Geocaching in the Smoky Mountains

The massive concave rock wall curves 80 feet overhead at 5,000 ft elevation. The 4.4-mile roundtrip hike passes through Arch Rock and Inspiration Point - one of the park's most spectacular trails. Created by MountainMudbug.

The highest point in the Smoky Mountains at 6,643 feet. A short but steep paved walk to the iconic observation tower with 360-degree panoramic views. Learn about the geological forces that built these ancient mountains. Created by rainbowtree.

Explore the historic Elkmont district - once a thriving logging town, then a summer resort community. Abandoned cottages and historic structures add atmosphere. Also famous as the park's synchronous firefly viewing site in late May/early June. Created by Murrcat.

A second virtual cache in the Elkmont area focused on the historic cabin structures themselves. Walk among the preserved resort-era buildings and learn about the families who once summered in these Smoky Mountain retreats. Created by DavidMac.

Educational geology cache at the Tennessee/North Carolina border (5,046 ft). Study the 500-million-year-old Anakeesta Formation - metasiltstone and slate visible in road cuts at the gap. The Rockefeller Memorial marks where FDR dedicated the park in 1940. Created by GR8CACHERS.

Discover the metamorphosed sedimentary rocks that form the backbone of the Smoky Mountains. This educational EarthCache covers igneous rock types found across Sevier and Union Counties and the dominant rock formations visible throughout the park. Created by rainbowtree.

Learn how the Great Smoky Mountains formed 500-600 million years ago on an ancient ocean floor and were pushed westward by the force of colliding continents. A geology lesson written into the landscape itself. Created by Northstar and Gemini.

One of the earliest virtual caches in the Tennessee Smokies. A classic find that has been drawing geocachers to the area for over two decades. Simple difficulty makes it accessible to beginners - a relaxed introduction to the virtual cache format.

One of the oldest virtual caches in Tennessee, created by yippeekyaa. With an extraordinarily low GC number, this is a piece of geocaching history. The name evokes the peaceful mountain setting - a spot where you could sit for hours with a good book and mountain views.

Gatlinburg's very first geocache and one of the most-found caches in the entire United States. A regular-sized container hidden in a small park right in the heart of downtown. An absolute pilgrimage site for geocachers - if you log one cache in the Smokies, make it this one. Created by MountainMudbug & TigerShark.

A cache wrapped in a Great Smoky Mountain historical tale. The story of the Lost Shults Mine adds mystery and local lore to your search - part treasure hunt, part history lesson. One of the longer-running active caches in the Gatlinburg area. Created by Shaconage.

Located in Mills Park, this cache doubles as a travel bug hotel - drop off or pick up trackable items that journey from geocacher to geocacher across the country. A great stop for families and a fun introduction to the travel bug game. Created by Groundsquirrel & Chunky Chipmunk.

Hidden with a view of the famous Old Mill in Pigeon Forge - the historic water-powered grist mill built in 1830 that's become one of the most photographed landmarks in the Smokies. A scenic, easy find that pairs perfectly with a meal at the Old Mill Restaurant. Created by MountainMudbug & TigerShark.

A welcoming introduction to geocaching at the Townsend entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Perfect for beginners or anyone making their first stop on the quiet side of the Smokies. Note: the cache is outside the park boundary, so physical containers are allowed here. Created by sgtlee505.

Believed to be the oldest surviving geocache in the state of Tennessee. Originally placed by fluffy&itchy and now maintained by Two Old Crows, this cache is a piece of geocaching history and a bucket-list find for anyone chasing heritage caches. Worth the drive from your cabin.

With the ultra-low GC code of GC666, this is one of the earliest geocaches placed anywhere in East Tennessee. Created by Dan, it's a relic from the very dawn of geocaching - when the hobby was brand new and the community was just a handful of early adopters. A true collector's find.

Part of the nationwide Cache Across America series - one cache representing each state. Tennessee's entry is a must-find for collectors working toward the full 50-state set. Created by salpal, it's a landmark cache that gives you bragging rights for the Volunteer State.

A warm Southern welcome for geocachers entering the state. Originally created by AbbysGrammy and now maintained by Southpaw, this friendly cache embodies Tennessee hospitality. A natural first-find for out-of-state visitors arriving for their Smoky Mountains vacation.

Part of the TN Lab Art series - 30 Adventure Labs with 150 total lab caches across Tennessee. This chapter focuses on the Great Smoky Mountains, guiding you through interactive location-based challenges with the free Adventure Lab app. No physical containers to find - just answer questions at each waypoint.

Celebrate the park's 1,500+ species of flowering plants - more than any other North American national park. This lab guides you through wildflower identification at key locations, with blooms found year-round from late-winter hepaticas to late-fall asters. Best in spring during the wildflower pilgrimage (mid-April).