Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Organized in 1993, Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects. Friends has 4,500+ members and 170+ volunteers who provide assistance with projects that benefit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Friends of the Smokies provides over $1 million annually for environmental education, natural resource and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, and trail improvements in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.One of Friends' most proud accomplishments is establishing the $4 million Trails Forever endowment in 2012 to help implement major, sustainable improvements on the Smokies' 848 miles of hiking trails.Friends supporters' conserve black bears, elk + brook trout, heal hemlock trees, restore historic log cabins + churches, educate park visitors, Junior Rangers + more