National Parks and National Forests both represent publicly owned lands but they have very different uses, management plans and levels of protection of wild places.
In our area, we have two national parks around which folks can plan a Carolina mountain vacation -- the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway -- easy to reach from either Bryson City NC cabin rentals or Cherokee NC cabin rentals! We also have the gorgeous Nantahala National Forest.
National Parks are managed by the Department of the Interior to be protected and preserved in wild state for current and future generations. Visitors must leave everything they find, and take away everything they bring (i.e. do not pick flowers, collect mushrooms, rocks...or leave orange peels, eggshells, apple cores...). National parks are patrolled by Park Rangers and offer many visitor amenities at designated locations, such as restrooms and maybe even lodging and restaurants. Dogs are usually not allowed off lead at camping or picnic areas or on any hiking trails in National Parks.
National Forests, such as Nantahala National Forest, are managed by the Department of Agriculture and are used not only for recreation, but for logging, mining, and hunting. They are less restrictive of activities; more areas are open for camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, All-Terrain-Vehicle use, etc. National Forests are managed by very small staffs; expect to be completely self-reliant while visiting as amenities are few and very basic. Dogs are usually allowed.
It's best to check with the local Park Service and Forest Service offices near where you've booked your Smoky Mountain vacation packages.
In our area, we have two national parks around which folks can plan a Carolina mountain vacation -- the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway -- easy to reach from either Bryson City NC cabin rentals or Cherokee NC cabin rentals! We also have the gorgeous Nantahala National Forest.
National Parks are managed by the Department of the Interior to be protected and preserved in wild state for current and future generations. Visitors must leave everything they find, and take away everything they bring (i.e. do not pick flowers, collect mushrooms, rocks...or leave orange peels, eggshells, apple cores...). National parks are patrolled by Park Rangers and offer many visitor amenities at designated locations, such as restrooms and maybe even lodging and restaurants. Dogs are usually not allowed off lead at camping or picnic areas or on any hiking trails in National Parks. National Forests, such as Nantahala National Forest, are managed by the Department of Agriculture and are used not only for recreation, but for logging, mining, and hunting. They are less restrictive of activities; more areas are open for camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, All-Terrain-Vehicle use, etc. National Forests are managed by very small staffs; expect to be completely self-reliant while visiting as amenities are few and very basic. Dogs are usually allowed. It's best to check with the local Park Service and Forest Service offices near where you've booked your Smoky Mountain vacation packages.
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