Fall colors and crowds!

 In preparation for the fall season, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, and the Public Affairs office of the park have issued a news release. This release is to help folks who will be visiting the park during this very busy time to better prepare for and enjoy their visit. 

An edited version of this news release follows... (The pics were added)

 "It’s beginning to feel like fall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Fall is a beautiful but busy time in the Smokies. Visitors should plan their trips and expect crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking throughout the park."

"The park usually experiences an autumn leaf season of several weeks as fall colors travel down the mountain sides from high elevation to low. At higher elevations, fall colors begin with trees like yellow birch, American beech and mountain maple. As the season progresses, vibrant colors spread to lower elevations, culminating in a spectacular display featuring sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple and hickories."

Avoid the crowds
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is consistently the most visited national park in the country, and October is one of the most popular months of the year. If you’re flexible on your dates, check out our 2024 forecasting calendar to help you choose when to visit the park and know what to expect during your visit.

Consider arriving before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the busiest times in the park. If you’re driving, please park responsibly—parking in areas not specifically designed for parking damages resources, adds to congestion and is unsafe along busy roads. If you’re planning to hike a popular trail in the Smokies, consider taking a shuttle from local communities to the trailhead.

Looking to take a scenic drive? Avoid the crowds by taking in the views from Look Rock Tower or the Foothills Parkway. Cades Cove Loop Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are consistently the busiest places in October. Please allow more time than you think you’ll need and consider alternate destinations.

Planning a hike? Note that Laurel Falls Trail is expected to close for construction in November for 18 months. Consider alternative hikes including Little River Trail, Little Greenbrier School, Lynn Camp Prong Cascades or Chasteen Creek Cascade.

Plan like a park ranger and visit our trip planning webpage before you head to the park. Consider visiting an area of the park you haven’t explored before—you'll find changing leaves no matter where you go! Please prepare a back-up plan (and even a back-up for your back-up).

Pack clothes for all weather and layer up for your adventures. Weather can change quickly during fall, particularly in the mountains. Temperatures at Clingmans Dome, also known as Kuwohi, are at least 10 degrees cooler than in lower elevation areas like Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Cades Cove.

Wildlife safety
Fall is a prime time to spot bears and elk in the park. To ensure your safety and the well-being of these magnificent creatures, maintain a safe distance of at least 50 yards. Use binoculars, spotting scopes or cameras to appreciate wildlife from afar.

When hiking, camping or picnicking, be mindful of food and garbage. All waste should be properly disposed of in bear-proof dumpsters located throughout the park. Bears that learn to associate humans with food can become aggressive and pose a danger to visitors. By following these guidelines, you can help protect both yourself and the park's wildlife.

 

Current Status of Flint Gap fire in the Smokies

(This is from the NPS and GSMNP as of the afterno0n of Friday 9/13/2024)

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Flint Gap Fire, which was started by lightning on Aug. 26, continues to burn slowly in a remote area of the park primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain.

The fire is estimated to be roughly 28 acres and is not contained. The fire has grown minimally over the last several days due to weather conditions (high humidity and lack of strong winds) and shaded terrain. Increased smoke has been visible this week due to an inversion lifting and the relative humidity decreasing. Some rain is expected this weekend which will likely slow, but not extinguish the fire due the dense tree canopy and thick layer of duff (buildup of leaves and plant material) in this area.

While there has been minimal growth on the fire to date, the acreage may increase as weather conditions change with the coming of fall. Park management and the fire incident management team are implementing a strategy to safely and effectively suppress the fire, given that it is burning in very steep, backcountry terrain with dense tree cover. It currently takes firefighters more than two hours on foot to reach the fire from either Parsons Branch Road or from Abrams Creek. Park management is developing options to mitigate these safety concerns and to help transport firefighters and equipment more efficiently to the backcountry. 

Resources on the fire include ground crews and a Type 3 helicopter. Park management is ordering more resources; however, many resources are currently in use given the number of active wildfires, particularly out west.  

Parson Branch Road as well as some park trails and backcountry campsites are currently closed due to fire activity. Check the park website for road closures and other updates before visiting. 

Public Affairs Office

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Flint Gap fire continues to burn

The Blount County Fire Protection District shared an update on the Flint Gap Fire on Tuesday, saying the fire is not contained.  

According to the Blount County Fire Protection District, the National Park Service says that the fire will continue to grow in size.

On the following link to the park website, you will find areas and trail currently affected by the fire.

Current Delays and Closures - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Roads Closed in the GSMNP.... in the next few days

 Please follow this link for closing roads in the smokies.

Current Delays and Closures - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

The Flint Gap fire in the Smokies/Update (9/1/24)

 

(This edited update was received from the GSMNP on the morning of Sunday 9/1/2024)

The fire currently burning in the GSMNP known as the "Flint Gap Fire", is estimated to be 16.3 acres in size. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues initial attack efforts on the Flint Gap Fire. Yesterday, firefighters were able to walk the perimeter to map the fire. The fire is now estimated to be 16.3 acres due to the more accurate mapping. Today, crews will continue to monitor fire activity and to identify areas in which crews can safety confine and contain the fire.

The park received a report of the fire near Hannah Mountain, south of Abrams Creek, the evening of Aug. 26. The Flint Gap Fire is burning in a remote area of the park primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain. No structures are threatened at this time. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Parson Branch Road as well as some park trails and backcountry campsites are currently closed due to fire activity. Check the park website for road closures and other updates before visiting the park.  

Current Delays and Closures - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)