Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE t Ku lp Bi ol at og M is t The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Summer 2023 ,S upe r v is or y e Fish ry Words with a Ranger As the supervisory fishery biologist for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I am responsible for protecting, preserving, and managing more than 70 species of fish, setting fishing regulations for 5 species of game fish, and maintaining and improving the water quality of more than 2,900 miles of park streams and rivers. We protect and preserve fish populations by monitoring them annually, restoring native fish in select streams, and working with neighboring state and federal partners to ensure stream populations remain free from nonnative parasites and diseases. We also lead a variety of research studies to inform park managers on current topics such as water chemistry changes associated with acid rain, conservation genetics of our native fish species, and mercury levels in fish tissue. I became interested in this field after attending local fishing club meetings with my father and watching presentations by the state fishery biologist. Continued on page 8 Mouse Creek Falls cascades into the scenic Big Creek. Shuttle services can provide transportation to the Big Creek area and other popular destinations where parking may be limited. Image by Michele Sons. Explore More with a Shuttle This Summer Shuttle services offer a dependable transportation alternative P lanning an adventure in the Smokies this summer but worried about finding a parking spot? Local shuttle services can take the uncertainty out of trip planning and guarantee a smooth, stress-free ride to the destination of your choice. Several local businesses are now offering expanded shuttle services to and from the park’s most popular hubs including Newfound Gap, Alum Cave trailhead, and Laurel Falls trailhead where visitor demand for parking regularly exceeds capacity. Some shuttles maintain a regular route and schedule, while others can be reserved for any time and pick-up or drop-off location. Prices generally range from $10 to $25 per person depending on the destination and provider, and services cater to single passengers as well as groups of up to 15. Summer can be a particularly busy time in the Smokies, where annual visi- OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA tation regularly exceeds that of Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks combined. As of March 2023, all vehicles parked anywhere in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for longer than 15 minutes are required to display a valid parking tag. Parking tags do not guarantee a specific parking spot in a specific location, and parking spaces continue to be available on a first come, first served basis. Mid-week and early mornings or late afternoons are usually the best times to secure parking, but if no spaces are available, visitors will need to try an alternative destination or time. For more information about shuttle services and a list of authorized providers, visit go.nps.gov/GRSMshuttles. Park staff cannot make shuttle reservations for visitors. The Backcountry Office offers additional trip-planning help at 865.436.1297. 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 Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m–5 p.m. June through September. Clingmans Dome: open 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. June through August; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. September. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday only. Road closures • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27 to allow for walking and biking. • 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. 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 summer, heat, haze, and humidity are the norm by mid-June. Most precipitation occurs as afternoon thundershowers. By mid-September, a pattern of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights often begins. However, cool, rainy days also occur. Special events and ranger programs See page 5 for ranger programs and visit go.nps.gov/GRSMcalendar for a full calendar of events. SMOKIES GUIDE P L A N N E R Firewood Camping in the national park 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. 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. 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: 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 Summer 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. 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. • Cades Cove 865.448.9009 cadescovestables.com • Smokemont 828.497.2373 smokemontridingstable.com • Sugarlands 865.436.5470 sugarlandsstables.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 Gatlinburg, 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 GSMNP BY THE NUMBERS from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for trip planning help. The office is located in Sugarlands Visitor Center, two miles south of Gatlinburg 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. Summer hikers should be especially aware of the dangers of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and hyponatremia—the combination of increased water intake and inadequate sodium and electrolyte levels. Drink when thirsty; rest and eat often. Always carry an ample supply of water, snacks, and sun protection. Know your limits. Reduce the risk of hypothermia, a danger even in summer, with layered clothing and rain gear. See page 4 for more hiking tips and trip essentials. 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 MOVING ROCKS HARMS AQUATIC LIFE. bark ranger great smoky mountains national park of species species mtns. higher 31 species salamanders 69 of mammals 9,900 +of insects 16 than 6,000' Smokies Guide Summer 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 • Use 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 • Sun 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 Summer 2023 • 4 RANGER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS NORTH DISTRICT Hit the trail (near Gatlinburg, TN) A Walk in the Woods: Discover history and get immersed in nature on an easy stroll with a ranger. MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY 11 a.m. / 2 p.m. Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 1.5 hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Newfound Gap 30 minutes Elkmont (Jakes Creek Trailhead parking lot) 1.5 hours Cosby Amphitheater 1 hour WHEN? Daily Creatures of the Smokies: Learn interesting facts about all kinds of Smokies wildlife large and small. A Blast into the Past­— Daisy Town: Explore the cabins of early Smokies tourists who transformed a logging camp into a summer retreat. Celebrating Cosby: Celebrate the rich cultural and natural history of Cosby with programs exploring mountain music, moonshiners, mountain medicine, storytelling, and more. 11 a.m. Friday, Saturday 12 p.m. Fridays June 23–July 14 7 p.m. SOUTH DISTRICT (near Cherokee, NC) WHEN? Wild about the Smokies Porch Talk: Get the inside scoop on where to spot wildlife, how to do it safely, and why scientists study animals in the Smokies. 3 p.m. Forney Ridge Ramble Guided Hike: Hike with a ranger through coniferous rainforest to breathtaking views at Andrews Bald. This moderate trail climbs 875 feet over 3.5 miles round trip. See opposite page to prepare for your hike. Mingus Mill Pop-Up: Explore what life was like in the Smokies a century ago. Learn about the innovative grist mill and the families who lived and worked nearby. Old-Time Music Jam: Join in with local musicians playing old-time songs on traditional Appalachian instruments, like the mountain dulcimer. All experience levels and instruments welcome. CADES COVE (near Townsend, TN) For a full list of programs for the public, please visit: go.nps.gov/GRSMcalendar Blacksmith Demonstrations: Learn about the art of blacksmithing and how it supported the Cades Cove community. Stream Splashers: Wade through a mountain stream in search of aquatic creatures. Be prepared to get wet. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Cove Life: Visit a historic cabin to learn about daily life in Cades Cove. A ranger will remain on site after the program until noon. Smokies Guide Summer 2023 • 5 Daily Daily 11 a.m. Daily 2:30–4:30 p.m. Third Saturday of the month 1 p.m. WHEN? Friday, Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sunday 1–3 p.m. Monday 10 a.m. JUNE 1 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Oconaluftee Visitor Center 30 minutes Forney Ridge trailhead at Clingmans Dome 2 hours Mingus Mill Drop-in, 15 minutes Oconaluftee Visitor Center 2 hours MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Blacksmith shop near Cable Mill Drop-in, 15 minutes Cades Cove Visitor Center Drop-in, 15 minutes John Oliver Cabin 30 minutes To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times To I-40 SEVIERVILLE 321 All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. 32 o Fo Cosby MARYVILLE PIGEON FORGE 321 Cosby Pittman Center 73 321 Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Mount Cammerer Trail 40 SE NA Fontana La Lake H RT ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD Swain County Visitor Center For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. ©GSMA 2023 (cl Exit 20 Co ve Bi g Balsam Mountain ad Mingo Falls Blu g e R id e Parkw ay Cherokee Museum Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Dellwood Parking tag purchase locations (see far left chart) Restrooms Horseback Riding (rental) 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 19 Oconaluftee River Trail SYLVA 28 276 Maggie Valley 23 74 143 Co ve Ro Cre ad ek 441 23 Major Hwys Major Roads B Gravel Roads Select Trails Paved Roads Closed Roads rk w Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. Boogerman Loop Trail e Pa Santeetlah Lake 129 ) Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA Big i ch ala Ap p Deep Creek n Deep Creek Picnic Area /Rou id g lue R ch in er nt ga Picnic Areas r BRYSON CITY 28 ed wi oo i nt 19 ia NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile al a Ro 441 ra i Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus CHEROKEE os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum Loop Trail Ap p i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Hazel Creek Trail il CA I OL at Trail ac h i a n Lake Cheoah ty m Kan Bone Valley Trail eT Tw e n Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap E R ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake m om nte s D wi an i n Andrews Bald App al Cades Cove Visitor Center Rd . Clingmans Dome Visitor Center er) int 129 I K AR He rk M O U N TA I N S Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. ad N AT P L ONA Kephart Prong Trail Deep n in w r so Pa osed (cl Ro Cades Cove Charlies Bunion Newfound Gap Trail Clingmans Dome Trail ch Alum Cave Bluffs Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Trail S tra ig h t Fo re sC ke an Tr n t e r) wi in d p Trail Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot intooga Ridge Road He n B ra Alum Cave Trail Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Rainbow Falls Fern Branch Falls rk R n un t ai Mo Rich b er Ga Big Creek Bottom Rd nd . Ja cu m Mount Le Conte ek T il ra Cu re il Tra Daisy Town Lit tle lls Ramsey Cascades Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il r ve Chilhowee Cades Cove Loop Entrance Oconaluftee Visitor Center Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades G R E AT Forge Creek Road GSM Institute at Tremont (closed in winter) m sF a b Traow F il a Cades Cove Visitor Center Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Clingmans Dome Visitor Center e il Tra lls Sugarlands Visitor Center Newfound Gap Parking Area d Ab ra Abrams Falls Abrams Creek s (clo Road Elkmont s Trail ade asc Ramsey C Grotto Falls T r Rive Meigs Falls tR • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Schoolhouse Gap Trail Sugarlands Visitor Center Ri Look Rock Tower o Red light #8 in Ra Visitor Centers Laurel Falls Trail 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls 321 Heritage Center ad Cataract Falls Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Little Brier Gap Trail Fo ll s Metcalf Bottoms Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) GATLINBURG Wears Valley ek way Pa ills Lo w Tra Gap il Cre rk Pa To Chattanooga h F o ot A es M ounta i n Greenbrier eR r) d. Walland y rk wa ek Tra il 129 411 TENNESSEE Exit 451 ek Trail Cre on • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST 32 a il 321 Townsend Automated Fee Machines Hartford Exit 447 441 411 Tre m Parking tag purchase locations within the park Exit 443 416 129 321 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) To Newport ay 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) Cli n (cl g os ed 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) th ill w ar k s P ay To Knoxville Driving distances and estimated times To I-40 SEVIERVILLE 321 All driving times may vary due to traffic conditions. 32 o Fo Cosby MARYVILLE PIGEON FORGE 321 Cosby Pittman Center 73 321 Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Mount Cammerer Trail 40 SE NA Fontana La Lake H RT ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD Swain County Visitor Center For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. ©GSMA 2023 (cl Exit 20 Co ve Bi g Balsam Mountain ad Mingo Falls Blu g e R id e Parkw ay Cherokee Museum Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Dellwood Parking tag purchase locations (see far left chart) Restrooms Horseback Riding (rental) 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 19 Oconaluftee River Trail SYLVA 28 276 Maggie Valley 23 74 143 Co ve Ro Cre ad ek 441 23 Major Hwys Major Roads B Gravel Roads Select Trails Paved Roads Closed Roads rk w Parking tags are available outside the park at Townsend Visitor Center, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. Boogerman Loop Trail e Pa Santeetlah Lake 129 ) Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA Big i ch ala Ap p Deep Creek n Deep Creek Picnic Area /Rou id g lue R ch in er nt ga Picnic Areas r BRYSON CITY 28 ed wi oo i nt 19 ia NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile al a Ro 441 ra i Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus CHEROKEE os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum Loop Trail Ap p i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Hazel Creek Trail il CA I OL at Trail ac h i a n Lake Cheoah ty m Kan Bone Valley Trail eT Tw e n Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont l Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap E R ES TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake m om nte s D wi an i n Andrews Bald App al Cades Cove Visitor Center Rd . Clingmans Dome Visitor Center er) int 129 I K AR He rk M O U N TA I N S Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays May 3– September 27. ad N AT P L ONA Kephart Prong Trail Deep n in w r so Pa osed (cl Ro Cades Cove Charlies Bunion Newfound Gap Trail Clingmans Dome Trail ch Alum Cave Bluffs Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Trail S tra ig h t Fo re sC ke an Tr n t e r) wi in d p Trail Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot intooga Ridge Road He n B ra Alum Cave Trail Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Rainbow Falls Fern Branch Falls rk R n un t ai Mo Rich b er Ga Big Creek Bottom Rd nd . Ja cu m Mount Le Conte ek T il ra Cu re il Tra Daisy Town Lit tle lls Ramsey Cascades Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il r ve Chilhowee Cades Cove Loop Entrance Oconaluftee Visitor Center Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades G R E AT Forge Creek Road GSM Institute at Tremont (closed in winter) m sF a b Traow F il a Cades Cove Visitor Center Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area Clingmans Dome Visitor Center e il Tra lls Sugarlands Visitor Center Newfound Gap Parking Area d Ab ra Abrams Falls Abrams Creek s (clo Road Elkmont s Trail ade asc Ramsey C Grotto Falls T r Rive Meigs Falls tR • Business hours (page 2) • Cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Schoolhouse Gap Trail Sugarlands Visitor Center Ri Look Rock Tower o Red light #8 in Ra Visitor Centers Laurel Falls Trail 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls 321 Heritage Center ad Cataract Falls Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Townsend Visitor Center Little Brier Gap Trail Fo ll s Metcalf Bottoms Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) GATLINBURG Wears Valley ek way Pa ills Lo w Tra Gap il Cre rk Pa To Chattanooga h F o ot A es M ounta i n Greenbrier eR r) d. Walland y rk wa ek Tra il 129 411 TENNESSEE Exit 451 ek Trail Cre on • 24 hours per day • Credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST 32 a il 321 Townsend Automated Fee Machines Hartford Exit 447 441 411 Tre m Parking tag purchase locations within the park Exit 443 416 129 321 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) To Newport ay 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) Cli n (cl g os ed 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) th ill w ar k s P ay Words with a Ranger Continued from page 1 The data was fascinating to me and helped me understand why they managed the populations and set the fishing regulations like they did. We hire a number of interns and seasonal fishery technicians annually who share a similar passion and are starting their careers as I did years ago. This year, we are working to restore native brook trout to six streams in North Carolina and Tennessee totaling about 6.3 miles, and in 2024, we’ll be restoring 2.4 miles of Moore Spring Branch in North Carolina. These efforts are providing visitors with an additional 20 streams and 38.7 miles of fishing for native brook trout, which is an important part of the natural heritage of the Smoky Mountains. We are also working to provide water quality data to our state and federal partners to determine if air quality policies are helping to improve both air and water quality across the park. These data, collected by Trout Unlimited and other park volunteers since 1993, are being used to adjust air quality policies so that acidified streams will be allowed to recover and once again support fish and aquatic insects. These air and water quality improvements will not only benefit the Great Smoky Mountains but the entire Southern Appalachian region, and we are very proud of that. 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 Summer 2023 • 8 A LWAYS U S E TH E RU 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 Summer 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 monthly bonuses. Apply online at SmokiesInformation. org/employment. GSMA members enjoy... • Bi-annual Smokies Life journal • Smokies LIVE e-newsletter Discover Life in America Friends of the Smokies Since 1993, Friends of the Smokies has raised over $85 million to assist GSMNP in providing visitors a safe, memorable experience while protecting the park’s historic and natural resources. Every year, the park requests funding for projects and programs that would be unfulfilled without support from Friends. Examples include: • Trail rehabilitation • Preservation of historic structures • Facility repairs, upgrades, and renovations • Accessibility improvements • First responder equipment and training • Educational programs for 10,000+ students • Conservation and wildlife management Discover Life in America (DLiA) is devoted to cataloging every living species in the Smokies through the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. This ongoing project helps the National Park Service better understand and protect the 21,000 kinds of organisms documented in the Smokies, with more discovered every day. DLiA also offers internship, volunteer, community science, and education opportunities that provide firsthand experiences in the Smokies, promote the importance of biodiversity, and foster stewardship of the natural world. Learn how you can support DLiA at dlia.org or call 865.430.4757. Join the discovery! Record life in the park with the iNaturalist app! dlia.org GSMNP BY THE NUMBERS Photo by Stephen Nelson Tremont Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont offers