Laurel Falls Congestion Management Pilot Project begins Sept. 7, in the GSMNP

 Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Laurel Falls Trail parking will be available by reservation only from Sept. 7 through Oct. 3, 2021 as part of the Laurel Falls Congestion Management Pilot Project. 

The pilot project aims to improve visitor safety, relieve congestion, better protect park resources, and enhance the visitor experience on Laurel Falls Trail. The 1.3-mile trail is one of the most popular trails in the park with more than 375,000 visits in 2020.  

During the pilot project, trailhead parking will be provided by reservation only and no parking will be permitted in undesignated areas along Little River Road. Parking reservations, for two-hour time blocks, may be made online at www.recreation.gov for a fee of $14 beginning on Aug. 24, 2021.  

During the pilot, hikers who plan to utilize the Laurel Falls Trail parking area to use Sugarland Mountain Trail must also obtain a parking reservation to park at the trailhead. If hikers plan to be on trail for longer than the allotted two-hour time block, they must use a different trailhead and are encouraged to contact the Backcountry Office for more information on other trail access points. Additionally, Rocky Top Tours will provide shuttle access to the trailhead from nearby, Gatlinburg, Tenn. for a fee of $5 per person. Information about the shuttle can be found at www.rockytoptours.com.  

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

This just in.....

 ...The GSMNP has announced that Ramsey Cascade Trail is now open. The trail was closed for several days after a washout, reported after heavy rains came through the area, was discovered. The park trail crew completed the necessary repairs to re-establish a section of trail through a rocky, steep area.  

 The 4.0 mile Ramsey Cascade trail lies in the Greenbrier Area of the park and provides the only access to the 90’ tall Ramsey Cascades. 

Cades Cove Closed......

....For 3 weeks in September 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials remind visitors that the Cades Cove Loop Road will be fully closed for three weeks in September to resurface the popular roadway which is used by more than 2 million visitors each year. 

The one-way road will be closed to all motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and horseback riders from Tuesday, Sept. 7 through Monday, Sept. 27.  

During the closure, trails must be accessed from outside of the Cades Cove area as there will be no access to any trailheads from the Cades Cove Loop Road during the closure.  

Prior to the full closure, the loop road will also be closed to pedestrians and motorists for night work on Sunday through Thursday evenings, beginning at 7:30 p.m., from Aug. 16 through Sept. 2.

In addition, current roadwork occurring in Cades Cove along Forge Creek Road has been extended.

Forge Creek Road has been closed to all use since Nov. 2, 2020 to replace five bridges. The closure has been extended through Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. 

Due to the complete removal of the bridges and the use of large equipment to perform repair work, the road will continue to be closed to all use. The full closure prevents all access (by foot, bicycle, or horse) to the Henry Whitehead Place and Gregory Ridge, Gregory Bald, and Hannah Mountain trailheads.

For more information regarding these closures call 865-436-1200, or visit the GSMNP at:  http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm