Newfound Gap
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This mountain pass located at 5,048 feet is one of the Smokies’ greatest attractions. Named because it was not discovered until the 1850s, Newfound Gap is the lowest pass over the mountains. Today’s visitors enjoy its refreshing cool air, its views, and the fact that you can straddle the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina. It was here, on September 2, 1940, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
There is a large parking lot here, with the best views looking southward into the Oconaluftee River Valley in North Carolina. The Appalachian Trail, which travels the ridge of the mountains through the Smokies, crosses the road here at Newfound Gap. You can hike along the AT in either direction for as long as you like.
© Susanna Henighan Potter from Moon Tennessee, 5th Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.