Great Smoky Mountains National Park Passes
Every Great Smoky Mountains National Park wilderness-permit entry point on recreation.gov - AllTrails ratings, demand scores, and a trailhead map.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most-visited national park in the country, with misty ridges, old-growth forest, and a long stretch of the Appalachian Trail. A backcountry permit reserves a specific numbered campsite or AT shelter for each night of your itinerary. Popular shelters and campsites along the AT crest can be competitive, so plan around the short booking window.
Top Great Smoky Mountains National Park entry points
The most in-demand entry points, ranked by how fast each one books up on recreation.gov.
- Campsite 19 (Upper Henderson) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Campsite 41 (Caldwell Fork) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Campsite 42 (Spruce Mountain) (Backpacker) - Very high demand
- Campsite 52 (Newton Bald) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Campsite 91 (Upper Lost Cove) (Backpacker) - Very high demand
- Mount LeConte (Backpacker) - Very high demand - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Icewater Spring (Backpacker) - Very high demand - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Campsite 90 (Lost Cove) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Campsite 87 (Jerry Hollow) (Backpacker) - Boats Only - Very high demand
- Campsite 74 (Lower Forney) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Campsite 64 (Mill Creek) (Backpacker Stock) - Very high demand
- Double Spring Gap (Backpacker) - Very high demand
Popular trails
- Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Mt. Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Mount Cammerer via Low Gap Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Appalachian Trail: Kuwohi to Cades Cove - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Russell Field Trail to Mollies Ridge Shelter - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Kephart Prong Trail, Charlies Bunion, and Mount LeConte - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Silers Bald and Forney Creek Loop Trail - 4.2 on AllTrails
Great Smoky Mountains National Park permit guide · Book on recreation.gov