Days are cool and nights are cooler. But this is bracing chill, not the bone-cracking kind. Spring in the Smokies has its fans, because wild flowers splash the meadows. Summer, of course, brings the largest crowds. This is the South, so winters are mild.
New vistas open up through the bare branches, and a blessed peace falls over the land.
Spending the night Gatlinburg, neighboring Pigeon Forge and the town of Cherokee on the North Carolina side all have plenty of hotels, motels and private campgrounds. One putt-putt course is called Hillbilly Golf, just so there's no mistaking the regional theme. Hardier types might prefer to sleep in the park. The one lodge, LeConte Lodge, sits atop Mt. LeConte, elevation 6,593 feet. It's not for softies.