The Little Cataloochee Church in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

One of my favorite places the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the Little Cataloochee Baptist Church. It is situated on a serene ridge, and features the frame church that was erected in 1889 and the accompanying churchyard  which is the final resting place of many former residents of the area.

And while it is well worth seeing on your next visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in order to get there, you'll have to exert a little effort.

It takes some tricky driving along sometimes perilous miles of narrow gravel roads to get to the almost invisible trailhead. And from there it is a two mile hike along a broad, maintained and slightly ascending trail to the church! The Great Smoky Mountains National park differs from other National Parks which were created on land already owned by the government. People lived, worked, had babies, farmed, went to church, died and were interred in the Smokies.

The park was established by purchasing or condemning property already owned by thousands of title holders. As a result, there are six churches still within park boundaries, and countless burial grounds and cemeteries punctuated throughout. It's a great place for both lovers of natural beauty and aficionados of history!

The next time you are in the Waynesville area of North Carolina or the Cosby area of Tennessee, plan a short hike to the Little Cataloochee Church. You won't be disappointed.

Photos Courtesy of Richard Weisser and Smokyphotos.com

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[ Bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ The Elk of Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ The John Oliver Cabin in Cades Coove Great Smoky Mountains National Parl ] [ The Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National park ] [ The Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ] [ The Little Cataloochee Church in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ]

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