The drama tells the story of the Cherokee nation beginning with the arrival of Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in 1540. It culminates in 1838 when the Cherokee were  forcibly removed from their lands by the U.S. Government in the infamous event known as The Trail of Tears. Over 4,000 Cherokees died of hunger, disease and exposure to the elements on the forced march to Oklahoma.  Several Cherokee historic figures are featured in the play, including Sequoyah, Junaluska, and William Holland Thomas (the first and only white chief of the Cherokee).

Unto These Hills was originally written by Kermit Hunter, then a student at the University of North Carolina. The script has since undergone a couple of re-writes to address some historical inaccuracies along with some other issues.

Unto These Hills alumni include renowned actor Morgan Freeman as well as Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville fame.

The show is held each summer at the 2,800 seat open-air Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee. The 2012 show dates for Unto These Hills will be June 1 – August 18 with shows starting nightly at 7:30. Click here to purchase tickets.

>> Unto These Hill Official Site

For those wishing to remain in the frontcountry there are 10 campgrounds in the park all of which provide cold running water, flush toilets, grills and tables. The campgrounds at Cades Cove and Smokemont remain open year round but most of the others close by the first of November and re-open in early Spring.

The campsites at Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont may be reserved online at the Recreation.gov website or by phone at (877) 444-6777. All of the remaining campsites in the park are first-come, first-served. For more information on frontcountry camping visit the Great Smokies official site.

Backcountry camping in the Smoky Mountains requires a free permit that is only available from one of the following locations. Permits cannot be obtained online.

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center
• Sugarlands Visitor Center
• Twentymile Ranger Station
• Fontana Marina
• Fontana Dam Visitor Center
• Deep Creek Campground Office
• Smokemont Campground Office
• Cataloochee Valley near campground
• Big Creek Ranger Station
• Cosby Campground Office
• Greenbrier Ranger Station
• Elkmont Campground Office
• Tremont Environmental Center
• Cades Cove Campground Office
• Abrams Creek Ranger Station.

You are also required to camp only at designated campsites or shelters. All shelters and several campsites require advance registrations. The backcountry campsites that require reservations are: 9, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21,  23, 24, 29, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 50, 55, 57, 60, 61, 71, 83, 84, 85, 86, 90, 113. To view a trail map showing the location of all shleters and campsites in the backcountry click here.

To make reservations call the Backcountry Reservation Office at (865) 436-1231. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily. Reservations may be made up to one month in advance of the first day of your trip and they can only be obtained by phone. They cannot be made online.

For more information on backcountry camping in the Great Smoky Mountains click here.

Traffic is again flowing in and out of the Park at regular speeds and in both lanes. There is no longer a signal controlling traffic. There are no more road-narrowing barriers.

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Smokies Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said park officials are looking at new ways to draw visitors. The 500,000-acre forested park on the Tennessee-North Carolina state line drew 9,008,831 visitors last year, down a half-million from 2010.

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The Mountain Press

With almost everyone out of school and off work for a few days, Thanksgiving weekend seemed to be the perfect time to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding areas.

Though temperatures were only in the mid-30s on Thursday morning, the parking lots of Sugarlands Visitor Center were full of nature lovers eager to spend a relaxing day on the trails.