The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country. With more than 12 million visitors in 2020 alone, its unsurpassed natural beauty continues to draw in larger and larger crowds of tourists.

But with these record-breaking crowds comes the potential for damage and destruction to the ecosystem. Case in point: piles of trash scattered throughout the park, overflowing parking lots, roadside soil erosion, the trampling of vegetation, and traffic interrupting wildlife crossings.

The park’s ancient mountains are a critical sanctuary for protected animals, including 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 native fish species, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians. Its diverse environment provides an ideal habitat for over 1,600 species of flowering plants, including 100 native tree species and over 100 native shrub species. It’s also home to three federally listed threatened and endangered plant species.

In order to ensure that the park stays in its natural and pristine condition, we must learn to travel sustainably. Enter: Eco-tourism.

What is Eco-Tourism?

Eco-tourism is defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples.”

Simply put, eco-tourism is making sure that you travel responsibly through natural areas in a way that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local community. It’s being aware of your impact on the environment and making an effort to cause as little damage as possible.

Basically, it’s the rule your grandmother taught you – leave things better than how you found them. This attitude leads to a greater appreciation for the place you’re visiting and enriches your visit, making it much more meaningful.

Why is Eco-tourism Important for the Smoky Mountains?

The main goal of eco-tourism in the Smokies is to offer visitors greater insight into their impact on the environment and foster a deeper appreciation for the stunning natural beauty of the area.

When tourists leave behind a piece of litter, for example, it can set off a chain of events that will have a massive impact on the environment. Trash attracts disease-carrying animals who can then spread illness. It can also be fodder for wildfires if someone accidentally lights a spark. It can also harm animals who may get tangled in plastic bags or destroy fish who are exposed to chemicals leached into the streams.

Congested roadways prevent animals, like the black bear and elk, from traveling through their natural wildlife crossings. The number of car accidents that kill wild animals in the park continues to rise each year.

More traffic also means more air pollution, increasing the number of pollutants in the air. Both cars and foot traffic can contribute to vegetation trampling that damages important plant ecosystems, or soil erosion that leads to increased sedimentation in rivers.

If we want to continue enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains, we need to consider how to make our trips as environmentally friendly as possible. So, how do we do that?

Eco-tourism Tips for Visiting the Smoky Mountains

Utilize Shuttle Services

Before you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, see if the area you’re going to offers transportation. This lets you avoid sitting in congested traffic, which gives you more time to enjoy the park. But it also reduces the amount of harmful pollutants released into the air.

Use Reusable Water Bottles

Plastic water bottles account for 20% of trash in national parks, so something as small as refilling your reusable water bottle can make a huge difference.

Stay on Marked Hiking Trails

With over 850 miles of trails to explore, hiking is one of the most popular activities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you stay on the designated trail, you’ll be doing your part to reduce damage to vegetation and protect the natural habitats of birds and other wildlife.

Use Air Dryers in Restrooms

Paper towels contribute to the overflowing trash in the park. Using the air dryer helps to reduce the amount of waste and maintain cleanliness in the restrooms.

The 3R’s of Waste Management

In making a conscious effort to leave no trace and reduce the amount of waste you leave behind, remember the 3R’s. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. A reusable tote or container is ideal, but if you don’t have one, then look for trash cans or marked recycling bins around the park for your trash.

If you’re planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year, consider how your visit will impact the environment. Something as simple as picking up your trash or drinking from a reusable water bottle can go a long way in keeping the park beautiful for you today and for future generations to enjoy.