Cozy Cosby

 

Spent a couple of nites at the Cosby Campground.   Very nice "Nature Trail" accessible by just about anyone and a fairly easy Hen Wallow Falls hike.   Beautiful part of the park.  Can't wait to get back.

Haleakalā National Park

 Wow!!! This awesome NP is located on the island of Maui. Myself and "The Mysterious one", were given the opportunity by powers outside our own, to visit this beautiful Island and this park back in early April 2023.

A majority of the park is made up of the dormant volcano, Haleakalā, but the southeast flank of the mountain extends to the Kīpahulu coast and into tropical rainforest and waterfalls. (I provided a link to the park website below)

Bring your water and sunscreen, and a wide brimmed hat would help with the sun as well. 

The trail we chose was just below the summit of Haleakalā, at 10,023 ft., and was called Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands). This trailhead is in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot near the road. Once away from the parking area the trail begins a continuous descent into the crater of this volcano.   

The beautiful colors and shapes of ancient lava flows were surreal. We saw plants endemic to this park (silverswords {'ahinahina}), which we were told are making a comeback from near extinction. (Endemic plants are special because they are found in only one location on the planet, and nowhere else.)

We hiked down approximately 1.5 miles, maybe 2, and back out. This NP has backcountry sites and some other awesome looking trails I'd love to trek someday. Check out the website and I hope you're able to experience the privilege of this park someday!

Plan Your Visit - Haleakalā National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Abrams Creek and Little Bottoms Trail

 The weather forecast freed up Saturday and a campsite opened up.   I took advantage.  Grabbed my stuff and made a quick one day visit.   Completely changed my attitude. What a gift the park is.

GSMNP and the new "Park it Forward" program begins March 1st

(Editors note: As a point of comparison, the daily cost to enter Yellowstone NP, and The Grand Canyon NP, is $35)

On March 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the ‘Park it Forward’ program which requires visitors to buy and display a valid parking tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes.  

The $40 annual parking tags are available for purchase online through Great Smoky Mountains Association. The $5 daily and $15 weekly parking tags are available for purchase at recreation.gov and by credit card at automated fee machines available year-round, 24 hours a day at several locations in the park. All parking tag types are also available for purchase at several store locations.   

Park users will directly contribute to protecting the park when they buy a parking tag. All revenue generated through the Park it Forward program will remain in the park to support operational costs for managing and improving visitor services such as trail maintenance, custodial services, and trash removal. The program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, and law enforcement staff across the park.   

Parking tags cannot be transferred between vehicles and must include the license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. 

Parking will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the park. Visitors should plan ahead when visiting busy locations like Laurel Falls Trail or Clingmans Dome by considering visiting during off-peak hours, mid-week, and during the cooler months to increase the chances of securing a parking spot. With more than 800 miles of trails and nearly 400 miles of scenic roadways, there are ample opportunities for recreation across the park each day. 

Parking in the Great Smokey Mtns. NP

                                                                   

Park takes steps to increase parking safety near busy trailheads 

  

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin implementing temporary, single-lane road closures at several locations this week for the installation of permanent roadside protection measures at busy park destinations to eliminate unsafe, damaging roadside parking. 

Over the last decade, extremely high use at several park destinations has resulted in unsafe conditions for motorists and pedestrians, increased roadway congestion, and damaged roadsides.  

      

Motorists should expect single-lane, weekday road closures through March at any of the following locations: Newfound Gap Road near the Gatlinburg, Alum Cave and Chimney Tops trailheads; Little River Road near Laurel Falls trailhead; Cherokee Orchard Road; and Big Creek and Deep Creek picnic areas. 

Roadside protection measures such as boulders, split-rail fencing, and wooden bollards will be installed along these roadways as well as sections of Clingmans Dome Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.  

   

Visitors should plan ahead and come prepared with alternative destinations in case they do not find parking available at desired sites. By carefully choosing the time of day, time of year, and day of the week, visitors can help improve their chances of obtaining a safe parking space within designated, durable parking areas even at iconic destinations. 

If safe parking is not available at the destination of choice, visitors still have many options for exploration. The park offers more than 800 miles of trails and more than 380 miles of scenic roadways. Staff are available to assist in trip planning, seven days a week, at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and the Backcountry Office.  

  

For more information about the congestion and visitor use management efforts, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/ves.htm.  

  

Greenbrier Area Closed to all....during weekdays

 Great Smoky Mountains News Release 

July 18, 2022                            

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have implemented a full closure of the Greenbrier area during the week, Monday through Thursday, to accommodate road repairs through July 28. This temporary closure is necessary to ensure the safety of visitors and efficient operations of heavy equipment along the roadway  

The area will be open to motorists up to the Greenbrier Ranger Station on the weekends, Friday through Sunday. Pedestrians and cyclists can go to beyond this point on the weekends for approximately two miles to the intersection with Ramsey Prong Road. No access is allowed beyond this point due to unsafe road conditions.  

The temporary closure continues to include Ramsey Prong Road, Porters Creek Road, Ramsey Cascades Trail, Porters Creek Trail, Greenbrier Picnic Area, Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion, and Backcountry Campsites 31, 32, and 33. Old Settlers, Brushy Mountain, and Grapeyard Ridge Trails remain open, but hikers must access them from parking lots near the Greenbrier entrance or from other areas on the park. 

For more information about temporary road closures across the park, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm. 

Lightning Bugs are coming...AKA Synchronized Fireflies

 Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced the dates for the annual synchronous firefly viewing opportunities at Elkmont.

Those dates begin Friday, June 3 through Friday, June 10. The public may apply for the limited viewing opportunity by entering a lottery for a vehicle pass through www.recreation.gov. The lottery opens for vehicle pass applications on Friday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. through Tuesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. All applications, regardless of the time or date of entry, are considered equally in the pool of lottery applicants. seasons.

Every year in late May to early June, people from all over come to see the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus Carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Since 2006, access to the Elkmont area has been limited during the eight days of predicted peak activity in order to reduce traffic congestion and provide a safe viewing experience for visitors that minimizes disturbance to these unique fireflies during the peak mating period. 

During the viewing period, access to Elkmont is restricted after 4:00 p.m. to passenger vehicles with a parking pass, registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground, or backcountry campers with a valid permit. Visitors are not allowed to walk or ride bicycles on the Elkmont entrance road or Jakes Creek Road after 4:00 p.m. due to safety concerns. Overnight parking at Little River Trailhead, Jakes Creek Trailhead, or the Appalachian Clubhouse is not allowed without a valid backcountry permit for backcountry campsites associated with these trailheads.

Interested people should visit www.recreation.gov and search for “Great Smoky Mountains Firefly Viewing Lottery” for more information and to enter the lottery. Visitors may also call 1-877-444-6777 to enter the lottery, but park officials encourage the use of the online process. 

For more information about the synchronous fireflies, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm. 

 

-