Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, where ridge upon ridge of forest covers ancient mountains renowned worldwide for their diversity of plant and animal life, their beauty, and the quality of their remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture. America’s most visited national park, it ranges in elevation from approximately 875 feet to 6,643 feet, and its topography can drastically affect local weather, with temperatures varying 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top and clear skies at lower elevations not guaranteeing equally pleasant weather higher up.