Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE Be ck yN ist The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Spring 2023 ic h o ls , Ento lo mo g Words with a Ranger Spring is a great time to observe wildlife in the Smokies, the vibrant green of new plant growth, and of course, the abundant wildflowers that carpet the understory. As an entomologist—a scientist who studies insects—I like to keep an eye out for pollinators, the roaming heroes of wildflower season. Pollinators are animals that transfer pollen from one flower to another as they drink nectar or gather pollen. Without them, spring wildflowers could not reproduce. This transfer of pollen fertilizes the plant, which will then produce seeds, ensuring the future survival of the species. Several different kinds of animals can serve as pollinators, including some birds and mammals, but more than 70 percent of flowering plants worldwide are pollinated by insects. Among the insects, bees are by far the most efficient and abundant of pollinators. We have documented 304 species of bees in the park so far, and over 200 of these have been discovered only in the last 25 years, mostly as a result of the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or ATBI. This diversity of bees is directly Continued on page 8 Crested dwarf irises are a common sight in park woodlands around mid-April. These petite perennials grow in densely formed clusters no more than nine inches tall. Image by Ryan Somma. Park It Forward in 2023 Parking tags help pave the way for improved visitor services and park preservation A s of March 1, a valid parking tag is required for all visitors parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are not required for motorists who simply pass through the area or park for less than 15 minutes. Daily ($5), weekly ($15), and annual ($40) parking tags are available for purchase at automated fee machines and visitor centers as well as online at recreation.gov or smokiesinformation. org. Each tag is valid for use in a single vehicle and must include a license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. Tags must be displayed physically in vehicles; digital representations will not be accepted. Parking tags do not guarantee a parking spot in a specific location or at a specific time. Revenue generated by parking tags will help to improve visitor services OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA in the park and preserve the Smokies for generations to come. Park visitation has increased by 38 percent over the last decade to 12.9 million visits in 2022. These critically needed funds will supplement federal funding, grant monies, and donation dollars, providing an opportunity to address the rising costs associated with maintaining what is consistently the most visited national park in the country. All revenue generated through the sales of parking tags will stay in the Smokies to directly improve visitor experiences and help fund things like trail maintenance, custodial services, trash removal, historic cabin preservation, and staffing for increased ranger presence across the park. For more information about parking tags, scan the code at the right with your camera app or visit go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. GreatSmoky MountainsNPS 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 and SmokiesRoadsNPS GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Oconaluftee, Sugarlands, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m–5 p.m. March through May. Clingmans Dome: reopens April 1, open 10 a.m–6 p.m. in April and May. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday only. Mingus Mill: closed until further notice. Cable Mill: opens March 5. Road closures Many secondary and higher-­ elevation roads are closed s­ easonally in winter and reopen in spring. Refer to the map on pages 6-7 for opening dates. • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27 to allow for non-motorized recreation. • All roads including Newfound Gap, Cataloochee, and Cades Cove Loop roads are subject to temporary closure due to dangerous driving conditions. Check twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS for updates. Park weather March is an unpredictable time in the Smokies. Snow can fall any day, especially at the higher elevations. Backpackers are often caught off guard when a sunny, warm day is followed by a wet, bitterly cold one. By mid- to late April, the weather is typically more mild with an average high of 71ºF in Gatlinburg and 52ºF at Mount Le Conte. Special events and ranger programs • April 26–29, Wildflower Pilgrimage: parkwide, see ­­wildflowerpilgrimage.­org • June, Firefly viewing: Elkmont Campground, lottery for vehicle passes opens April 28 at recreation.gov 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. Chimneys, Collins Creek, and the pavillion at Twin Creeks open April 1. Big Creek and Cosby open April 7. Look Rock opens April 28, and Heintooga opens May 12. 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, reopens March 20) provides the only lodging in the park. Advanced reservations required. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com Services There are no gas 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: mid-Sept. Winter: mid-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 Spring 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 starting April 1. 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. 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. Call for exact opening dates. •C  ades Cove 865.448.9009 cadescovestables.com •S  mokemont 828.497.2373 smokemontridingstable.com • Sugarlands 865.436.3535 sugarlandsridingstables.com 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 (nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/maps. htm), 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 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. GSMNP BY THE NUMBERS Backcountry camping permit holders are not exempt from parking tag requirements. Spring hikers should be especially aware of quickly changing conditions and the danger of hypothermia—the lowering of body temperature. Always carry an ample supply of food, water, and reliable rain gear. Layer clothing that provides warmth when wet (not cotton). Be prepared for sudden weather changes, especially at the higher elevations, including rain, cold, and wind. Stay dry and know your limitations. See page 4 for more hiking tips and trip essentials. bark ranger great smoky mountains national park COVID-19 The National Park Service is working with federal, state, and local health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Check nps.gov/grsm for active alerts about open facilities, access, and maskwearing requirements. 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 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' Smokies Guide Spring 2023 • 3 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 Spring 2023 • 4 Smokies Guide Spring 2023 • 5 To I-40 b er Ga p Trail re sC ke SMOKY SE App al ra i H RT a il Co ve Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD al a Swain County Visitor Center Santeetlah Lake ©GSMA2023 129 /Rou ) Balsam Mountain ad 276 Heintooga Ridge Rd opens May 12 Blu g e R id e Parkw ay Maggie Valley Dellwood 19 Oconaluftee River Trail 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 (see far left chart) Restrooms Horseback Riding (rental) 19 Deep Creek WAYNESVILLE Camping 441 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 NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST To Asheville Mingo Falls SYLVA 28 Co ve Ro Cre ad ek Exit 20 23 74 143 Boogerman Loop Trail 441 23 Major Hwys Major Roads B Gravel Roads Select Trails Paved Roads Closed Roads rk w JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA in er nt ga e Pa ch ed wi oo i nt Picnic Areas r BRYSON CITY 28 os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee He Ro Bi g Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center CHEROKEE K AR Smokemont Loop Trail 441 Loop Trail Ap p i Mountain Farm Museum Twentymile NO i rk Clingmans Dome Rd opens April 1 Hazel Creek Trail Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE at Trail Trail NA Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont Bone Valley Trail il CA I OL Kan Andrews Bald ac h i a n Lake Cheoah ty m ch Clingmans Dome Visitor Center eT Tw e n ala M O U N TA I N S I P L ONA Straight Fork Rd opens April 1 Kephart Prong Trail l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap E R ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake N AT Newfound Gap Trail Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. 129 an Charlies Bunion Clingmans Dome Cades Cove Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot id g lue R Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, and Swain County Visitor Center. Chilhowee Forge Creek Road Alum Cave Bluffs Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Cades Cove Visitor Center Parson Branch Rd opens April 14 Rainbow Falls Fern Branch Falls Alum Cave Trail Middle Prong Trail Big Creek (cl n t e r) wi in d Ja cu m Mouse Creek Falls Bottom Rd nd . Deep Creek Picnic Area Cu Ramsey Cascades Trail Oconaluftee Visitor Center G R E AT Daisy Town Mount Le Conte ek T n (opens April 1) GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades Lit tle 40 ek Trail Cre ia Clingmans Dome Visitor Center • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available m sF a Elkmont lls re il ra Newfound Gap Parking Area Abrams Falls Abrams Creek Little A Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il il Tra d Cades Cove Visitor Center e b Traow F il a r ve tR Cades Cove Loop Entrance Ab ra Visitor Centers s (clo Road Ri Schoolhouse Gap Trail on Look Rock Tower Mount Cammerer Trail Lo w Tra Gap il s Trail ade asc Ramsey C Grotto Falls T r Rive Meigs Falls Heritage Center Sugarlands Visitor Center N OR TH C AROL IN es M ounta i n Ap p Laurel Falls Trail 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls 321 Townsend Cataract Falls Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Red light #8 in Ra Rich Mountain Rd opens April 7 Little Brier Gap Trail GATLINBURG Little Greenbrier Rd opens April 7 Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Wears Valley TENNESSEE Exit 451 Mount Cammerer Area closed due to washed out roads Tr Metcalf Bottoms ll s Pa ay rk w Pa ills CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST 32 Hen Wallow Falls Gab Fo To Chattanooga h F o ot 73 321 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens April 7 ek Walland y rk wa Hartford Exit 447 Greenbrier ek Tra il 129 411 Exit 443 Cosby Pittman Center Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Tre m GSM Institute at Tremont 321 th To Newport ay Tr All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. Check twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS for updates. il Tra lls Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area PIGEON FORGE 321 Townsend, TN to: Cades Cove: 9 miles (¼ hour) Newfound Gap: 34 miles (1¼ hours) Gatlinburg: 22 miles (¾ hour) Look Rock: 18 miles (½ hour) Sugarlands Visitor Center 441 o Fo ill w ar k s P 416 Single lane closures on northbound Spur through April 7. Expect slowdowns Cre 411 321 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) • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only Cosby Clingmans Dome Road and Straight Fork Road open April 1 Little Greenbrier Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Rich Mtn. Road open April 7 Parson Branch Road opens April 14 Heintooga Ridge and Heintooga/Round Bottom Road open May 12 129 MARYVILLE 32 Deep 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) Automated Fee Machines 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. Parking tag purchase locations within the park SEVIERVILLE Big To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times ay To I-40 b er Ga p Trail re sC ke SMOKY SE App al ra i H RT a il Co ve Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD al a Swain County Visitor Center Santeetlah Lake ©GSMA2023 129 /Rou ) Balsam Mountain ad 276 Heintooga Ridge Rd opens May 12 Blu g e R id e Parkw ay Maggie Valley Dellwood 19 Oconaluftee River Trail 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 (see far left chart) Restrooms Horseback Riding (rental) 19 Deep Creek WAYNESVILLE Camping 441 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 NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST To Asheville Mingo Falls SYLVA 28 Co ve Ro Cre ad ek Exit 20 23 74 143 Boogerman Loop Trail 441 23 Major Hwys Major Roads B Gravel Roads Select Trails Paved Roads Closed Roads rk w JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA in er nt ga e Pa ch ed wi oo i nt Picnic Areas r BRYSON CITY 28 os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee He Ro Bi g Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center CHEROKEE K AR Smokemont Loop Trail 441 Loop Trail Ap p i Mountain Farm Museum Twentymile NO i rk Clingmans Dome Rd opens April 1 Hazel Creek Trail Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE at Trail Trail NA Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont Bone Valley Trail il CA I OL Kan Andrews Bald ac h i a n Lake Cheoah ty m ch Clingmans Dome Visitor Center eT Tw e n ala M O U N TA I N S I P L ONA Straight Fork Rd opens April 1 Kephart Prong Trail l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap E R ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake N AT Newfound Gap Trail Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. 129 an Charlies Bunion Clingmans Dome Cades Cove Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot id g lue R Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, and Swain County Visitor Center. Chilhowee Forge Creek Road Alum Cave Bluffs Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Cades Cove Visitor Center Parson Branch Rd opens April 14 Rainbow Falls Fern Branch Falls Alum Cave Trail Middle Prong Trail Big Creek (cl n t e r) wi in d Ja cu m Mouse Creek Falls Bottom Rd nd . Deep Creek Picnic Area Cu Ramsey Cascades Trail Oconaluftee Visitor Center G R E AT Daisy Town Mount Le Conte ek T n (opens April 1) GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades Lit tle 40 ek Trail Cre ia Clingmans Dome Visitor Center • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available m sF a Elkmont lls re il ra Newfound Gap Parking Area Abrams Falls Abrams Creek Little A Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il il Tra d Cades Cove Visitor Center e b Traow F il a r ve tR Cades Cove Loop Entrance Ab ra Visitor Centers s (clo Road Ri Schoolhouse Gap Trail on Look Rock Tower Mount Cammerer Trail Lo w Tra Gap il s Trail ade asc Ramsey C Grotto Falls T r Rive Meigs Falls Heritage Center Sugarlands Visitor Center N OR TH C AROL IN es M ounta i n Ap p Laurel Falls Trail 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls 321 Townsend Cataract Falls Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Red light #8 in Ra Rich Mountain Rd opens April 7 Little Brier Gap Trail GATLINBURG Little Greenbrier Rd opens April 7 Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Wears Valley TENNESSEE Exit 451 Mount Cammerer Area closed due to washed out roads Tr Metcalf Bottoms ll s Pa ay rk w Pa ills CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST 32 Hen Wallow Falls Gab Fo To Chattanooga h F o ot 73 321 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens April 7 ek Walland y rk wa Hartford Exit 447 Greenbrier ek Tra il 129 411 Exit 443 Cosby Pittman Center Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Tre m GSM Institute at Tremont 321 th To Newport ay Tr All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. Check twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS for updates. il Tra lls Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area PIGEON FORGE 321 Townsend, TN to: Cades Cove: 9 miles (¼ hour) Newfound Gap: 34 miles (1¼ hours) Gatlinburg: 22 miles (¾ hour) Look Rock: 18 miles (½ hour) Sugarlands Visitor Center 441 o Fo ill w ar k s P 416 Single lane closures on northbound Spur through April 7. Expect slowdowns Cre 411 321 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) • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only Cosby Clingmans Dome Road and Straight Fork Road open April 1 Little Greenbrier Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Rich Mtn. Road open April 7 Parson Branch Road opens April 14 Heintooga Ridge and Heintooga/Round Bottom Road open May 12 129 MARYVILLE 32 Deep 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) Automated Fee Machines 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. Parking tag purchase locations within the park SEVIERVILLE Big To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times ay Words with a Ranger Continued from page 1 related to the number of flowering plants we find here, which is currently over 1,700. These include the spring ephemerals, which are woodland plants that bloom early in the spring before the forest canopy is fully closed in. Many of the park’s spring ephemeral wildflowers are pollinated by solitary, ground-nesting native bees. They are often specialists, meaning they have a narrow, specialized preference for pollen sources. An example of this is the spring beauty mining bee (Andrena erigeniae), which only visits two species of the genus Claytonia, or spring beauties. Bumble bees, on the other hand, are generalists that visit a wide variety of flowers. Because they are so hairy, they are particularly good pollinators, moving pollen from plant to plant as they search for food. Virginia bluebells, trout lilies, trailing arbutus, spicebush, dogwoods, and redbuds are all early spring bloomers that bumble bees seek out. The reproduction of many plant species is intimately tied to pollinators, and it is therefore vital that we maintain habitats that support both. We can all contribute to the survival of pollinators by learning more about plants native to the region where we live and providing a diverse community of flowering plants for pollinators. Raccoon illustration 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 Spring 2023 • 8 A LWAYS U S E TH E R U LE O F TH U M B STI C K TO THE TRAIL Help control erosion into Smokies waterways and protect important habitats for rare wildflowers, salamanders, and firefly larvae by staying on When viewing wildlife, hold your arm established trails. 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 Spring 2023 • 9 I F YOU LOVE THE SMOK I ES Great Smoky Mountains National Park depends on four primary nonprofit partners as well as 2,800 park volunteers to help its staff meet the needs of 12+ million visitors and manage 522,000 acres of resources. Great Smoky Mountains Association Since 1953, the nonprofit Great Smoky ­Mountains ­Association has supported the educational, scientific, and historical preservation efforts of the park by supporting park programs, operating the park’s official bookstores, and publishing books and other media about the park’s natural and cultural resources. Over the years, GSMA has contributed more than $47 million to the national park. GSMA members receive a number of benefits: • Subscription to the biannual Smokies Life journal • Digital access to the Smokies LIVE e-newsletter • 15–20% discount on books, music, gifts, and products at park visitor centers and GSMA’s web store • 10% (or more) discount at 500+ additional nonprofit public lands partner stores • Access to member-exclusive group hikes, backpacking excursions, and educational sessions • Invitation to GSMA’s Members Weekend Join 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 miller positions! Rates begin at $15/hr. plus opportunities for monthly sales and membership bonuses. Enjoy flexible scheduling and no evening shifts. Apply online at SmokiesInformation.org/employment. Friends of the Smokies Founded in 1993, supporters of Friends of the Smokies have contributed over $75 million to the park. Funds help the park provide more than 12 million visitors a safe, memorable experience while protecting the historic and natural resources of the park. Every year, the park requests funding for numerous projects and programs that would be unfulfilled without the support of Friends. Programs and projects include: • ‘Forever Places’ endowment to support historic preservation • ‘Trails Forever’ endowment to fund the skilled crews who lead trail rehabilitation • ‘Trails Now,’ which funds materials for ‘Trails Forever’ projects • Facility improvements and visitor amenities • Campground renovations • Cultural experiences and special events • Search and Rescue vehicles and safety equipment • Education programs to serve over 10,000 students every year • Air and water quality monitoring • Conservation and wildlife management Programs like ‘Forever Places’ support the park’s efforts to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy the park and walk in the footsteps of those who once called these mountains home. Your donation makes a difference. Learn more and become a ‘Friend’ by visiting FriendsOfTheSmokies.org. For information about memberships and planned giving, email: info@friendsofthesmokies.org or call 800.845.5665. Join the park’s partners in helping to protect this special place for future generations Discover Life in America The Smokies have long been renowned for their rich variety of life. Knowing what creatures reside here helps the National Park Service better protect the Smokies against threats like air pollution, wildfire, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and climate change. Discover Life in America is a nonprofit partner that was launched in 1998 to manage the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), an effort to identify and learn about every variety of plant and animal in the park. The organization works with leading biologists from around the globe to conduct this massive inventory. Volunteers and interns become ‘community scientists’ who help with DLiA’s work. These participants get an insider’s look at the park, as well as firsthand knowledge of biology, field science, and laboratory practices. Funding comes from donations by individuals and institutions. To date, DLiA has helped add more than 10,000 species to the inventory of life in the par