!
We love keeping our eyes peeled for critters, creatures, flowers and so much more when exploring in the Smokies. Here are a few of our favorite nature books that we grab to help us identify different species when we head to the mountains. (You can also buy these at some of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitor Centers, as well!)
Wildflowers of the Smokies
Ferns of the Smokies
Trees of the Smokies
Mammals of the Smokies
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Smokies
Butterflies and Moths of the Smokies
More Books about the Smoky Mountains and Surrounding Areas
From learning about the surrounding areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to discovering some of the best places to photograph the area, there are plenty of books out there about the Smoky Mountains.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN) (Images of America)
Gatlinburg (Images of America)
Pigeon Forge (Images of America)
Historic Buildings of the Smokies
Photographing Cades Cove: When and Where to Take Great Photos (Photographing the Smokies) (Volume 1)
The Great Smoky Mountains: A Visual Journey
Great Smoky Mountains Simply Beautiful
The Wonder of Cades Cove
Fictional Smoky Mountains Books and Novels
If you are a Great Smoky Mountains fan and love reading fictional books, then be sure to check out some of these novels that are set in the Smokies. It is so fun to get lost in a good story especially when you can picture some of these areas in the Smoky Mountains!
Christy
Based on a true story, this book sold over 10 million copies and even became a popluar TV series! This is a must read!
Cataloochee, A Novel
Smoky Mountain Novel Series by Lin Stepp
If you like a little bit of romance with a good story line set in the Great Smoky Mountains, you will absolutely LOVE these novels by Lin Stepp.
I mean, she’s even endorsed by Dolly Parton for goodness sake…need I say more?
“I’ve finally come across someone that believes in all the things that I do. . .love, family, faith, intrigue, mystery, loyalty, romance, and a great love for our beloved Smoky Mountains.” –Dolly Parton
There are plenty to choose from, but here are just a few. If you want to start with the series, the first one is “The Foster Girls” which is set in Wears Valley.
The Foster Girls
Down by the River
Makin’ Miracles
Saving Laurel Springs
Happy Valley
Good Reads About Firsthand Experiences in the Smokies!
From firsthand experiences of a wildlife ranger to the tales of the numerous Smoky Mountain volunteers, these books will share some fun stories that are sure to keep you entertained!
Bear in the Back Seat: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Volume 1
Bear in the Back Seat: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Volume 2
When Do You Let the Bears Out? Answers and Anecdotes from Volunteers of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of Smoky Mountains books out there that will help make your next visit to the Smokies even more enjoyable! Be sure to check out at least one of these jewels before your next visit to the Great Smoky Mountains!
What about you? Do you own any of these books? Which ones are your favorites? What Great Smoky Mountains books would you recommend to others? Are there any more that you think we should add to the list? We would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below!
More Related Smoky Mountains Articles:
- Best Scenic Drives in the Smoky Mountains
- John Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove
- Elkmont Campground Smoky Mountains
- Hike Metcalf Bottoms Trail to Little Greenbrier School
- Laurel Falls Trail – Hike to Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Spruce Flats Falls Hike – Great Smoky Mountains
- Cataract Falls – A Beginner Waterfall Hike in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Deep Creek Waterfalls Hike in the Smokies
- Look Rock Tower Hike in the Great Smoky Mountains
- The Foothills Parkway Visiting the Missing Link
- Tips for Visiting Clingmans Dome in the Fall
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