Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Spring 2024 rr y De ng La er A singing northern parula, one of many warblers whose migration back to the Smokies heralds the coming of spring. Image courtesy of N. Lewis. che s s e r, R ov ing P ar k Ra Words with a Ranger My desire to become a park ranger came as an epiphany several years ago while I was on a guided walk in Yellowstone National Park. The walk was through what is known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the ranger who led it made it an incredible experience. Before the group dispersed, the ranger recommended considering a career with the park service and gave each of us a puzzle piece with a small part of the canyon to take home. After that, I was determined to become a ranger so I could make the same difference for others that the Yellowstone ranger had made for me. After I concluded my military career, I joined the park service, and that puzzle piece is still with me today. It has traveled to more than 30 other national parks so far. Continued on page 8 For Birds and Blooms, Timing Is Everything Species tune into key seasonal signals to thrive H umans seem to be the only forms of life in the Smokies that rely on a calendar. For the other 21,000+ species discovered in these mountains so far, knowing when to sing, bloom, or set out in search of food depends on paying close attention to environmental cues. In spring, as days lengthen, temperatures climb, and rains soak the ground, a whole host of plants known as “spring ephemerals” receive their signal to flower. Over millennia, these early risers have adapted to attract pollinators within the brief window of springtime when most deciduous trees have yet to put out their leaves and direct sunlight is still plentiful on the forest floor. Spring ephemerals generally peak in early to mid-April in the Smokies with some persisting into May at the cooler higher elevations. Songbirds also take note of these seasonal signals and the growing avail- OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA ability of food. Resident birds establish their territories, sing more frequently, and develop colorful plumage in hopes of attracting a mate. Meanwhile, migrant songbirds start to move and arrive daily throughout spring from their wintering grounds elsewhere to join in the chorus of song and set to building their nests. When we humans decide to study these changes, we call it phenology. Every year, park biologists and community volunteers organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont visit designated phenology plots to measure the progress of the seaons. By carefully collecting data about natural events over time, we can reveal fascinating interconnections and better understand how everything from blooming wildflowers to migrating songbirds will respond to change as they set their busy schedules. 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 GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. March through May (7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Wednesdays in May at Cades Cove). Clingmans Dome: reopens April 1; open 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. April and May. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Cable Mill: reopens April 1. Mingus Mill: closed until further notice for repairs. Road closures Many secondary and higherelevation roads are closed seasonally 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 1 through September 25 to allow for non-motorized recreation. • All park roads are subject to temporary closure during dangerous driving conditions. Visit nps.gov/grsm and click “Alerts.” 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. T R I P P L A N N E R Firewood Campgrounds 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 is considered 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 2024 Nightly Fees Max RV Length Abrams Creek 16 1,125' 4/26 – 10/27 $30 12' Balsam Mountain 43 5,310' 5/10 – 10/14 $30 30' Big Creek 12 1,700' 3/29 – 10/27 $30 tents only Cades Cove 159 1,807' open year-round $30 35'–40' Cataloochee 27 2,610' 3/29 – 10/27 $30 31' Cosby 157 2,459' 3/29 – 10/27 $30 25' Deep Creek 92 1,800' 3/29 – 10/27 $30 26' Elkmont 220 2,150' 3/8 – 11/24 $30 32'–35' Look Rock 68 2,600' 4/26 – 10/27 $30–36 no limit Smokemont 142 2,198' open year-round $30 35'–40' Site 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. 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. Big Creek, Chimneys, Collins Creek, and Cosby open March 29; Look Rock opens April 26; and Heintooga opens May 10. 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 25) provides the only lodging in the park. Advance reservations only. 865.429.5704, lecontelodge.com Services There are no gas stations, charging stations, showers, or restaurants in the national park. Limited food options are available in visitor centers and camp stores. Event reservations Reserve the Appalachian Clubhouse or Spence Cabin at Elkmont for daytime events at recreation.gov. Cabin and clubhouse open April 1. Pets 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 on a leash no longer than six feet. SMOKIES GUIDE Smokies Guide is produced four times per year by Smokies Life and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. nps.gov/grsm SmokiesLife.org Publication dates Spring: March Summer: June Autumn: September Winter: December 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 2024 • 2 NPS Coordinators Stephanie Kyriazis Stephanie Sutton © 2024 Smokies Life P.O. Box 130 Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Available in digital format at issuu.com/ greatsmokymountains association Printed on recycled paper 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 or under and strongly recommended for all. Cades Cove Loop Road is open exclusively to cyclists and pedestrians on Wednesdays from May 1 through September 25. Bikes may be rented at the Cades Cove C ­ ampground 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. • Cades 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 year-round 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 SmokiesLife.org. 2. Plan your trip. Call the park’s Backcountry Office from 12 million+ 1,000 +species visitors per year new to science found in the park 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or drop into the office located within Sugarlands Visitor Center for trip-planning help. The office is open to visitors during visitor center hours. 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. 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. Special events and ranger activities See page 5 for more things to do and visit go.nps.gov/grsmcalendar for a full calendar of events. • April 13, Signs of Spring: Cades Cove, celebration of American Sign Language Day • May 1–4, Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: parkwide, see wildflowerpilgrimage.org • June, Firefly viewing: Elkmont Campground, lottery for vehicle passes opens April 28 at recreation.gov species of species mtns. higher 31 species salamanders 69 of mammals 9,900 +of insects 16 than 6,000' Smokies Guide Spring 2024 • 3 bark ranger great smoky mountains national park The only two pet-friendly trails in the Smokies are the Gatlinburg Trail in Tennessee and the Oconaluftee River Trail in North Carolina. Learn the BARK principles so you and your pet can have a safe and fun visit in the Smokies. 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 Download the free NPS App for interactive maps, tours, and more! 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 • 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. • Extra layers • First aid kit • Headlamp or flashlight • Traction support like microspikes and hiking poles •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. • Rain gear and pack cover or waterproof bags • Emergency whistle • Sun protection with sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat FOR A LONGER HIKE YOUR CELL PHONE IS NOT • a light • a map • a survival kit • always going to have service • Repair kit with multi-tool or knife • Fire starter • Shelter—emergency tent or tarp Smokies Guide Spring 2024 • 4 THINGS TO DO IN THE SPRINGTIME Hike through history M any roads and trails in the Smokies follow routes first created long before the park was ­established­—whether as Native American trails, European settler wagon roads, or timber company railroad beds. Today, reminders of past Smokies residents can still be seen throughout the park in the form of preserved homesites, churches, mills, and cemeteries. Drop by Daisy Town in Elkmont to talk to a park volunteer or check out new interpretive signage in the Mingus Mill area. Park trail maps can be downloaded for free at nps.gov or purchased for $1 at a visitor center or kiosk. Image by Reggie Tidwell. Find the Smokies Most Wanted Go on a wildflower pilgrimage F ew places in the world can rival the abundance and diversity of wildflowers in the Smokies from late March through early May. Some of the best trails for viewing these ephemeral blooms include Bradley Fork, Kanati Fork, Mingus Creek, Chestnut Top, Cucumber Gap, Cove Hardwood Nature Trail, and the park’s quiet walkways. The annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage returns in 2024 with guided walks and workshops May 1–4. Register and learn more at wildflowerpilgrimage.org. Wildflower brochures and the Wildflowers of the Smokies field guide are available at visitor center bookstores. Image by N. Lewis. Become a community scientist Help scientists gather important information about plants and animals by using the free iNaturalist app while visiting the park. 1 Get the iNaturalist app Download the app. Log in. Try it out. 2 Record life you find in the Smokies Find a cool organism. Take photos or sound recordings. Post it to iNaturalist. Repeat. Up for a challenge? Look for the target species (like this yellow-rumped warbler) in the Smokies Most Wanted guide. Find the guide and more at dlia.org/smokiesmostwanted. I f you have access to a smartphone, you already have all you need to become a community scientist. By using the iNaturalist app to document the lifeforms you come across in the park, you’ll be collecting real scientific data and helping the National Park Service better understand and protect biodiversity in the Smokies. Crowd-sourced iNaturalist observations are a critical part of the park’s All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI)—an ongoing project to document every living species in the Smokies. Managed by park partner Discover Life in America, the ATBI is one of the most comprehensive catalogs of regional biodiversity in the world. Image by Valerie Polk. Image by Kris Cu Smokies Guide Spring 2024 • 5 To Knoxville Parking tag purchase locations within the park To I-40 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Exit 447 441 PIGEON FORGE 321 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. 73 321 Gab N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens March 29 Mount Cammerer Trail 40 n t e r) wi in d i rs Pa osed (cl n ) ter wi n R at i l Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake Twentymile H RT vie wD r Ap p al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 Maggie Valley 19 Museum of the Cherokee People Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Parking tag purchase locations (see left column) Soco Falls Current/upcoming construction (see nps.gov/grsm) Horseback Riding (rental) Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads SYLVA NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w Gravel Roads 28 WAYNESVILLE Restrooms 23 74 143 To Asheville Dellwood e Pa ©Smokies Life 2024 Parkw ay Trail Santeetlah Lake 129 e 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. n JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA g e R id 441 74 276 Heintooga Ridge Rd and Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd open May 10 id g lue R ch Co ve Ro Cre ad ek Mingo Falls 19 Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Balsam Mountain ad Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE ia NO ke Juney Whank Falls Trail Boogerman Loop Trail Ro Blu 441 Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee Exit 20 Co ve Mountain Farm Museum Loop Trail Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Hazel Creek Trail K AR Smokemont Loop Trail Trail Clingmans Dome Rd opens April 1 P NAL Smokemont Bone Valley Trail il Big i ch ala Chasteen Creek Falls rk Kan ra i ty m Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot Straight Fork Rd opens March 29 Kephart Prong Trail Clingmans Dome Visitor Center eT Tw e n Lake Cheoah I M O U N TA I N S Andrews Bald ac h i a n Twentymile Loop Trail Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap OL SMOKY IO N AT Newfound Gap Trail Forge Creek Rd opens March 1 ad Calderwood Lake NA Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Charlies Bunion ek Ro CA TE NN ES E SE Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail Big Creek Trail Thunderhead Mountain 129 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST re sC ke Ja Ramsey Cascades Bi g B h p Trail an Cre on c ra n Alum Cave Trail Clingmans Dome App al • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available b er Ga Fern Branch Falls Deep Chilhowee cum Cades Cove Parson Branch Rd opens April 12 Trail Visitor Center Cu Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls ek T il ra il Tra lls G R E AT Daisy Town Lit tle il Tra d m sF a Elkmont lls re r ve tR Ab ra Abrams Falls (c Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il Ri on e los b Traow F il a des Trail sca Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat Grotto Falls T in Ra Meigs Falls a Ramsey C Sugarlands Visitor Center r Rive Tre m Schoolhouse Gap Trail Red light #8 Road Trail Heritage Center Look Rock Tower Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Ap p 321 Townsend Rich Mountain Rd opens April 12 Little Brier Gap Trail Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center GATLINBURG Wears Valley Tr Metcalf Bottoms ll s Pa ay rk w Pa ills Lo w Tra Gap il Fo To Chattanooga h F o ot A es M ounta i n Greenbrier y rk wa TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 Cosby Pittman Center Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center ek Tra il Walland 129 411 Cades Cove Visitor Center For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. Hartford ek Trail Cre Abrams Creek Parking tags are available outside the park at Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. ill Exit 443 416 321 Located at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Loop Entrance, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Newfound Gap, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Clingmans Dome, Greenbrier, Cosby, Big Creek, Townsend Wye, Look Rock, and Cataloochee. Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Clingmans Dome (closed in winter). th To Newport ay a il 411 o Fo w ar k s P Tr 129 MARYVILLE 32 Cosby Forge Creek Road opens March 1 Little Greenbrier Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Straight Fork Road open March 29 Clingmans Dome Road opens April 1 Rich Mtn. Road and Parson Branch Road open April 12 Heintooga Ridge and Heintooga/Round Bottom Road open May 10 321 • Available 24 hours per day • Accepts credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES Parking tags may be purchased at locations designated by these symbols on the map: Automated Fee Machine (AFM) SEVIERVILLE ay To Knoxville Parking tag purchase locations within the park To I-40 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Exit 447 441 PIGEON FORGE 321 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. 73 321 Gab N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens March 29 Mount Cammerer Trail 40 n t e r) wi in d i rs Pa osed (cl n ) ter wi n R at i l Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake Twentymile H RT vie wD r Ap p al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 Maggie Valley 19 Museum of the Cherokee People Q UA L L A B O U N DA RY (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) Soco Gap Parking tag purchase locations (see left column) Soco Falls Current/upcoming construction (see nps.gov/grsm) Horseback Riding (rental) Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads SYLVA NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w Gravel Roads 28 WAYNESVILLE Restrooms 23 74 143 To Asheville Dellwood e Pa ©Smokies Life 2024 Parkw ay Trail Santeetlah Lake 129 e 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. n JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA g e R id 441 74 276 Heintooga Ridge Rd and Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd open May 10 id g lue R ch Co ve Ro Cre ad ek Mingo Falls 19 Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Balsam Mountain ad Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE ia NO ke Juney Whank Falls Trail Boogerman Loop Trail Ro Blu 441 Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee Exit 20 Co ve Mountain Farm Museum Loop Trail Twentymile Cascade FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Hazel Creek Trail K AR Smokemont Loop Trail Trail Clingmans Dome Rd opens April 1 P NAL Smokemont Bone Valley Trail il Big i ch ala Chasteen Creek Falls rk Kan ra i ty m Old NC 284/Old Cataloochee Rd Mount Guyot Straight Fork Rd opens March 29 Kephart Prong Trail Clingmans Dome Visitor Center eT Tw e n Lake Cheoah I M O U N TA I N S Andrews Bald ac h i a n Twentymile Loop Trail Wolf Ridge Trail Deals Gap OL SMOKY IO N AT Newfound Gap Trail Forge Creek Rd opens March 1 ad Calderwood Lake NA Chimney Tops Chimney Tops Charlies Bunion ek Ro CA TE NN ES E SE Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail Big Creek Trail Thunderhead Mountain 129 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST re sC ke Ja Ramsey Cascades Bi g B h p Trail an Cre on c ra n Alum Cave Trail Clingmans Dome App al • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available b er Ga Fern Branch Falls Deep Chilhowee cum Cades Cove Parson Branch Rd opens April 12 Trail Visitor Center Cu Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls ek T il ra il Tra lls G R E AT Daisy Town Lit tle il Tra d m sF a Elkmont lls re r ve tR Ab ra Abrams Falls (c Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il Ri on e los b Traow F il a des Trail sca Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat Grotto Falls T in Ra Meigs Falls a Ramsey C Sugarlands Visitor Center r Rive Tre m Schoolhouse Gap Trail Red light #8 Road Trail Heritage Center Look Rock Tower Fighting Creek Trail Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Ap p 321 Townsend Rich Mountain Rd opens April 12 Little Brier Gap Trail Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center GATLINBURG Wears Valley Tr Metcalf Bottoms ll s Pa ay rk w Pa ills Lo w Tra Gap il Fo To Chattanooga h F o ot A es M ounta i n Greenbrier y rk wa TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 Cosby Pittman Center Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center ek Tra il Walland 129 411 Cades Cove Visitor Center For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. Hartford ek Trail Cre Abrams Creek Parking tags are available outside the park at Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center, and select area businesses. ill Exit 443 416 321 Located at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Loop Entrance, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Newfound Gap, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Clingmans Dome, Greenbrier, Cosby, Big Creek, Townsend Wye, Look Rock, and Cataloochee. Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Clingmans Dome (closed in winter). th To Newport ay a il 411 o Fo w ar k s P Tr 129 MARYVILLE 32 Cosby Forge Creek Road opens March 1 Little Greenbrier Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Straight Fork Road open March 29 Clingmans Dome Road opens April 1 Rich Mtn. Road and Parson Branch Road open April 12 Heintooga Ridge and Heintooga/Round Bottom Road open May 10 321 • Available 24 hours per day • Accepts credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only 321 SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES Parking tags may be purchased at locations designated by these symbols on the map: Automated Fee Machine (AFM) SEVIERVILLE ay Words with a Ranger Continued from page 1 Now, as a roving park ranger in the Smokies, I get to talk to ­visitors every day—whether it’s providing directions, general information, or guidance about how to comply with park rules. I’m also prepared to render first aid and assist with searchand-­rescue operations, wildlife ­management, or traffic management. I encourage anyone to approach a roving park ranger if you see us in the field. We are here to enhance your experience in the Smokies and to share this special place with everyone. Another daily part of my job is checking for parking tag ­compliance and maintaining the park’s automated fee machines (AFMs), or parking tag machines. This spring, our team is working to develop educational materials to better inform all park employees and partners about the progress of the parking tag program and its impact. Last year, Smokies parking tags helped to triple the park’s recreation fee revenue. One hundred percent of this revenue stays in the Smokies, and these funds are already improving visitor safety, addressing maintenance backlogs, enhancing public facilities, and increasing ranger presence across the park. Last year, eight new roving park rangers funded through the program spoke with 133,443 visitors, assisted in 36 search-and-rescue operations, and picked up 511 pounds of trash. As you enjoy the Smokies and the wildflowers this spring, please remember to park your vehicle legally and safely (see page 9). Remember to take your trash with you and leave no trace to help protect the Smokies for everyone and the animals that live here too. 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. Raccoon and dog illustration by Lisa Horstman. All others by Emma Oxford. LE AV E O N LY FOOT PRINT 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. 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 2024 • 8 STIC K TO TH E T R AI L Help control erosion into Smokies waterways and protect important habitats for rare wildflowers, salamanders, and firefly larvae by staying on established trails. A LWAYS U S E TH E R U LE O F TH U M B 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! Smokies Guide Spring 2024 • 9 the park’s nonprofit partners in helping to protect this IF YOU LOVE THE SMOKIES Join special place for future generations Smokies Life Smokies Life (formerly Great Smoky Mountains Association) brings people of all backgrounds together as advocates and stewards to honor, sustain, and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since 1953, Smokies Life has provided more than $50 million to the park. Today, the organization operates the park’s official bookstores, publishes books and other media about the Smokies, and supports the park’s educational, scientific, and historical preservation efforts. Become a Smokies Life Park Keeper today by visiting SmokiesLife.org or calling 888.898.9102, ext. 257. Interested in working in the park? Smokies Life is currently hiring for retail and information desk positions with rates beginning at $15.75/hr. Apply online at SmokiesLife.org/employment. Park Keepers enjoy... • Bi-annual  Smokies Life Journal • Smokies LIVE e-newsletter • Discounts at park bookstores and local businesses • Exclusive group hikes and expert-led events 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 Learn more and become a ‘Friend’ at FriendsOfTheSmokies.org. 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 steward