The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN. For more information about the Great Smokey Mountains Half, visit our website: greatsmokeymountainshalfmarathon.com. The course for the Great Smoky Mountains Half is a beautiful run through the woods just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The course begins near the high school in Maryville and ends in Townsend, just under a mile from the National Park boundary. The finish line is at the visitors center in Townsend with beautiful views of the mountains. Register for the inaugural Great Smokey Mountains Half Marathon now: https://vr.webconnex.com/2014-GreatSmokyMountainsHalf