Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE s, ra be rt nc Ro hC B rad hief The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Fall 2023 Bu il d i ng s an d G n r ou ds B Words with a Ranger As branch chief of buildings and grounds, I oversee a talented and dedicated team responsible for maintaining 10 campgrounds, 11 picnic areas, and more than 360 structures here in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It may not be the first thing you notice as you take in the scenery, but our team works hard year-round to make sure all kinds of critical park facilities stay clean, safe, and structurally sound. I began my 31-year career in the Smokies at the age of 16 as a Job Corps member serving in Oconaluftee and then as a ‘student in training’ before I was eventually hired as a permanent staff member. Between then and now, I’ve worked as a laborer, maintenance worker, work leader, sign maker, building utility supervisor, and maintenance mechanic supervisor. If you’ve ever enjoyed a campground or picnic area in the Smokies, chances are your experience was made possible by a custodial or grounds employee. These staff members perform vital services like cleaning bathrooms, removing trash, Continued on page 8 Vacation homes constructed just prior to the creation of the national park are preserved in the Daisy Town area of Elkmont. Thirteen renovated cabins were recently reopened for visitors to explore. Image by Susan Milinkovich. Windows into the Past Historic structures help tell the Smokies story T he Great Smoky Mountains are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, more than 100 species of native trees, and some of the largest stands of old-growth forest in the eastern United States. While much of this mountain range may seem like a rugged wilderness, human stories have been embedded within this landscape even longer than the park’s very oldest blackgum tree. “For thousands of years, there has been a human footprint on this land,” said Interpretive Ranger Brad Free. Today, traces of these stories can still be found in everything from the routes of trails first created by Cherokee people to the many historic homes, schools, churches, and mills maintained by the park’s Forever Places preservation crew. “Over a hundred structures have become tangible pieces of evidence OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA that show us how life was here in the Smokies,” said Free. “It doesn’t give us the whole picture, but it does give us a foundation on which to gain more knowledge of the folks who once lived here.” Historic buildings recently renovated and reopened to the public include more than a dozen cabins in the Daisy Town area of Elkmont as well as the Walker Sisters Cabin near Metcalf Bottoms. Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and Oconaluftee also offer opportunities to explore the Smokies’ rich cultural history. Several structures in these areas date to the 1800s, and nearly all make use of materials sourced nearby. To learn more, talk to a volunteer or ranger, pick up a book in a park bookstore, or visit nps.gov/grsm. You can also visit Elkmont during Daisy Town Day (see page 3) or dive into the Daisy Town scavenger hunt on page 11. GreatSmokyMountainsNPS 86A-B68 PARKING TAG REQUIRED! Parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes requires a valid parking tag (annual tag pictured). For more info, scan code with camera app GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. September through November; 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. December. Clingmans Dome: open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. September through October; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. November. Closed December. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday through December 16. Tuesday–Friday only after December 16. Road closures • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27 to allow for walking and biking. • Many secondary and higher-­ elevation roads close in late fall and remain closed through winter. Refer to the map on pages 6-7 for closing dates. • All roads are subject to temporary closure due to dangerous driving conditions. Shuttle services Local shuttle services offer convenient transportation to and from the park’s most iconic destinations. Routes, schedules, pricing, and pick-up/drop-off locations vary. Visit go.nps.gov/GRSMShuttles for a list of authorized concessioners. Park weather In autumn, a pattern of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights emerges by mid-September. However, cool, rainy days may also occur. Snow may fall at higher elevations beginning in November. As winter arrives, days can be sunny and 65°F or snowy with highs in the 20s. Snows of an inch or more may occur at lower ­elevations. SMOKIES GUIDE P L A N N E R Firewood Camping in the national park The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at ten locations in the park. There are no showers, and hookups are only available at Look Rock Campground (ten campsites include electric and water hookups). There are circuits for special medical uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Campsite reservations are required at all park campgrounds. Sites may be reserved up to six months in advance. Make your reservation online at ­recreation.gov or call 877.444.6777. Site occupancy is limited to six people and two vehicles (a trailer = one vehicle). The maximum stay is 14 days. Campsites for larger groups are available at Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Reservations are required and may be secured up to a year in advance. For more information, visit nps.gov/grsm. No. of Sites Elevation Expected Open Dates 2023 Nightly Fees Max RV Length Abrams Creek 16 1,125' 4/28 – 10/29 $30 12' Balsam Mountain 42 5,310' 5/12 – 6/4 6/17 – 10/9 $30 30' Big Creek 12 1,700' 4/7 – 10/29 $30 tents only Cades Cove 159 1,807' open year-round $30 35'–40' Cataloochee 27 2,610' 4/7 – 10/29 $30 31' Site To prevent the spread of destructive pests, only USDA- or state-certified heat-treated firewood may be brought into the park. Campers may gather dead and down wood in the park for campfires. Picnic areas Picnic areas at Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf Bottoms are open year-round. Heintooga closes Oct. 9. Big Creek, Cosby, and Look Rock close Oct. 30. Collins Creek and the pavillion at Twin Creeks close Oct. 31. Chimneys closes Nov. 27. Picnic pavilions may be reserved for a fee at recreation.gov. Some restroom facilities at picnic areas may be closed. Accommodations LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail only, closes Nov. 22) provides the only lodging in the park. Advanced reservations required. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com Services There are no gas stations, charging stations, showers, or restaurants in the national park. For rent Cosby 157 2,459' 4/7 – 10/29 $30 25' Deep Creek 92 1,800' 4/7 – 10/29 $30 26' Elkmont 220 2,150' 3/10 – 11/26 $30 32'–35' Look Rock 68 2,600' 4/28-10/29 $30-36 no limit Smokemont 142 2,198' open year-round $30 35'–40' Publication dates Smokies Guide is produced four times per year by Great Smoky Mountains Association Spring: mid-March and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Summer: early June Autumn: early Sept. Winter: early Dec. nps.gov/grsm SmokiesInformation.org T R I P Senior Editor Frances Figart Managing Editor Aaron Searcy Supporting Editor Valerie Polk Lead Designer Emma Oxford Design assistants Karen Key Miranda Bemis Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 2 NPS Coordinators Stephanie Kyriazis Stephanie Sutton © 2023 GSMA P.O. Box 130 Gatlinburg, TN 37738 The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin at Elkmont can be reserved for daytime events at recreation.gov through October 31. Pets in the park Pets are allowed in frontcountry campgrounds and along roads as long as they are restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed on park trails, except for Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River trails. Pets must be kept in control on a leash no longer than six feet. Available in digital format at issuu.com/ greatsmokymountains association Printed on recycled paper Download the free NPS App for interactive maps, tours, and more. Bicycling Most park roads are too narrow and heavily traveled for safe or enjoyable bicycling. Bicycles are permitted on park roads but prohibited on trails except Gatlinburg, Oconaluftee River, and lower Deep Creek and Indian Creek trails. Helmets are required by law for persons age 16 and under and strongly recommended for all. Cades Cove Loop Road is open exclusively to cyclists and pedestrians on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27. Bikes may be rented at the Cades Cove ­Campground Store 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. until November 30. Bike rental opens early at 7 a.m. on vehicle-free Wednesdays. 865.448.9034. Horseback riding Some 550 miles of park trails are open to horses. See park trail map for trails and rules. Horse camps are available at Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Tow String. Make reservations at recreation.gov. Three concession horseback riding stables offer rides from March through November. •C  ades Cove 865.448.9009 cadescovestables.com •S  mokemont 828.497.2373 smokemontridingstable.com • Sugarlands 865.436.5470 sugarlandsstables.com GSMNP BY THE NUMBERS Fishing Fishing is permitted yearround in the park, but a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required. Either state license is valid throughout the park, and no trout stamp is required. Fishing with bait is prohibited. Special permits are required for the Qualla Boundary and G ­ atlinburg, and licenses are available in nearby towns. A free fishing map with a complete list of all park fishing regulations is available at visitor centers. Backcountry camping Camping can be an exciting adventure for those who are properly equipped and informed. To facilitate this activity, the NPS maintains more than 800 miles of trails and more than 100 backcountry campsites and shelters throughout the park. One of the greatest challenges is deciding where to go. Here are some tools to help. 1. Get the map. Go online to view the park’s official trail map (go.nps.gov/GRSMmaps), which shows all park trails, campsites, and shelters. Park rules and regulations are also listed here. You can purchase the printed version of the trail map for $1 at any park visitor center or online at SmokiesInformation.org. 2. Plan your trip. Call or stop by the park’s Backcountry Office 12 million+ 1,000 +species visitors per year new to science found in the park of species species mtns. higher 31 species salamanders 69 of mammals 9,900 +of insects 16 than 6,000' from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for trip planning help. The office is located in Sugarlands Visitor Center, two miles south of G ­ atlinburg on US 441. 865.436.1297. 3. Get a permit. Make your reservation and get your permit through the Backcountry Office at ­Sugarlands Visitor Center (by phone or in person) or online at smokiespermits.nps.gov. Reservations and permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. The cost is $8 per person per night. Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance. Backcountry camping permit holders are not exempt from parking tag requirements. Fall hikers should be especially aware of abrupt weather changes and the danger of hypothermia— the dangerous lowering of body temperature. The combination of rain, cold, and wind (especially at the higher elevations) is extremely dangerous. See page 4 for more hiking tips and trip essentials. Special events and ranger activities See page 5 for ranger activities and visit go.nps.gov/GRSMcalendar for a full calendar of events. • Select weekends in September and November: Sorghum-making demonstrations at Cades Cove Visitor Center, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. • September 16: Stargazing Party at Cades Cove Orientation Shelter, sunset (weather allowing). • September 23: Mountain Life Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. • November 4: Daisy Town Day at Elkmont Historic District, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. • December 9: Festival of Christmas Past, Present, and Future at Sugarlands Visitor Center, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. • December 9: Holiday Homecoming at Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 3 bark ranger great smoky mountains national park Learn the BARK principles so you and your pet can have a safe and fun visit any time you go to a national park. Take the BARK pledge: B ag and bin your pet’s waste A lways leash your pet R espect wildlife K now where you can go The only two pet-friendly trails in the Smokies are Gatlinburg Trail in TN and Oconaluftee River Trail in NC. Check out the BARK ranger products at SmokiesInformation.org Keep it SMOKIES SMART: S Stay hydrated M Map your hike A Always wear proper clothing/footwear R Remember your flashlight T Turn back when conditions change Tell someone where you’re going, stay on established trails, pack the essentials, and know what to do in case of an emergency. Let the NPS Backcountry Office help you plan and prepare for your hike. Call 865.436.1297, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PACK ESSENTIALS IN AN EMERGENCY • Navigation—map, compass, and knowledge of how to use them • Call 911 if you can acquire a signal. • Water and food • Extra layers • Remain with any injured parties until help arrives. Use what basic first-aid techniques you know, but do not attempt invasive intervention unless you are medically trained. • Rain gear and pack cover or waterproof bags • Headlamp or flashlight • Traction support like hiking poles or microspikes •U  se an emergency whistle to issue a series of three spaced blasts every few minutes to alert rescue crews. If you are in an open area, display brightly colored clothing or gear. • Emergency whistle • First aid kit •S  un protection with sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat FOR A LONGER HIKE • Repair kit with multi-tool or knife YOUR CELL PHONE IS NOT • a light • a map • a survival kit • always going to have service • Fire starter • Shelter—emergency tent or tarp Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 4 RANGER ACTIVITIES NORTH DISTRICT Hit the trail (near Gatlinburg, TN) Ranger’s Choice: Get immersed in the Smokies on a hike or settle in for a porch talk with a ranger while learning about the history and ecology of the park. The Beauty of the Appalachian Highlands: Join a ranger at 5,000 feet to discover what is so unique about the Smokies’ high-elevation ecosystem. Program subjects may include wildlife, history, or walking the Appalachian Trail. A Blast into the Past­— Daisy Town: Learn how these now-empty cabins were once full of lively early Smokies tourists who helped shape the national park. MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY 11 a.m., 2 p.m. Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 1.5 hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Newfound Gap 45 minutes Elkmont Historic District (Baumann Cabin, first cabin to the left) 1.5 hours WHEN? Daily 11 a.m. Friday 12 p.m. SOUTH DISTRICT (near Cherokee, NC) WHEN? Wild about the Smokies: Get the inside scoop on where to spot wildlife like bears and elk in the park and how to do it safely! Discover the tools scientists use to study animals. 3 p.m. Down on the Farm: Steep yourself in history and see how families survived in the Smokies with demonstrations including blacksmithing, fencing, and gardening. Program topic varies. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Waterfall Walk: Breathe in the crisp mountain air on this easy, ranger-guided walk along Deep Creek. Junior Rangers and families alike will spy exciting waterfalls and wildlife through the fall foliage. CADES COVE (near Townsend, TN) Blacksmith Demonstrations: Learn about the art of blacksmithing and how it supported the Cades Cove community. For a full list of programs for the public, please visit: go.nps.gov/GRSMcalendar Precious Memories: Explore the history and impact of the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove. Crafts in the Cove: Learn about traditional Appalachian crafts made by members of the Cades Cove community. Make something yourself to take home! Cove Life: Visit a historic cabin to learn about daily life as it once was in Cades Cove. A ranger will remain on site after the program until 11 a.m. Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 5 Daily SEPTEMBER 10 – OCTOBER 31, 2023 MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Oconaluftee Visitor Center Porch 30 minutes Mountain Farm Museum Drop-in, 15 minutes Deep Creek Trailhead 1 hour 1–3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday 12 p.m. WHEN? Friday, Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. Sunday 1–3 p.m. Monday 9 a.m. MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Blacksmith shop near Cable Mill Drop-in, 15 minutes Primitive Baptist Church 30 minutes Cable Mill Drop-in, 15 minutes John Oliver Cabin 30 minutes To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times To I-40 Cosby Heintooga Ridge, Heintooga/Round Bottom Road, and Straight Fork Road close October 31 Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road close November 12 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Little Greenbrier Road close November 26 Clingmans Dome Road closes November 30 Forge Creek Road closes December 31 411 PIGEON FORGE 321 Pittman Center 73 321 N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Mount Cammerer Trail 40 M O U N TA I N S Clingmans Dome Visitor Center n in w r so Pa osed (cl Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake Lake Cheoah I ra i Twentymile Cascade Fontana La Lake H RT ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD r al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. ©GSMA 2023 Big i ch ala Ap p e Parkw ay Maggie Valley Co ve Cherokee Museum Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Parking tag purchase locations Current/upcoming construction (see nps.gov/grsm) Horseback Riding (rental) SYLVA 143 28 FOREST WAYNESVILLE Restrooms Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads Gravel Roads NATIONAL Dellwood (see far left chart) Soco Falls 23 74 NANTAHALA To Asheville 19 Oconaluftee River Trail Great Smoky Mountains National Park occupies the traditional lands of the Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ, Tsalagi), now the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of the Cherokee. 74 276 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. g e R id Co ve Ro Cre ad ek e Pa Santeetlah Lake 129 Balsam Mountain ad Mingo Falls Blu Boogerman Loop Trail Exit 20 Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA ) 441 n Deep Creek Picnic Area in /Rou id g lue R ch ed er nt ga 19 Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Ap p CHEROKEE ia NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile FONTANA VILLAGE Ro 441 Loop Trail il CA OL NA Mingus Hazel Creek Trail os wi oo i nt Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum eT T ym went i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap EE R S ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Andrews Bald ac h i a n Cades Cove Visitor Center at Smokemont er) int 129 Kan Trail ad App al Cades Cove Loop Entrance Ro Chasteen Creek Falls Bi g ch om nte s D wi an i n Deep n B ra He Kephart Prong Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. Trail GSM Institute at Tremont m I P L ONA PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee (cl SMOKY N AT Newfound Gap Trail Middle Prong Trail Charlies Bunion K AR Heintooga Ridge Rd . Chilhowee Alum Cave Bluffs Clingmans Dome Cades Cove Forge Creek Road (closed in winter) Alum Cave Trail Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Trail d. re sC ke Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot Straig ht F ork R p Trail an Tr wi in b er Ga Fern Branch Falls ek R n n t e r) un t ai Mo d Ja cu m Big Creek Bottom Rd nd . Rich Cu Rainbow Falls il Tra G R E AT Daisy Town Lit tle Mount Le Conte ek T il ra Elkmont lls re r ve m sF a Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il Ri d e b Traow F il a Cades Cove Visitor Center Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Oconaluftee Visitor Center s (clo il Tra lls Abrams Falls Abrams Creek Sugarlands Visitor Center (closed in winter) tR Ab ra Clingmans Dome Visitor Center Schoolhouse Gap Trail r Rive Meigs Falls on Look Rock Tower • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Newfound Gap Parking Area o Road Trail Ramsey Cascades Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat Grotto Falls T in Ra Visitor Centers l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Sugarlands Visitor Center s Trail ade asc Ramsey C rk 73 Heritage Center ad Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls Red light #8 Fo 321 Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Little Brier Gap Trail Lo w Tra Gap il Cre ll s Metcalf Bottoms Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) GATLINBURG Wears Valley eR r) d. way Pa ills A es M ounta i n Greenbrier Cli n (cl g os ed rk Pa To Chattanooga h F o ot y rk wa ek Tra il Walland 129 411 TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 Cosby Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Tre m • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST ek Trail Cre Townsend Automated Fee Machines Hartford Exit 447 441 321 Parking tag purchase locations within the park th Exit 443 416 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. 321 o Fo ill To Newport ay a il 129 MARYVILLE 32 w ar k s P Tr Townsend, TN to: Cades Cove: 9 miles (¼ hour) Newfound Gap: 34 miles (1¼ hours) Gatlinburg: 22 miles (¾ hour) Cherokee: 52 miles (1½ hours) Look Rock: 18 miles (½ hour) Cataloochee: 87 miles (3 hours) Gatlinburg, TN to: Cherokee: 34 miles (1 hour) Cades Cove: 27 miles (1 hour) Newfound Gap: 16 miles (½ hour) Clingmans Dome: 23 miles (¾ hour) Cataloochee: 65 miles (2½ hours) Greenbrier Cove: 6 miles (¼ hour) Deep Creek: 48 miles (1½ hours) 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. Cherokee, NC to: Gatlinburg: 34 miles (1 hour) Cades Cove: 58 miles (2 hours) Newfound Gap: 18 miles (½ hour) Clingmans Dome: 25 miles (¾ hour) Cataloochee: 39 miles (1½ hours) Deep Creek: 14 miles (½ hour) SEVIERVILLE ay To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times To I-40 Cosby Heintooga Ridge, Heintooga/Round Bottom Road, and Straight Fork Road close October 31 Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road close November 12 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Little Greenbrier Road close November 26 Clingmans Dome Road closes November 30 Forge Creek Road closes December 31 411 PIGEON FORGE 321 Pittman Center 73 321 N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Mount Cammerer Trail 40 M O U N TA I N S Clingmans Dome Visitor Center n in w r so Pa osed (cl Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake Lake Cheoah I ra i Twentymile Cascade Fontana La Lake H RT ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD r al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. ©GSMA 2023 Big i ch ala Ap p e Parkw ay Maggie Valley Co ve Cherokee Museum Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Parking tag purchase locations Current/upcoming construction (see nps.gov/grsm) Horseback Riding (rental) SYLVA 143 28 FOREST WAYNESVILLE Restrooms Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads Gravel Roads NATIONAL Dellwood (see far left chart) Soco Falls 23 74 NANTAHALA To Asheville 19 Oconaluftee River Trail Great Smoky Mountains National Park occupies the traditional lands of the Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ, Tsalagi), now the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of the Cherokee. 74 276 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. g e R id Co ve Ro Cre ad ek e Pa Santeetlah Lake 129 Balsam Mountain ad Mingo Falls Blu Boogerman Loop Trail Exit 20 Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA ) 441 n Deep Creek Picnic Area in /Rou id g lue R ch ed er nt ga 19 Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Ap p CHEROKEE ia NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile FONTANA VILLAGE Ro 441 Loop Trail il CA OL NA Mingus Hazel Creek Trail os wi oo i nt Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum eT T ym went i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap EE R S ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Andrews Bald ac h i a n Cades Cove Visitor Center at Smokemont er) int 129 Kan Trail ad App al Cades Cove Loop Entrance Ro Chasteen Creek Falls Bi g ch om nte s D wi an i n Deep n B ra He Kephart Prong Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. Trail GSM Institute at Tremont m I P L ONA PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee (cl SMOKY N AT Newfound Gap Trail Middle Prong Trail Charlies Bunion K AR Heintooga Ridge Rd . Chilhowee Alum Cave Bluffs Clingmans Dome Cades Cove Forge Creek Road (closed in winter) Alum Cave Trail Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Trail d. re sC ke Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot Straig ht F ork R p Trail an Tr wi in b er Ga Fern Branch Falls ek R n n t e r) un t ai Mo d Ja cu m Big Creek Bottom Rd nd . Rich Cu Rainbow Falls il Tra G R E AT Daisy Town Lit tle Mount Le Conte ek T il ra Elkmont lls re r ve m sF a Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il Ri d e b Traow F il a Cades Cove Visitor Center Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Oconaluftee Visitor Center s (clo il Tra lls Abrams Falls Abrams Creek Sugarlands Visitor Center (closed in winter) tR Ab ra Clingmans Dome Visitor Center Schoolhouse Gap Trail r Rive Meigs Falls on Look Rock Tower • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Newfound Gap Parking Area o Road Trail Ramsey Cascades Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat Grotto Falls T in Ra Visitor Centers l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Sugarlands Visitor Center s Trail ade asc Ramsey C rk 73 Heritage Center ad Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls Red light #8 Fo 321 Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Little Brier Gap Trail Lo w Tra Gap il Cre ll s Metcalf Bottoms Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) GATLINBURG Wears Valley eR r) d. way Pa ills A es M ounta i n Greenbrier Cli n (cl g os ed rk Pa To Chattanooga h F o ot y rk wa ek Tra il Walland 129 411 TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 Cosby Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Tre m • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST ek Trail Cre Townsend Automated Fee Machines Hartford Exit 447 441 321 Parking tag purchase locations within the park th Exit 443 416 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. 321 o Fo ill To Newport ay a il 129 MARYVILLE 32 w ar k s P Tr Townsend, TN to: Cades Cove: 9 miles (¼ hour) Newfound Gap: 34 miles (1¼ hours) Gatlinburg: 22 miles (¾ hour) Cherokee: 52 miles (1½ hours) Look Rock: 18 miles (½ hour) Cataloochee: 87 miles (3 hours) Gatlinburg, TN to: Cherokee: 34 miles (1 hour) Cades Cove: 27 miles (1 hour) Newfound Gap: 16 miles (½ hour) Clingmans Dome: 23 miles (¾ hour) Cataloochee: 65 miles (2½ hours) Greenbrier Cove: 6 miles (¼ hour) Deep Creek: 48 miles (1½ hours) 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. Cherokee, NC to: Gatlinburg: 34 miles (1 hour) Cades Cove: 58 miles (2 hours) Newfound Gap: 18 miles (½ hour) Clingmans Dome: 25 miles (¾ hour) Cataloochee: 39 miles (1½ hours) Deep Creek: 14 miles (½ hour) SEVIERVILLE ay Words with a Ranger Continued from page 1 and patrolling for litter. They also clear ashes from fire rings, clean grills, repair camping pads, top off gravel, mow, manage fallen leaves, and keep drainage ditches clear and free of obstructions. Meanwhile, our buildings staff stay busy maintaining any structure in the park with four walls and a door. This includes everything from bustling visitor centers and public restrooms to ranger stations and administrative offices. The Forever Places crew is specifically dedicated to preserving more than 100 historic cabins, mills, churches, schools, barns, and springhouses scattered from Cataloochee to Cades Cove. When carpenter bees, woodpeckers, shifting foundations, or falling trees cause damage, these skilled artisans swing into action using periodappropriate techniques and locally sourced materials. Over the last few years, we’ve seen an unfortunate uptick in vandalism. Every time a window is broken or a wall is carved into, we lose an irreplaceable piece of the cultural fabric of the Smokies. Our staff take great pride in their work and often bring their own families here to share that connection. I encourage you to also take pride in this place and treat it as you might your own home. This park is your park. Enjoy it and help us pass it on to the next generation. Raccoon and firewood pest illustrations on page 9 by Lisa Horstman. All others by Emma Oxford. LE AV E O N LY FOOT PR INT S Writing on or carving into trees, stones, or structures can cause permanent damage—it’s also a crime! Taking a photo is always a better way to remember your time in the Smokies and helps preserve the park for others too. Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 8 A LWAYS U S E TH E R U LE O F TH U M B PLE A S E LE AV E YO U R FI R E WOO D AT H O M E Use only heat-treated or dead and down wood within the park. Harmful pests can hitchhike into the park on your firewood, which could kill millions of trees. When viewing wildlife, hold your arm out straight. If you can’t cover the animal in your line of sight with your thumb, you’re too close! BIN IT FO R TH E B E A R S Help protect bears by packing out all trash and food waste and using bear-proof dumpsters in the park. K E E P PE T S O N D ­ ESIG N AT E D T R AI L S Remember that the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the only pet-friendly trails in the park. All pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. Smokies Guide Fall 2023 • 9 the park’s partners in helping to protect this special place for IF YOU LOVE THE SMOKIES Join future generations Great Smoky Mountains Association Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) brings people of all backgrounds together as advocates and stewards to honor, sustain, and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park. GSMA operates the park’s official bookstores, publishes books and other high-quality media about the Smokies, and supports the park’s educational, scientific, and historical preservation efforts. Since 1953, GSMA has contributed more than $47 million to the national park. Become a GSMA member today by visiting SmokiesInformation.org or call us at 888.898.9102, ext. 257. Interested in working in the park? GSMA is currently hiring for retail, information desk, and warehouse positions! Rates begin at $15/hr. plus opportunities for monthl