There are so many things to do in the National Park that are free here in the Smokies. The mountains here are so beautiful, and the Park is so serene and peaceful, that you’ll want to leave your phone, job, and stressful day to day life and just live the simple life in the Noah Bud Ogle cabin. Literally.

One of the many ways to enjoy our beautiful Park is fishing. It’s free, and all you need is a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. See further below in this post for more information on how to obtain one.

The Park has about 2,900 miles of streams. It’s responsible for one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern United States, and about 20% of them are large enough to support trout population.

Fishing in the Park is permitted year-round, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The park allows fishing in all streams. Like I said earlier, to be able to enjoy fishing in the park, you must have a fishing license or permit from Tennessee or North Carolina. Licenses and permits aren’t available in the park, so be sure you have your’s before coming in the park. You can purchase them online or in store in nearby towns. Special permits are required for fishing in Gatlinburg and Cherokee.