I am planning on spending a week or so in the Smokies this spring. Right now, I am just looking to do some broad stroke planning and hope some of you more familiar with the park can offer some opinions.
When? I am thinking mid to late April. Wildflowers are good, temps below freezing at night are acceptable, but milder weather is preferred.
Where? My original idea was just to get a shuttle and hike the lenght of the AT through the park, but I see a lot of you feel that since it sticks to the ridgelines, it misses the lower elevation charms of the park. Can you rattle off some attractions, views, waterfalls, spooky sections of forest, old farms, what have you and especially why you like them and I''ll see what ways I can "connect the dots" on the map.
Speaking of maps, what do you reccommend? Any guidebooks you like? And general books on the area; natural history and such?
Thanks!