Dangerously High Winds close many Roads in the GSMNP

 Be aware!

 For the GSMNP Alerts: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

And, from the noaa weather site: https://www.weather.gov/mrx/

Gust over 100mph?!

Be smart.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parkwide Burn Ban

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Due to continued dry conditions, winds, and high fire danger, the National Park Service (NPS) is banning all campfires and charcoal use in Great Smoky Mountains National Park effective immediately. 

The fire ban will be in effect until further notice on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the park. This is consistent with the Sevier County burn ban and the National Weather Service Red Flag Warning in our area. 

Campers, backpackers and visitors using picnic areas may continue to use cookstoves with compressed gas canisters and gas grills that have an on/off switch. Stoves and grills should be attended at all times.  

Visitors should use extra caution recreating on public lands including national parks and national forests in North Carolina and Tennessee when fire danger is increased.   

Snow closing roads in the GSMNP

 US 441/Newfound Gap Road and Foothills Parkway West will close at 6pm on Tuesday 2/18

Due to forecasted snow and ice, US 441/Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC and Foothills Parkway West will close at 6pm 2/18/25

Most Roads in the GSMNP CLOSED

 

US441/Newfound Gap Road and most other roads closed due to snow/ice

This notice was posted on Sunday 1/19/2025 and has not changed. It barely made it into the 20's today in the foothills. The sun and blue skies took over after a dusting of snow which fell throughout the morning.
The following roads are closed: US441/Newfound Gap Rd, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop, Cherokee Orchard Rd, Laurel Creek Rd, Foothills Pkwy, Greenbrier Rd, Sparks Ln., Little River Rd. (Sugarlands VC to the Townsend Wye), Lakeview Dr.

 

The Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers to open at noon on Jan. 20; Cable Mill VC is closed.

Posted 1/20/2025

The Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers will open at noon on Jan. 20. The Cable Mill Visitor Center in Cades Cove is currently closed.Follow the link below to the GSMNP Conditions page
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Seasonal restrictions near peregrine falcon nesting areas in North Carolind

 Seasonal restrictions near peregrine falcon nesting areas to resume on Pisgah, Nantahala National Forests

Activities such as climbing and drone use prohibited until mid-August 2025

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) -- The annual closure of rock faces used by nesting peregrine falcons begins again on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests starting Jan. 15, 2025, the U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) announced today.

The sheer cliff faces on the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are popular destinations for climbers, so the Forest Service and NCWRC work with partners such as the Carolina Climbers Coalition each year to ensure that peregrine falcon closures balance conservation of the species with access to climbing destinations.

Follow this link for the details

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1169651.pdf

Winter Weather

 

With High Winds and ice and snow expected in the higher elevations today and tonight, Hwy 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee NC is closed. The link below will bring you full and current information for other closures in the Great Smoky Mtns.NP.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm