The Sugarlands is a valley in Tennessee within the north-central Great Smoky Mountains, located in the southeastern United States. Formerly home to a string of small Appalachian communities, the valley is now the location of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park headquarters and the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Lying just south of Gatlinburg, the Sugarlands is one of the park's most popular access points.
The Sugarlands, looking northwest from Bull Head.
The West Fork of the Little Pigeon River in the Sugarlands.
John Ownby Cabin, built in 1860
Cole Cemetery, with a Union supporter buried near a Confederate soldier
The Sugarland Mountain Trail is an American hiking trail, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Sevier County, Tennessee. The trail traverses Sugarland Mountain, a massive ridge running perpendicular to the main crest of the Smokies and effectively dividing the park's north-central section from its northwestern section. Sugarland Mountain is flanked by the deep upper valleys of two of the park's major watersheds— the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River and Little River. The trail passes through several forest types, including deciduous forest at lower elevations, heaths ("hells") along the mountain's backbone formations, and a stand of Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest in the upper elevations. Occasional breaks in the foliage allow for views of Mount Le Conte and Sevier County to the east and Blanket Mountain and the ridges above Elkmont to the west.
Sugarland Mountain Trailhead at Fighting Creek Gap
Looking west from an overlook appx. 6 miles from the trailhead
The trail crossing a backbone 9-10 miles from the trailhead. The snow on the left will eventually end up in Little River, 2000 feet below. The snow on the right will end up in the Little Pigeon River.