Great Smoky Mountains National Park--Cataloochee Valley in the words of its people

Rich in cultural heritage, Cataloochee is an isolated valley that was home to the largest and most prosperous settlement in the area that became the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many of the early structures still remain—a school, churches, a barn, and several homes. Elk that were released in 2001 and other wildlife can often be seen in the fields of the valley.

Cataloochee Valley is located 65 miles from Gatlinburg and 39 miles from Cherokee, amidst very rugged mountains. It's a drive that can be a little daunting since part of it is over graveled road. But, it is a lovely place to see and human history surrounds visitors as they marvel at the natural beauty and wildlife of the Smokies. Some of the stories of the people of the Smoky Mountains, and Cataloochee, have been preserved in oral histories.