East Tennessee’s greatest connection to the rest of the world might not be the interstate highway system passing through it nor the aircraft that take off and land every day, as important as those are.
Instead, it is likely a famous hiking path that stretches about 2,180 miles from Georgia to Maine and has attracted visitors from all over the world.
The Appalachian Trail turned 75 on Aug. 14, celebrated by the staff and volunteers at the trail’s headquarters in Harper’s Ferry, W.Va., taking an entirely appropriate short birthday hike.
Only 284 miles of the trail go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest — two East Tennessee natural landmarks. Nevertheless, because of those national treasures, East Tennesseans easily claim that part of the trail as a third national treasure in our region.
From KnoxNews.com: https://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/aug/20/editorial-happy-trails-the-appalachian-trail-75/