Snow and Ice means Roads Closed in the Smokies

US Hwy 441 Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is closed due to ice/snow. Park Service will advise when reopened. For current information follow the GSMNP link below.

https://twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS

Great Smoky Mountains NP, Announces Temporary Cataloochee Area Road Closures

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that the main access road into the Cataloochee area, Cove Creek Road, will be closed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to conduct road repairs from February 10 through May 20.

 

The county roadway will be closed to stabilize a hillside just outside the park. The secondary access road into the area, Highway 284, will also be closed in the park throughout the duration of the construction project. Both roadways will be closed to all vehicles, cyclists, and horseback riders.

Backcountry trails and campgrounds will remain open throughout the closure, but there will be no access to trailhead parking beyond the Big Creek area. Hikers and horseback riders should plan to start their itineraries from the Big Creek area or other areas across the park. The Cataloochee Campground, Group Camp, Horse Camp, and all services are expected to be operational by Memorial Day weekend.

 

For more information about the Cove Creek Road repair, please visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation website at

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-01-24-cove-creek-closed-cataloochee.aspx. For more information about road closures, please follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on twitter or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm.

Monday the 16th of December 2019

High winds are prompting action.

Smokies Road Info

‏ @SmokiesRoadsNPS 1h1 hour ago

Cades Cove Loop Road is closed for tree clearing through Thursday 12/19/19

OTG a short distance

I wanted to share a picture and give a suggestion...when it's cold and muddy after a snow go hiking! This is from Dec. 11th, and was already our 3rd snow in the lowlands, with more above like 2500'.

The AT south or west of Clingman's Dome

These pics are from a hike a few weeks ago I took with "Dave the hiker from Nashville", which was the Veterans Day weekend, and a fact which we did not figure into our plans. "Plans" which originally were to hike to LeConte via the Alum Cave trail but as we approached the trail cars started appearing parked on the sides of the road a 1/4 mile out, and continued a 1/4 mile past the trailhead parking.

We put that hike off for another day and continued up to the AT access at Clingman's Dome. This area was completely packed so we were glad to get out of the parking lot and in the woods!
This section of the AT, leaving Clingmans for Double Springs Gap, is fairly easy going that direction, minus a few rough spots, as it is losing altitude for the most part. Going down hill.
The return, thus, is a little bit more difficult . However this section of the AT is good for day hikes of various lengths and routes with many beautiful vistas! So "git a map" and start planning.

Little Bottoms Trail a week ago

 

 Hello! Dave the hiker from Nashville and I walked along
the Little Bottoms trail on a recent Saturday afternoon, enjoying the quiet noise of the forest beside Abrams Creek.
Dave the hiker took these photos as we walked this moderately difficult trail.
Much like the other end of this trail, coming out of Cades Cove, this section is rough, often skinny, and has numerous ups and downs in elevation and would not be recommended
for anyone seeking an easier softer walk.
However if you're in relatively good health and have something to drink you'll probably be ok.
Parking is near the Abrams Creek ranger residence. From this parking area one has access to some nice, less traveled routes.
And if you're just looking for a nice evening walk park here and walk towards the Abrams Creek Campground.  You'll find about a 1/4 mile or so of hard packed road along the creek until you reach  the campground.

Prescribed Burn Operations Set for November 19 and 20

Crews plan to complete fall prescribed burn operations in Cades Cove on Tuesday, November 19 in the 304-acre Tipton-Oliver unit and on Wednesday, November 20 in the 90-acre Cable House unit near the Abrams Falls Trailhead.  Hikers should expect temporary closures of the Abrams Falls Trailhead access road throughout the day.  Please see below for more details.

Visitors should expect to see fire activity and smoke during prescribed burn operations. Fire managers ask that motorists reduce speed in work zones, but refrain from stopping in the roadways. If smoke is present, motorists should roll up windows and turn on headlights.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian-Piedmont-Coastal Zone fire management staff plan to burn approximately 660 acres of fields on the western end of Cades Cove. Weather permitting, burn operations will occur between Wednesday, November 6 and Friday, December 20. The operations are expected to be conducted on three separate days. Media updates will be provided before burn operations. So stay tuned!

Over the last 20 years, park managers have conducted these burns during the spring and fall under specific prescription parameters to safely reduce fuels, restore meadow habitats, and maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove. Park staff closely monitor fire weather conditions including vegetation and soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity to ensure that conditions meet the burn plan objectives for the site. 

“The selected fields will be burned to restore meadow species, prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest, and to reduce hazardous fuels,” said Fire Management Officer Greg Salansky.

Visitors should expect to see firefighters and equipment along Hyatt Lane and the western end of the Cades Cove Loop Road. The loop road and historic structures will remain open to visitor use, but brief delays and temporary closures may occur to ensure public safety during burn operations. Park staff will be present to answer questions during operations at overlooks and parking areas. Specifically, the crew plans to burn the following units depicted in orange on the attached map: 185-acre old field, 304-acre Tipton-Oliver field, 87-acre cemetery marsh field, and 90-acre Cable House field.

For more information on the use of prescribed burns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/wildlandfire.htm.