Has anyone seen or had trouble with bears while they were hiking in the Smoky Mountains? Are the hiking trails full of people so a visitor doesn't have anything to worry about?
I would appreciate any feedback from someone who's been there.

There are black bears in the Smokies National Park. The shelter cabins along the various trails have chain link fences that must be closed at night because the bears long ago learned that hikers have food. (If nothing else, they can smell it.)
I personally have never been bothered by a bear, but I have seen them.

Saveral years ago, a friend of mine organized a group to stay at Mt. le Conte Lodge, which is reached only by trail. He overbooked and decided that he was the odd man out, so he took along his sleeping bag and some food so he could stay at the shelter on top of Mount Le Conte.
As night approached, he decided he needed warmer clothes, so he went into a friend's room to change. In the process he took several items out of his pack, including food. One of the local bears smelled it and came in through the window. Needless to say, my friend let the bear have both the food and the room, but only after he had stirred up the bear by slapping at it with a towel. One of the staff members at the lodge got the bear out of the cabin by firing at her with a pistol loaded with blanks.
Ah yes, fun and games at the old lodge.

As more and more land is developed and the bears are pushed out of their natural habitat, there will be encounters with bears. In the towns surrounding the Smokeys, there have been lots of bear sightings

For years,the Smoky Mt Nat'l park was able to brag that no person had ever been killed by a bear. That all changed 2 yrs ago, when an unprovoked bear attacked a hiker.Still, it is rare. We hike there yearly and have never seen one on the trails- however they hang out quite a bit at the picnic areas. If you see one, it is best just to act casual and mosey off (yeah right) Remember , if you're hiking in a group, all you have to do is make sure you can outrun at least one of them.

To the OP:

Unfortunately, as the cities and suburbs become more and more crowded, people are increasingly seeking a respite from their natural habitat and have sought refuge in the national parks. As such, you're correct in assuming that during peak season the Smokies' main hiking trials are full of people and you're not likely to see bears.

That said, please be advised that statistically you're about five thousand more times likely to be attacked by a fellow human than a bear in the wilderness. Unfortunately, you can take people out of the suburbs, but it doesn't seem possible to take the suburbs out of the people. So, watch yourself on those hiking trails.

Thanks for the responses so far. I heard they have hiking guides that can lead you on the trails, but I think they charge you over $100 for that. I'll keep some pepper spary handy incase any bears or criminals cause trouble.

I am curious. What does the guide do if a bear comes along? Run first??
I never thought a guide on a marked trail knew any more about bears than I did.

I just got back from there and I was in Cade's Cove. A mama bear came out by the cars and her three cubs after her. I thought to get out of a car for a picture, but remembered the warnings. She came close to the cars, but never bugged anyone, they all left quickly giving us all a treat, if only from our vehicles. We also saw 6 deer.

Please, go out right now and get a copy of Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods." Must-read materials for hiking in the Smoky Mts. or anywhere along the App. Trail. Take it on the trail and your laughing will keep all wildlife at bay.

I got back from the Smoky Mountains about 3 weeks ago and the only thing I saw was a few deer at Cades Cove. Some people said they saw a bear on the Grotto falls trail, but I couldn't see it through all the vegatation.
I'll probably go back there next year in mid April.

Yes there are plenty of bear in the Smokey Mountains. Be careful as I saw one in my in-laws front yard.