2026 Wholesale Catalog
We are a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the public’s understanding and appreciation of the Smokies. Since 1953, Smokies Life has provided more than $53 million in aid to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from sales of Smokies Life merchandise, Park Keeper memberships, and Lookout League partnerships. Our donations benefit the educational, historical, and scientific programs of the park.
Smokies Life donations help: • Create new exhibits for park historic areas •S ponsor historical demonstrations such as the operation of Cable and Mingus mills, sorghum-making, and blacksmithing •P roduce and distribute free educational and informational publications like the Smokies Guide park newspaper, campground maps, and fishing regulations •S upport Junior Ranger programs •S upport outdoor education for youth through Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
• Operate 11 visitor contact stations in and around the park • Fund a long-running water quality monitoring program at 43 sites across six watersheds in the park • Provide staff and equipment for the park archives, library, and artifact collection • Support Parks as Classrooms programs for area youth • Provide funding for seasonal rangers and interns who lead interpretive and education programs for visitors and manage park wildlife
Supporting Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 1953
SmokiesLife.org • 865.221.1129 • Russell@SmokiesLife.org 2
ORDERING INFORMATION Wholesale prices for retailers 1-4 items: 20% discount 10-25 items: 41% discount 5-9 items: 40% discount 26+ items: 42% discount Returns Books must be in resalable condition. Returns accepted for three months from date of invoice. Full credit with invoice number, dates, titles, and quantities. No calendars may be returned after September. Shipping Shipping and handling charged to purchaser. Charges based on weight. Orders shipped UPS. Please provide exact street address. Terms: Net due 30 days. General Prices and other information are subject to change without notice.
Phone or email orders to: Phone 865.221.1129 Russell@SmokiesLife.org
Businesses can become Lookout League partners! Lookout League partners receive listings on our website, complimentary copies of publications like Smokies Life Journal and Smokies Guide, great discounts, and more. Call Business Outreach Specialist Jane Maurer at 865.436.7318, ext. 229 or visit SmokiesLife.org for more details.
SmokiesLife.org • 865.221.1129 • Russell@SmokiesLife.org 3
HIKING LIFE 100 FAVORITE TRAILS OF THE SMOKIES AND THE CAROLINA BLUE RIDGE Smokies Life and Carolina Mountain Club present the 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge. Contains numbered trail locations, trail lengths, and elevation gains, as well as detailed hike directions. Printed in full color on waterproof paper. 24" x 36", 4" x 8" folded Retail $14.99 Order #450003
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TRAIL MAP This official park map shows all maintained trails, mileages, and backcountry campsites, plus permit information. Includes park regulations and hiking and horseback riding information. Full color. GSM paper trail map Retail $1.00 Order #450002 GSM waterproof trail map Retail $2.95 Order #450001
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DAY HIKES OF THE SMOKIES day hikes of the smokies
$12.99
The ultimate pocket-sized hiking guide to the Smokies! Carson Brewer’s classic Day Hikes of the Smokies now includes the most accurate trail mileages for 34 day hikes, plus photographs of destinations. You just THIS POCKET GUIDE coversstyle 45 of the best day hikes in Great Smoky can’t beat Brewer’s folksy writing and lifetime Mountains National Park. Included are large-scale maps, elevation profile charts, photos, and experience on his beloved parkshaded-relief trails. Each description detailed information on trailheads, points of interest, flora and fauna, cultural history, and more. All hikes are organized by difficulty: easier, charts. includes shaded relief maps and elevation profile moderate, and strenuous. Revised in 2026. Published by Smokies Life, a nonprofit organization
DAY HIKES O F
authorized by Congress to assist the national park with its educational, historical, and scientific programs.
brewer and friends
Carson Brewer. ISBN 978-0-937207-28-4 (softcover) All purchases benefit the park. 204 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $12.99 Order #400630 #400630
HIKING TRAILS OF THE SMOKIES “Be sure to take this book with you when you go hiking…” ~Southern Living Magazine This classic and coveted trail guide covers all 150 official trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with easy-to-read narratives and invaluable profile charts that show mileage, elevation change, and major stream crossings at a glance. Includes information on all backcountry campsites, shelters, regulations, and permit/ reservation information. Includes the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and handy pocket in the back cover to hold the park map. Printed on special lightweight paper, optimal for long-distant hikers. Weighs only 11 ounces. ISBN 978-0-937207-15-2 (softcover) 584 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $24.99 Order #400161
SMOKIES HIKING LOG BOOK Keep track of your hikes with this great organizational tool. Hike the Smokies booklet Retail $1.00 Order #490999
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T H E
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EXPLORING LIFE
PARK MAP/GUIDES These park folders feature full-color maps that highlight roads and trails of interest. The reverse sides offer color photos, charts, detailed maps, safety information, and more. • Auto Touring #490005 • Wildflowers #490012 • Trees and Forests #490009 • Waterfalls #490010 • Day Hikes #490006 • Mountain Geology #490007 Retail $1.00 each
SMOKIES STARTER KIT Your exploration of the Great Smoky Mountains begins with this kit. Includes an overall map of the park, bear safety guidelines, Cades Cove and Kuwohi tour booklets plus Newfound Gap Road and Roaring Fork auto tour booklets. Retail $6.00 Order #100179
SELF-GUIDING TOUR BOOKLETS Explore some of the park’s most interesting drives and destinations with these handy booklets as your guides. Each booklet describes points of interest and features historical photographs and illustrations that show what life was like a century ago or add historical context. • Cades Cove #490025 Retail $1.25 • Cataloochee #490027 Retail $1.25 • Mountain Farm Museum #490036 Retail $1.00 • Roaring Fork #490037 Retail $1.25 • Newfound Gap Road #490034 Retail $1.25 • Kuwohi #490103 Retail $1.25
SCAVENGER HIKE ADVENTURES AND MOUNTAIN JOURNAL Fun for the whole family, this hiking guide turns 14 park trails into exciting and educational scavenger hunts that can be big fun for both kids and adults. As a scavenger hiker, you look for things like 13 rock steps, bear tracks in concrete, remains of a Model T, and an ancient Native American path. Kat and John LaFevre, Illustrations by Lisa Horstman ISBN 978-0-937207-72-7 (spiral-bound softcover) 154 pages, 6 x 8½" Retail $17.95 Order #400921
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FLORA AND FAUNA LIFE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLACK BEARS How large are park bears? How many live here? When are bears most active? Can bears swim? How fast are they? What do I do when I encounter one on the trail? You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more in this engaging FAQ book. Includes BearWise® tips. Published by Smokies Life in cooperation with the National Park Service. Courtney Lix. ISBN 978-0-937207-63-5 (softcover) 64 pages, 8½" x 11" Retail $13.99 Order #400852
SMOKY MOUNTAIN ELK: RETURN OF THE NATIVE You’ll love the gorgeous photographs and informative text in this book featuring one of the most majestic creatures in the national park. The author reveals the amazing story of how elk were reintroduced to the Smokies, how they survive here, their dramatic courtship rituals, and how calves and cows struggle to elude predators. Rose Houk. ISBN 978-0-937207-73-4 (softcover) 72 pages, 11" x 10" Retail $11.95 Order #400922
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS WILDFLOWERS: WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND THEM This spiral-bound book makes a great field companion for outdoor adventures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Packed with color photographs, the guide features descriptions of more than 200 flowering species and expert advice on where to find them. Robert Hutson, William Hutson, and Aaron Sharp ISBN 978-0-964341-73-9 (spiral-bound softcover) 144 pages, 5½" x 8½" Retail $14.95 Order #400149
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BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE SMOKIES The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Great Purple Hairstreak, and Diana Fritillary butterflies and the Hummingbird Clearwing, Cecropia, and Giant Leopard moths are just a few of the species included in this beautiful field guide to butterflies and moths in the national park. Written by Liz Domingue and Charles R. Smith, the book showcases 73 species of butterflies and 27 species of moths for a total of 100 species commonly found in the Smokies. Charles R. Smith and Elizabeth Domingue ISBN 978-0-937207-93-2 (softcover) 306 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $13.95 Order #400847
MAMMALS OF THE SMOKIES Revised in 2025, this fascinating and beautiful guide to the most popular and famous critters in the park covers all your favorites and more. Each account includes photos of animals, elusive or otherwise. The 241-page guide is packed with information about bear, elk, deer, flying squirrels, chipmunks, fox, bobcat, and even buffalo, to name a few. Edward Pivorun, Michael Harvey, Frank T. van Manen, Michael Pelton, Joseph Clark, Kim Delozier, and Bill Stiver ISBN 978-1-7370351-1-4 (softcover) 244 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $16.95 Order #400805
FISHES OF THE SMOKIES The newest addition to a popular series of pocket-sized park field guides, Fishes of the Smokies describes dozens of species in striking detail, presenting brilliant photography alongside full-page profiles with key information about the species’ habitat, range, and diet. Debut author Grant Fisher applies his years of research and experience as an employee of the park service to present the most comprehensive field guide available to date devoted to the astounding aquatic biodiversity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Grant Fisher ISBN 978-0-937207-02-4 (softcover) 156 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $14.95 Order #401054
WATERFALLS OF THE SMOKIES A totally revised and greatly expanded full-color guide to more than 40 waterfalls in the Smokies. Includes maps, photographs, and detailed directions to each waterfall, including elevation and difficulty of each hike. Handy pocket size with rounded corners and long-lasting sewn binding. Hal Hubbs, Charles Maynard, and David Morris ISBN 978-0-937207-51-2 (softcover) 206 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $14.95 Order #400266 SmokiesLife.org • 865.221.1129 • Russell@SmokiesLife.org 9
FLORA AND FAUNA LIFE FERNS OF THE SMOKIES This handy, pocket-sized guide covers every fern and fern ally in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each species gets its own page with at least one color photo and secondary illustration or close-up image. Text by Dr. Murray Evans, former University of Tennessee professor and one of the world’s leading authorities on ferns. Murray Evans. ISBN 978-0-937207-45-1 (softcover) 100 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $8.95 Order #400725
TREES OF THE SMOKIES “This is a perfect book for budding botanists to tuck into a backpack when headed for the slopes of the Smokies.” ~Backpacker Magazine A delightful, pocket-sized field guide revised in 2023 of trees of the Smokies. Features 80 color photographs of the most common species, plus more than 100 line drawings. Covers virgin forests, record trees, fall colors, blooming times, and significance. Steve Kemp. ISBN 978-0-937207-99-4 (softcover) 120 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $11.95 Order #400253
WILDFLOWERS OF THE SMOKIES This durable, pocket-sized field guide is packed with color photographs of the Smokies’ most beautiful wildflowers. Written by Dr. Peter White, a premier botanist and one of the leading authorities on the flowering plants of the Great Smoky Mountains. Includes sections on suggested walks, hikes, and drives in the park, wildflower conservation issues, rare park plants, wildflower value and diversity, and how to identify wildflowers. Peter White. ISBN 978-0-937207-20-8 (softcover) 240 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $14.95 Order #400282
BIRDS OF THE SMOKIES This gem, revised in 2023, includes 100 extraordinary color photographs. The text reflects more than 25 years of birding experience in the Smokies with sections on where to find birds, suggested birding trips in the park, bird songs, and how to observe the 12 most sought-after species in the Smokies. Includes a complete checklist. Fits pocket or pack. Fred J. Alsop III. ISBN 978-0-937207-17-8 (softcover) 167 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $14.95 Order #400043 reptiles and amphibians of the smokies
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE SMOKIES REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS O F
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Revised in 2025, this popular series of pocket-sized field guides presents full-page species profiles and detailed images to help identify the diverse species of the Great Smoky Mountains. The third edition, part of our award-winning series, is the perfect classic trailside companion, with new species accounts and the latest research.
tilley and huheey
Stephen G. Tilley and James E. Huheey. ISBN 978-1-7370351-5-2 (softcover) 147 pages, 4½” x 6” Retail $14.95 Order #400585 SmokiesLife.org • 865.221.1129 • Russell@SmokiesLife.org 10
HISTORIC LIFE INTO THE MIST: TALES OF DEATH AND DISASTER, MISHAPS AND MISDEEDS, MISFORTUNE AND MAYHEM IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, VOL. 1 These beautiful, mist-shrouded mountains can, and often do, turn deadly. Read about men and women in extreme situations, struggling to survive against brutal and often deadly adversity. Through the book’s 13 chapters, readers will share a hiker’s lonely death from hypothermia, a massive and successful rescue operation by park rangers, the first fatal bear mauling in park history, killers at large in the park, lightning strikes on the Appalachian Trail, and other true and harrowing incidents. Includes a comprehensive appendix of all park deaths since 1931. David Brill. ISBN 978-0-937207-87-1 (softcover) 280 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $22.99 Order #400981
CORN FROM A JAR: MOONSHINING IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS In the Great Smoky Mountains, moonshine-making was a world unto itself. On one hand, moonshining was about dynamite-toting lookouts, fast cars, snitching, quick cash, hidden stills, “revenuers,” and deadly gunplay. On the other, it was a story of earnest farm families living in remote mountain valleys and practicing their traditional craft of moonshining so they could buy shoes for their children. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this book is the sudden resurgence of making moonshine in the Southern mountains today. Learn about the traditions, foibles, and dangers of mountain “blockading” from the early 19th century to tomorrow. Daniel S. Pierce. ISBN 978-0-937207-74-1 (softcover) 112 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $9.95 (softcover) Order #400179 Retail $14.95 (hardcover) \Order #400929
NO PLACE FOR THE WEARY KIND: WOMEN OF THE SMOKIES From legendary hiker Margaret Stevenson to famed singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, what do these 19 remarkable Smoky Mountain women have in common? Tenacity. Perseverance. And an ironwood-like toughness in the face of adversity. Besides these qualities, all had (or have) a deep love for the Great Smoky Mountains. Featured women include Karen Wade, Gracie McNichol, Wilma Dykeman, Hattie O. McGiffin, and Mary E. Caldwell. Courtney Lix. ISBN 978-0-937207-82-6 (softcover) 294 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $15.95 Order #400967
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HISTORIC LIFE THE CIVIL WAR IN THE SMOKIES Never were the bodies and souls of mountain families more severely tried than during the Civil War. Both Confederate and Union armies constantly foraged food and supplies from farms, bushwhackers looted and robbed at will, and divided loyalties split neighbors, churches, friends, and families. This book by the acclaimed winner of the Peter Seaborg Award for Best Nonfiction Book on the Civil War is by far the most dramatic we’ve ever published. Noel C. Fisher. ISBN 978-0-937207-46-8 (softcover) 190 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $9.95 Order #400735
HISTORY HIKES OF THE SMOKIES For hikers who love history, this book is for you! It features in-depth narratives of the 20 most culturally rich trails in the Smokies, including Little Cataloochee, Old Sugarlands, Bone Valley, Old Settlers, Boogerman, Cooper Road, and more. Learn the stories behind the cabins, barns, outbuildings, chimneys, stone walls, and other features so often encountered on Smoky Mountain trails. Includes detailed trail maps, trail profile charts, and lots of historical photos. Michal Strutin. ISBN 978-0-937207-40-6 (softcover) 352 pages, 4½" x 6" Retail $12.95 Order #400650
PICTURES FOR A PARK: HOW PHOTOGRAPHERS HELPED SAVE THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS When advocates for preserving the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park needed support for their battle, they turned to photographers like Jim Thompson and George Masa for help. Their gorgeous landscape photographs helped convince officials that the Smokies rivaled any scenery in the West and were worthy of national park status. This incredible large-format book showcases these images—mountain views, mountain people, verdant forests—all artistically captured by Carlos Campbell, Doris Ulman, Ansel Adams, George Grant, and many others. Published by Smokies Life. Rose Houk. ISBN 978-0-937207-83-3 (softcover) 96 pages, 9½" x 11" Retail $20.95 Order #400968
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GEORGE MASA: A LIFE REIMAGINED Some 90 years after his death, an unassuming Japanese immigrant is lauded by President Obama for reminding us “what citizenship is all about.” Friendly, ambitious—yet private—George Masa was dedicated to shaping the Smokies in the late 1920s and early 1930s with his tenacity and artistry. From Cornell University librarian Janet McCue and documentary filmmaker Paul Bonesteel comes a multiple award-winning biography of this enigmatic photographer. Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel ISBN 978-1-7370351-3-8 (softcover) 294 pages, with a 32-page photo insert Retail $28.95 Order #401067
BACK OF BEYOND: A HORACE KEPHART BIOGRAPHY THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD WINNER An icon of the Southern Appalachian region known for books such as Camping and Woodcraft and Our Southern Highlanders, Horace Kephart was instrumental in efforts to create a national park in the Smokies and to establish the Appalachian Trail through North Carolina and Tennessee. Read the behind-thescenes story of this librarian-turned-woodsman who had a farreaching effect on wilderness literature and outdoor pursuits throughout North America, written by Kephart scholars. George Ellison and Janet McCue ISBN 978-0-937207-94-9 (softcover) 460 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $18.99 Order #400949
LETTERS FROM THE SMOKIES 2025 PUBLIC LANDS ALLIANCE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR This collection, inspired by the park’s vast archive of time-worn documents, makes some of the most salient papers readily accessible. Within a three-century span, GSMNP Archivist Michael Aday captures stories of people whose voices we don’t often hear. The letters represent the centuries-long development of a region in a way that makes history tangible, immediate, and recognizably human. Michael Aday with Denise Aday ISBN 978-0-937207-25-3 (softcover) 160 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $16.99 Order #401061
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HISTORIC LIFE THE CHEROKEES OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS Horace Kephart’s classic story of the Eastern Band of Cherokees and their tragic westward removal on the Trail of Tears. It includes rare material on their culture, written language, and betrayal by the US government. Horace Kephart ISBN 978-0-937207-18-5 (softcover) 39 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $6.95 Order #400066
OUR SOUTHERN HIGHLANDERS Our third edition of Horace Kephart’s classic work includes eight articles not published in any of the earlier editions, including stories on rifle-making, moonshiners and revenuers, mountain culture, and the proposed new national park in the Smokies. Also features an introduction by the late Kephart scholar George Ellison. Illustrated with historical photos by Kephart, George Masa, and others. Fully indexed for the first time! Horace Kephart ISBN 978-0-937207-76-5 (softcover) 332 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $17.95 Order #400204
SMOKY MOUNTAIN MAGIC: A NOVEL Horace Kephart’s fictional adventure set in the Deep Creek watershed, Cherokee Indian Reservation, and Bryson City in the summer of 1925. Written in 1929 and never before published, the original manuscript was passed down for three generations and resurfaced during the park’s 75th anniversary celebration. “What better topic than a journey into a forbidden realm, complete with witches, robber barons, noble savages, and a winsome lady, all wrapped in a cloak of mystery and myth?” asks reviewer Gary Carden. Kephart is featured in Ken Burns’ PBS series on our national parks. Horace Kephart ISBN 978-0-937207-64-2 (softcover) 206 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $13.95 Order #400842
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THE WALKER SISTERS OF LITTLE GREENBRIER This gorgeous, full-color book tells the intriguing story of the Walker Sisters, who made a rich life for themselves on a small farm in the Great Smoky Mountains. The sisters battled to keep their home and became eccentric tourist attractions after the park was established. Rose Houk. ISBN 978-0-937207-47-5 (softcover) 60 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $8.99 Order #400730
HAZEL CREEK: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF AN ICONIC MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY It’s amazing to read about all the things that happened on Hazel Creek. A famous writer mysteriously arrived and settled into a remote log cabin. A mine opened and showed great promise . . . until things turned very sour. One of the biggest lumber companies in the country set up shop and brought opportunity and prosperity for all. TVA decided to build a large dam to help the US win World War II, and a once-bustling town found itself inconveniently within the boundaries of our nation’s most popular national park. Nominated for a Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Daniel S. Pierce. ISBN 978-0-937207-85-7 (softcover) 120 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $11.95 Order #400980
STORIED STITCHES: QUILTS AND COVERLETS OF THE SMOKIES Born of necessity, these handmade bedcovers were things of beauty, created with care and love, and each and every one tells stories of people’s lives. This book includes six traditional quilt patterns you can make yourself. Filled with color photos of quilts, coverlets, and traditional equipment. Rose Houk. ISBN 978-0-937207-68-0 (softcover) 68 pages, 8" x 8" Retail $9.99 Order #400887
MOUNTAIN HOME: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK With more than 300 historic photographs, this book is a stunning visual record of the Great Smoky Mountains prior to and after establishment of the national park. The text by the late Tennessee State Historian Wilma Dykeman and her son is considered the best historical overview of the area ever written. In addition, the book includes a useful appendix on the park’s historic sites today. Photographs courtesy of national park archives, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Archives. Wilma Dykeman and Jim Stokely. ISBN 978-0-937207-57-4 (softcover) 163 pages, 8” x 8” Retail $16.99 Order #400799
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HISTORIC LIFE CADES COVE: A PERSONAL HISTORY Who better than Judge William Wayne Oliver, direct descendant of John and Lucretia Oliver, to tell the story of growing up in Cades Cove? Feuds, murders, moonshining, and barn burnings—it’s all in there. But most of the book is pure childhood delight, with personal stories about trips to the mill, to the grassy balds in summer, gathering chestnuts, Christmas festivities, fishing, chores, horses—all the details of an idyllic childhood of growing up in the cove. William Wayne Oliver. ISBN 978-0-937207-79-6 (softcover) 150 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $16.99 Order #400951
THE CADES COVE STORY Scholar and former resident of the cove A. Randolph Shields relates the history of this beautiful, lively mountain community. Learn about farming, homelife, religion, and recreation in the cove. Delightful historical photographs, clippings from area newspapers, and excerpts from diaries help tell the story of the families who called Cades Cove home for more than 100 years. A. Randolph Shields. ISBN 978-0-937207-07-9 (softcover) 116 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $12.99 Order #400055
CADES COVE: DREAM OF THE SMOKIES New version! If you like Cades Cove, you’ll adore this book by Rose Houk with incredible color images by photographer Bill Lea and Reggie Tidwell. Topics covered include Native Americans in the cove, wildlife, geology, wildflowers, settlement, and community life. Also included is an excellent map and special sections on Becky Cable, the Civil War in the cove, and Bear #287 (the real “Troublesome Cub”). Rose Houk. (softcover) 80 pages, 9” x 10.75” Retail $15.95 Order #400759
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GRISTMILLS OF THE SMOKIES This booklet is packed with information about the history of water-powered gristmills in the Great Smoky Mountains. It offers details about the four working gristmills in the national park: Mingus, Cable, Reagan, and Ogle. Michal Strutin. (softcover) 16 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $2.50 Order #400430
CHURCHES OF THE SMOKIES This full-color booklet describes the history of religion in the Smokies from the days of brush arbors and circuit-riding preachers to the “homecomings” and decoration days that still occur in the park each summer. The booklet takes an in-depth look at the seven churches that are preserved in the park. Charles Maynard. (softcover) 36 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $3.50 Order #400680
THE CCC IN THE SMOKIES This booklet tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Between 1933 and 1942, more than 4,000 CCC enrollees worked in the Smokies planting trees, building trails, and constructing buildings and roadways. Includes stories of camp life, work life, and the notable accomplishments of our nation’s “tree army.” Harley E. Jolley. (softcover) 24 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $3.99 Order #400586
A HOME IN WALKER VALLEY: THE STORY OF TREMONT Walker Valley (now referred to as the “Tremont” area of the park) has one of the most fascinating histories of any Smoky Mountain locale—an idyllic microcosm of Southern Appalachia. Includes more than 30 historical photos. Jeremy Lloyd. (softcover) 52 pages, 6” x 8” Retail $7.95 Order #400841
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SPECIAL LIFE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK 2027 WALL CALENDAR: THE BEAUTY OF FUNGI New! Our full-color 2027 wall calendar showcases amazing photography highlighting the diverse mushrooms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each gorgeous image is paired with an interesting fact about its species. Features seasonal flora and fauna information—like wildflower blooms by month and predicted peak leaf color dates— plus weather summaries and sunrise and sunset times. Spiral wire binding, 11" x 11" Retail $14.99 Order #600011
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE SMOKIES POSTER This beautiful 20" x 30" poster of butterflies and moths adds a splash of color and a glimpse of the natural world to any room. This poster complements our pocket-sized book of the same name, part of our popular field guide series. All 73 species of butterflies and 27 species of moths from the book are shown on the poster. 20" x 30" wall poster Retail $8.99 Order #650011
SMOKIES GUIDE This is the official newspaper of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Filled with information about the park, each issue highlights things to see and do, essential tips for hikers and backpackers, and guidelines for recreating responsibly. Handy area map on back page and detailed park map inside. Published four times annually at the start of each season. Minimum order of 100 copies. 12 pages, tabloid size. Wholesale price per bundle of 100: $10.00 Order #490021
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: FIVE DECADES OF AMERICAN LANDSCAPES One of the most gorgeous coffee-table books of Smokies photographs ever published. Mack’s sensitivity to light, the extra-large format, and spectacular print quality make this an absolutely breathtaking work. Includes landscapes, flora, and fauna in all four seasons of glorious nature. Richard Mack. ISBN 978-09753954-2-4 (hardback) 220 pages, 11½" x 13¼" Retail $45 Order #400831
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NOTECARD SETS Each packaged boxed set features 20 cards with envelopes (4 each of 5 images). The winter set features beautiful photographs of the Carter Shields Cabin, snow-covered bear, deer, and more. The illustration set features 5 illustrations by Robin Easter Design. The wildlife set features animals of the Smokies, including a firefly, fox, salamander, owl, and black bear. Printed on super high-quality heavy card stock. A tremendous value for the price, and your purchases benefit the park. • Winter card set. Order #600375 • Illustration card set. Order #600374 Retail $14.95 per set
FISHING REGULATIONS This brochure summarizes GSMNP fishing regulations and features illustrations for identification of the park’s three trout species and two bass species. Stream map on back. 23⅜" x 16½". Wholesale price per bundle of 500: $75.00 Order #490021
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SPECIAL LIFE OLD-FASHIONED WOODEN TOYS Remember when fun-filled hours of play had absolutely nothing to do with technology? Retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park seasonal ranger Mike Meldrum not only remembers such simpler times, but he’s taking steps to guarantee at least a few of these traditions continue to thrive here in the Smokies. As a former interpretive ranger, Meldrum led programs for park visitors about historic games and toys and life on a 19th-century mountain farm. Meldrum makes the high-quality toys in his workshop keeping history alive! Kids (and adults alike!) will have many enjoyable hours playing with one or all three of these handmade toys! Each toy sold separately. Retail $6.00 each Order #600100
HANDCRAFTED BAMBOO COASTERS Bamboo coasters handcrafted with a sustainable resource by retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park seasonal ranger Mike Meldrumr. Various styles available including bears and other park animals. Retail 4 for $12.99 Order #600003
SMOKIES LIFE JOURNAL SPRING 2026 • VOLUME 20 #1
Smokies Life Journal
Smokies Life JOURNAL
Our twice-yearly publication highlights life and history in the Smokies, stewardship efforts in the national park, flora and fauna great and small, and other incredible stories from this diverse landscape.
SPRING 2026 v ISSUE 20 #1 Fireflies of the world
Supporting the park since 1953
Ron Rash exclusive Managing wild hogs Magnificent magnolias
401035 $11.99 USA
Photo by Michele Sons
Spring 2020 Vol 14 #1, #401023 $9.95 (Preventive Search and Rescue; Uncovering African American history in the Smokies; The fireflies of Elkmont; Point of conflict: Where bears and humans converge; “Uncle Mark” Cathey, sportsman for the ages; Roosevelt’s Smokies visit; Cable Mill; Mindful photography; The iNaturalist app; Wild grapevines) Spring 2026 Vol 20 #1, #401035 $11.99 (Fireflies of the World; Ron Rash Exclusive Interview; Managing Wild Hogs; Magnificent Magnolias; Masa Rock)
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BARGAIN LIFE Originally $12.95, now $8.99
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK SIGNATURE NOTEBOOK Step into nature with The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Signature Notebook. Jot down observations next to quotes from famous outdoor enthusiasts as you appreciate the scenery of the Smokies. Write alongside images of local flora and fauna or add some sketches of your own in this pocket-sized notebook. Featuring a beautiful embossed cover, this notebook is perfect for on the trail and off. 192 pages, 4.25” x 6.3” Retail $8.99 Order #100037
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KID’S LIFE PHO: A SMOKIES FIREFLY ADVENTURE Synchronous fireflies like Pho and his friends are searching for their mates as they light up the mountains like a starry night sky. But when Pho finds himself all alone in the darkness, he may have to rely on a secret defense to save him from danger. Will Pho find his way back into the light, back to his friends, and find the mate he’s been searching for since the day he could fly? Follow along on this firefly adventure. This delightful children’s picture book by Mary Arkiszewski features vivid illustrations by Emma Oxford and an educational back section to illuminate curious young minds. Mary Arkiszewski. ISBN 978-1-7370351-4-5 32 pages, 10" x 10" (softcover) Retail $9.99 Order #401062
SINGING CREEK Molly is a singing crayfish in the Great Smoky Mountains, and she has a big dream: to make a record. With her ragtag band that includes three madtoms on drums, a piano-playing tangerine darter, a bullfrog on banjo, and a fishing spider on guitar, Molly’s dream may come true. But when a mysterious stranger with a bad reputation appears just as they’re about to make their record, Molly’s plans could take an unfortunate turn. . .This charming early reader, written by Morgan Simmons and illustrated by Don Wood, also includes a glossary of facts about aquatic life in the Smokies.
Morgan Simmons. ISBN 978-0-937207-95-6 48 pages, 5¼" x 7¼" (hardcover) Retail $12.95 Order #400918
10 THINGS I LIKE ABOUT YOU: DISCOVERING GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK COLORING BOOK Salamanders, forests, flowers, bears, deer—what’s not to like about coloring the pages of this book? 32 pages, 9" x 12" (softcover) Retail $5.99 Order #400075
THE TROUBLESOME CUB “... should be required reading for children and their families who regularly camp, hike and play in ... parks that are home to wild black bears ...” ~Knoxville News Sentinel Kids will love this true story of a bear cub who fell asleep in a dumpster and was inadvertently picked up by a garbage truck. Written in delightful rhyme, the story has a happy ending and some important lessons for protecting wildlife. Lisa Horstman. ISBN 978-0-937207-31-4 (softcover) 32 pages, 10" x 10" Retail $8.95 Order #400551
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THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN SALAMANDER BALL Children ages three to eight will delight in this fantastic tale of a young girl’s vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Wandering from her tent late one summer’s night, Sara finds an invitation she just can’t resist! It leads her to a secret salamander festival she enjoys watching until suddenly she is discovered. . . Written in verse and filled with fascinating salamander facts, this award-winning book is irresistibly fun! Lisa Horstman. ISBN 978-0-937207-21-5 (softcover) 32 pages, 10" x 10" Retail $8.99 Order #400219
WE’RE GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS The youngest fans of the park will love this beautiful, sweet book that leads them on a pleasant hiking and camping trip through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kids will enjoy the bright illustrations of fish, skunks, river otters, bear, deer, trees, wildflowers, and stars. Written by Steve Kemp; illustrated by Lisa Horstman. Steve Kemp. ISBN 978-0-937207-59-8 (softcover) 48 pages, 8" x 10" Retail $7.99 Order #400801
SABRINA: A GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS STORY Lisa Horstman, author and illustrator of The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball and The Troublesome Cub, has outdone herself this time with Sabrina: A Great Smoky Mountains Story. Sabrina is the tale of a special kind of squirrel who finds herself in a strange new home after a run-in with an owl. Follow along as Sabrina learns how to survive, and then thrive, in her new environment. Sabrina and her kind are denizens of the rich and rare spruce-fir forest that clings to the Smokies highest peaks. A perfect “sit on my lap and I’ll read you a story” book. Lisa Horstman. ISBN 978-0-937207-80-2 (softcover) 48 pages, 10" x 10" Retail $10.95 Order #400952
THE SMOKIES YUKKY BOOK Kids will go wild over the weird, creepy, yukky stuff in this book. Where else can your kids learn about carnivorous plants, vomiting vultures, snot otters, ant lions, and other magnificent things that really, really live in the Great Smoky Mountains? Written by Doris Gove; illustrated by Lisa Horstman. Recommended for kids ages 8 through 12. Doris Gove. ISBN 978-0-937207-48-2 (softcover) 64 pages, 7" x 10" Retail $8.95 Order #400740
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KID’S LIFE JUNIOR RANGER ACTIVITY GUIDE The official guide to the Junior Ranger program at Great Smoky Mountains National Park comes packed full of fun activities designed to introduce kids of all ages to the Smokies as they look, listen, map, notice, tell, consider, dance, play, seek, wonder, predict, observe, study, act, hike, and share! Kids can be officially sworn in as Junior Rangers at any park visitor center after completing at least five activities and five experiences in the guide with help from a team including a parent or guardian. Developed by National Park Service staff with support from Smokies Life and assistance from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cherokee Speakers Council. Illustrations by Jesse White. ISBN 978-1-7370351-0-7 38 pages, 9" x 12" (softcover) Retail $4.50 Order #400767
Streams are full of plants, animals, and microscopic organisms that are sensitive to pollution and habitat changes. Observing who lives in a stream helps biologists learn about the health of the habitat.
Explore a stream to find all the places tiny things can live. Be gentle with the creatures you find. If you move any rocks, carefully put them back where you found them. Draw or write about what you see. How are the creatures that you found alike? How do they differ from one another?
but for a fish or a salamander, that rock might be home! Remember to leave the rocks in the stream like you found them.
6
I found channels insect larvae made in a tree.
A SEARCH FOR SAFE PASSAGE This award-winning book follows a story involving best friends Bear and Deer on the northern side of a beautiful Appalachian gorge. In the time of their grandparents, animals could travel freely on either side of a fast-flowing river, but now the dangerous Human Highway divides their home range into the North and South sides. On the night of a full moon, two strangers arrive from the South with news that will lead to tough decisions, a life-changing adventure, and new friends joining together in a search for safe passage. The book is closely connected to Safe Passage: The Wildlife Crossing Project, a public education and infrastructure development campaign in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. It includes an additional nonfiction section with educational lessons about animal habitat requirements, behavior, migration patterns, and roadway ecology problems and solutions developed with input from both international and local experts. Aimed at readers ages 7 to 13. Frances Figart. ISBN 978-0-937207-01-7 110 pages, 5½" x 8½" (softcover) Retail $14.95 Order #401050
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CAMILLA AND THE CATERPILLARS: HOW A YOUNG GIRL’S LOVE CREATED A NATIONAL PARK AT HOME A young girl’s encounter with an extraordinary caterpillar in the Great Smoky Mountains leads her and her family on a quest to plant a national park right in their own backyard. This environmentally themed chapter book for ages 6 through 11 introduces young readers to important ecological concepts including habitat loss and the interdependence of native species. It offers a compelling grassroots solution through native-plant gardening that invites anyone to take part in addressing the growing biodiversity crisis. An educational back section includes material developed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Discover Life in America, an organization which manages the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Also included is a “Word to Parents” from Doug Tallamy, father of the Homegrown National Park movement, which inspired the author Frances Figart to write this book. Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. His books include Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants and the New York Times bestseller Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. Frances Figart. ISBN 978-1-7370351-2-1 64 pages, 6" x 9" (softcover) Retail $14.99 Order #401066
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KID’S LIFE MABEL MEETS A BLACK BEAR After a life-changing encounter in the Smokies, twin sisters Mabel and Louise set out on a mission to teach others about keeping black bears wild. This charmingly illustrated picture book for ages five to ten includes a bonus section with realworld guidance for enjoying bear country responsibly. Frances Figart. ISBN 978-0-937207-08-6 40 pages, 10” x 10” (softcover) Retail $10.99 Order #401058
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FILM LIFE
SMOKY MOUNTAIN EXPLORER SERIES AN ISLAND IN THE SKY Take a journey to Kuwohi, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. View astonishing footage of rivers of clouds and sunrises atop this island in the sky. 35 minutes. Contains DVD and Blu-Ray on separate discs. Produced by Smokies Life. Retail $13.95 Order #200943
SEASONS OF THE SMOKIES This film showcases life in the four seasons at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy breathtaking scenes of wildlife, wildflowers, and the changing seasons within the park. 35 minutes. Contains DVD and Blu-Ray on separate discs. Produced by Smokies Life. Retail $14.95 Order #200946
MOUNT LE CONTE: SACRED MOUNTAIN OF THE SMOKIES Mount Le Conte draws thousands of hikers up steep slopes to its rocky summit each year. Explore the trails, scenic settings, and unforgettable experiences on this beloved mountain. 37 minutes. Contains DVD and Blu-Ray on separate discs. Produced by Smokies Life. Retail $14.95 Order #200960
LAND OF FALLING WATER This film takes you on a journey to explore the 3,000 miles of streams and rivers that splash and churn from the Smokies’ highest mountains to the valleys below. 39 minutes. Contains DVD and Blu-Ray on separate discs. Produced by Smokies Life. Retail $13.95 Order #200966
A PLACE CALLED CADES COVE From the time of Cherokee hunters through the Civil War to the days of moonshiners, mountaintop cattle herders, and the creation of the national park, this is the story of Cades Cove. 1 hour, 24 minutes. Contains DVD and Blu-Ray on separate discs. Produced by Smokies Life. Retail $13.95 Order #200969
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK DVD Apart from the Smoky Mountains Explorer Series, this film covers geology, wildlife, forests and wildflowers, history, and the amazing story of the creation of the national park. Stereo surround sound, chapter search, and optional closed captioning. 20 minutes. DVD. Retail $10.99 Order #200150
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FOOD LIFE MOUNTAIN MAKIN’S IN THE SMOKIES A cookbook filled with delicious, old-time recipes from the heart of the Smoky Mountains handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter. Sifted and blended with a few mountain anecdotes and tales. Spiral bound for easy use. ISBN 978-0-937207-12-3 (softcover) 54 pages, 6" x 9" Retail $9.95 Order #400189
FOOD AND RECIPES OF THE SMOKIES Enjoy more than 300 hearty, authentic recipes savored for generations by the people of the Great Smoky Mountains. Lively text and historical photographs capture the spirit of mountain folk and describe their time-honored techniques of cultivating, preparing, and preserving food. Spiral bound for easy use. Rose Houk. ISBN 978-0-937207-22-2 (softcover) 176 pages, 6" x 8" Retail $17.99 Order #400108
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NEW LIFE
MUSHROOMS OF THE SMOKIES FIELD GUIDE A new pocket-sized field guide to the park’s fungi. Morel. Chanterelle. Elf cup. Fairy finger. Jack-o’-lantern. Dead man’s fingers. Fungi and mushrooms such as these are among the most diverse and widespread species on Earth, critical to the health of flora and fauna all over the planet. The fungal kingdom comprises 1.5 million species, 20,000 of which produce mushrooms or fruiting bodies. Yet these amazing lifeforms that hover between the animals and vegetables have traditionally been overlooked and misunderstood. Mushrooms of the Smokies, an addition to our handy field guide series, seeks to give mushrooms their moment in the sun. Written by Tennessee-based field mycologist Jacob Kalichman with a foreword by former National Park Service research coordinator Paul Super, this pocket-sized guide sets the stage for the reader’s understanding of the role of fungi in our ecosystems. It features many of the diverse and abundant varieties of fungi found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, detailing more than 100 mushroom species or groups with easy-to-understand text descriptions and an array of full-color photographs from different angles to assist in identification. With this new publication, visitors to the park and budding mycologists around the region can learn to identify a good number of Smokies fungi and learn about their important contributions to biodiversity in the Southern Appalachians. Jacob Kalichman. ISBN 978-0-937207-26-0 (softcover) 336 pages, 4.5” x 6” Retail $14.95 Order #401077 SmokiesLife.org • 865.221.1129 • Russell@SmokiesLife.org 29
NEW LIFE SO MANY SALANANDERS A fully illustrated intro to adorable charismatic creatures. From the Appalachian to the Zig Zag, there are more than 30 kinds of salamanders—with cool names and vibrant colors—living in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just how many? No one’s sure— At last count thirty-two. Let’s celebrate each member of This salamander crew! With 20 stanzas like this, and full-color illustrations showing Mudpuppy and Mole, Pisgah and Pygmy, Seepage and Slimy salamanders in their Smokies habitats, kids and adults alike will be eager to read So Many Salamanders just one more time. Black-chinned, Red-backed, Rour-toed, Gray-cheeked—author Diane Lang describes all these and more in humorous rhymes that also educate us about each salamander’s special qualities and explain how to protect these unusual Smokies inhabitants. The author of six picture books, California-based Lang is a long-time nature-center volunteer, educating both children and adults about the wonders of natural history. For this book, which includes educational back-matter for reading with teachers or parents, Lang teams up with popular children’s illustrator Katy Tanis, creator of the popular Love in the Wild series. Tanis’ enchanting illustrations of sallies—from Seal and Santeetlah to Marbled and Midland Mud, from Cave and Dusky to Imitator and Junaluska—will steal readers’ hearts and foster a forever love for the park known as the Salamander Capital of the World. Whatever reason, salamanders Show us with their smiles That this is where they want to live. The Smokies are their style! Story by Diane Lane. Art by Katy Tanis. ISBN 978-0-937207-19-2 (softcover) 40 pages, 10” x 10” Retail $9.95 Order #401076
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NEW LIFE
WORD FROM THE SMOKIES: A NATURE READER A collection of columns from the Asheville Citizen Times In early 2020, the pandemic closed Great Smoky Mountains National Park for several weeks. Author Frances Figart, creative services director for Smokies Life, was inspired to find new ways to share the park’s treasures and stories with Smokies lovers, local readers, and the world at large. Encouraged by Elly Wells, who provides marketing coordination for Smokies Life, she started writing a column for the Asheville Citizen Times, creating weekly essays about engaging nuances of the cultural and natural history of the park. This collection is a specially curated selection of published Word from the Smokies columns about the region’s natural history, with chapters focused on individual species, new discoveries, and the people dedicated to the examination, protection, and preservation of this vital environment. Appearing in these pages are species such as the Appalachian cottontail, bobcats and box turtles, dragonflies and dung beetles, salamanders and snakes, weasels and woodchucks. Elk and hawk join Oconee bells, russula mushrooms, and Northern river otters. Taken individually, these chapters teach us about distinct aspects of the living world of the Smokies. But taken all together, like nature itself, these Words show us how interconnected the web of life is. Frances Figart. 978-0-937207-27-7 (softcover) 116 pages, 6” x 9” Retail $14.99 Order #401074
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