Avid fans of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will agree that the remote treasures found deep in the Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum in the park are a must-see with any first or return trip to the country’s most visited national park. Attendance at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park completely dwarfs that of other national parks by almost four times each year. In 2020, park attendance exceeded 12 million visitors, compared to the second most visited national park in the U.S., Yellowstone at 3.8 million visitors.
One of the most loved sites within the park is the Oconaluftee Valley, where you'll find a visitor center as well as the Mountain Farm Museum, which is located in the meadow next to the visitor center. The Oconaluftee Mountain Museum is a popular spot so make sure you arrive early if you plan to find a parking spot.
In the 1950s, the park service began gathering up buildings within the park that were built in the late 1800s. They moved them to this spot in the Oconaluftee Valley in order to create an example of farm life in the period. Oconaluftee Valley, NC is the unofficial name but is located in the town of Cherokee and is accepted as the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains.
At the visitor center, is where we have seen elk countless times. We have only been through the area one time and didn't see them grazing out in the fields.
We often just park the car and watch them at a distance as they trout through the grass and wander around with their herd. We took off on the Ocnoluftee River Trail and there were so many elk that we were very surprised to see one right on the other side of the fence we were walking by. This towering elk stood up and we were only about five feet from her!
The trail itself is a really pretty walk through the woods and following the river. It was a peaceful place with plenty of spots to just stop and enjoy the sound of the flowing water. The hike will lead you right into downtown Cherokee and we did the whole thing and back again to the visitor center.
My whole family enjoyed the trail and was a great little hike for little kids. There is barely any elevation gain which makes it a pretty accessible trail for most people too.
This is also only one of two trails that will allow dogs to hike on the path. The other spot is the Gatlinburg Trail on the Tennessee side. So if you have your pup with you like we did then it's a great place to take them and let them stretch out their little paws.
Have you ever been to the Oconaluftee Mountain Farm Museum before? Let us know how many elk you have seen or your favorite part. Learn more with a visit to the National Park Service website. If you are interested in our journey then we made a little Adventuring in the Moment video so make sure you check it out (You will even get to see the elk really close!):
While hiking around the Smokies make sure you have the AllTrails+ app, this is a must-have tool for us on every hike.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
The Great Smoky Mountains In North Carolina
Chris Dodge|May 01, 2024
What are some of the best places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina?
Here are some of my favorite spots in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina:
