Historically the homeland of the Cherokee peoples, the Great Smoky Mountains soon became a precious commodity after the first European settlers arrived in the region. With their landscapes rich in timber, many of those living among the Smokies towards the end of the 19th century began advocating for the land to be preserved as more and more trees fell. By 1934, logging companies had decimated around 80% of the forest in the Smoky Mountains.

America's most underrated national parks you simply have to visit

Secrets of the Great Smoky Mountains, America's most visited national park