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 2025 Accessible from Chimneys Picnic Area, Cove Hardwood Nature Trail boasts an impressive display of wildflowers (like these white trillium) every April. Photo courtesy of Smokies Life Archives. h hi ca te ct Mi Ha rg r ov e , L an d s c A ap e rc Words with a Ranger Greetings! I am the park landscape architect, working in the Professional Services Branch of the Facilities Management Division. Growing up in Middle Tennessee, I came to know Great Smoky Mountains National Park through family vacations, school trips, backpacking trips, and day hikes. Those experiences gave me an appreciation for the National Park Service mission and the park’s iconic landscape. Today, I serve in the protection of the park’s natural and cultural resources so that others can have experiences here as satisfying as my own. I enjoy many aspects of my job and am proud to use my training as a landscape architect for public service. Our team designs, plans, and administers construction projects throughout the park that focus on developed areas, Continued on page 8 Explore a New Smokies Trail this Spring Laurel Falls Trail closed through 2026 for major upgrades V isitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park have an opportunity to expand their hiking repertoire this spring following the closure of one of the Smokies’ most popular hikes, Laurel Falls Trail, for some muchneeded improvements. Several les­serused trails offer similar experiences. More than 300,000 visitors walk the 1.3-mile paved trail each year to witness 80-foot Laurel Falls. But the trail’s popularity has taken a toll on the infrastructure surrounding it. Since it was paved in 1963, the asphalt trail has become cracked, uneven, and broken in many places, and the parking lot is frequently full to overflowing. The construction, which began on January 6, is expected to take about 18 months to complete. Crews will build new viewing platforms at the falls to improve visitor movement and safety, repave and widen the asphalt trail, OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA upgrade the existing parking area, add 50 new parking spaces, build a pathway with a guardrail connecting these spaces to the trailhead, and install signs and educational panels. Recreation fee revenue from campground and parking fees will fund the work, and the trail is expected to open mid-2026. Visitors can use the Laurel Falls closure as an opportunity to explore some comparable trails scattered throughout the park. Cataract Falls, which tumbles down 40 feet of rock, waits just a short hike away from Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. Other alternative hikes include Cove Hardwood Nature Trail, Metcalf Bottoms and Little Brier Gap trails to Little Greenbrier School and the Walker Sisters’ Cabin, Little River Trail, Middle Prong Trail, Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail, and the Elkmont and Smokemont nature trails. 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. on vehicle-free Wednesdays). Kuwohi: reopens April 1; open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. in April and 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. in May. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Saturday. 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 early summer through early fall to allow for non-motorized recreation. • Cosby Road is closed for construction. • All park roads are subject to temporary closure during dangerous driving conditions. For current road closure information, visit go.nps.gov/­smokiesconditions. 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 available only 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. Camping is permitted only in designated sites. 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 can be made one year in advance. For an up-to-date opening schedule, visit nps.gov/grsm. No. of Sites Elevation Expected Open Dates 2025 Nightly Fees Max RV Length Abrams Creek 16 1,125' TBD $30 12' Balsam Mountain 43 5,310' TBD $30 30' Big Creek 12 1,700' TBD $30 tents only Cades Cove 159 1,807' open year-round $30 35–40' Cataloochee 27 2,610' TBD $30 31' Cosby 157 2,459' TBD $30 25' Deep Creek 92 1,800' TBD $30 26' Elkmont 220 2,150' TBD $30 32–35' Look Rock 69 2,600' TBD $30–36 no limit Smokemont 142 2,198' open year-round $30 35–40' Campground 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. Reopening dates for Chimneys, Collins Creek, Big Creek, Cosby, Look Rock, and Heintooga will be posted at nps.gov/grsm. 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. Reservations required. 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 reopen April 1. Pets Pets are allowed in 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 Editor Holly Kays Designer Emma Oxford Editorial support Jennifer Fulford Valerie Polk Design support Karen Key Miranda Bemis Smokies Guide Spring 2025 • 2 NPS coordinators Stephanie Kyriazis Stephanie Sutton © 2025 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 early summer to early fall. For updates, visit g ­ o.nps.­gov/­ smokiesconditions. 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 located at Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Tow String. Visit recreation.gov to check availability. Three concession horseback riding stables offer rides from March through November. • 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 The park service maintains more than 100 campsites and shelters dispersed throughout the Smokies’ backcountry trail network. Although all overnight stays require a permit and reservation at a designated campsite, the greatest challenge might be deciding where to go. See below for help as you prepare for your next adventure: 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 species of species mtns. higher 31 species salamanders 70 of mammals 10,500+of insects 16 than 6,000' 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 12, Signs of Spring: Cades Cove. For American Sign Language Day, park educators and local ASL interpreters will work together to present spoken and signed programs throughout Cades Cove. Stop by the Orientation Shelter at the start of Loop Road for more info. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. • April 23–26, Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: parkwide. See wildflowerpilgrimage.org. Smokies Guide Spring 2025 • 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 PACK ESSENTIALS 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. Trail maps and many more of these items can be purchased at any park visitor center. • Traction support like microspikes and hiking poles IN AN EMERGENCY • Navigation—map, compass, and knowledge of how to use them • Call 911 if you can acquire a signal. • 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. • Water and food • Extra layers • First aid kit • Headlamp or flashlight • Rain gear and pack cover or waterproof bags •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 • Sun protection with sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat FOR A LONGER HIKE • Repair kit with multi-tool or knife YOUR CELL PHONE IS NOT • a strong light source • always going to have service • always going to have battery • Fire starter • Shelter—emergency tent or tarp Smokies Guide Spring 2025 • 4 RANGER ACTIVITIES NORTH DISTRICT (near Gatlinburg, TN) Bear with Us!: Come learn all about an iconic symbol of Great Smoky Mountains National Park— black bears! Nature Trail Hike: Join a ranger over the river and through the woods on an exploratory hike to learn about nature and stories of the past. SOUTH DISTRICT (near Cherokee, NC) Wild about the Smokies: Get the inside scoop on where to spot wildlife like bears and elk—and how to do it safely. Discover why scientists study mammals, birds, amphibians, and other species living in the park. Down on the Farm: Immerse yourself in Smokies history! Demonstrations of blacksmithing, fencemaking, and hearth cooking will show how families once made their living in the Smokies. Program topic varies. Check at Oconaluftee Visitor Center for more information. MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Monday Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 30 minutes Thursday Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 1.5 hours MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch 30 minutes Mountain Farm Museum Drop-in WHEN? 11 a.m. 11 a.m. WHEN? Saturday 3 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.–12 p.m. CADES COVE (near Townsend, TN) Bear Aware: Join us for a short chat about bears in the Smokies, what to do if you see one, and how it takes all of us working together to keep them healthy and wild. Event schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. For a full list of programs, inquire at a visitor center or visit: go.nps.gov/ GRSMcalendar Wildflower Wander: Meander with a ranger and discover the wildflowers along West Prong Trail. Return across multiple weeks to see the changing spring blooms. WHEN? Sunday 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.* *except April 12 due to Signs of Spring event (see page 3) Portraits of the Cove: Venture up the accessible path to the John Oliver cabin. Learn about the community that developed in Cades Cove in the 19th century and how it compared to communities elsewhere in the growing United States at the time. Cove Life: Step into the past and learn more about what it was like to live in the Cades Cove community by exploring the cabin where the cove’s first permanent European settlers lived. Smokies Guide Spring 2025 • 5 Friday 10:30 a.m. Friday 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. MARCH 8 – APRIL 27, 2025 MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Cades Cove Orientation Shelter Drop-in West Prong Trailhead (near Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont) 1.5 hours Second John Oliver Cabin parking lot 45 minutes John Oliver Cabin Drop-in To Knoxville To I-40 wi in d cu m b er Ga p Trail Tw e n Lake Cheoah OL I NA ty m Twentymile Cascade Fontana H RT La Lake ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD r al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 /Rou a il r) Co ve Ro Bi g Boogerman Loop Trail Balsam Mountain Mingo Falls e Parkw ay 276 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) 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. SYLVA NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST WAYNESVILLE Restrooms Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads Gravel Roads 28 Dellwood 19 23 74 143 To Asheville Heintooga Ridge Rd opening TBD Maggie Valley 19 74 Exit 20 Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd closed due to hurricane impacts ad g e R id Co v Ro e Cre ad ek 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w ©Smokies Life 2025 wi ga e Pa Lake Santeetlah 129 in e nt oo Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA d t ein PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST id g lue R ch e os Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Ap p Tr i Tr rk Fo Trail Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls K AR H Blu 441 Loop Trail il FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus Hazel Creek Trail ra i Deals Gap area reopening TBD Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum l Wolf Ridge Trail CA TE R ES E SE Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail eT CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Andrews Bald ac h i a n 129 Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont Kuwohi Rd opens April 1 Kuwohi at P NAL Straight Fork Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Cre Forge Creek Rd opens March 7 ) ter wi n Trail n Kephart Prong Trail Deep h ch M O U N TA I N S n For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. nc ad IO N AT Tops Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays early summer–early fall. Cataloochee Trail ia Parking tags are available outside the park at Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center in Bryson City, and select area businesses. B ra i rs Pa osed (cl NN Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). on Ro Newfound Gap Chimney Tops Chimney Kan App al • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Cades Cove an Heintooga Ridge Rd . Chilhowee Fern Branch Falls Charlies Bunion Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls Alum Cave Trail re sC ke Ja Lane closures in effect Mt. Sterling Road / Old Cataloochee Turnpike Mount Guyot (cl R n n t e r) un t ai Mo Rich Cu Lit tle Ramsey Cascades Bottom Rd nd . Daisy Town lls ek T il ra Elkmont re Kuwohi Visitor Center Parson Branch Rd opens April 11 Big Creek area reopening TBD Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il in Ra b Traow F il a des Trail sca A 40 es M ounta i n Greenbrier Grotto Falls T Road Cades Cove Visitor Center Visitor Center Sugarlands Visitor Center Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades G R E AT il Tra lls Falls Mount Cammerer Trail Lo w Tra Gap il a Ramsey C il Tra e los m s Abrams Fa Abrams Creek N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) Red light #8 r Rive Meigs Falls d Ab ra 73 321 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens April 18 r ve Ri Schoolhouse Gap Trail Fighting Creek Trail Trail Heritage Center l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls tR (c Little Brier Gap Trail 73 Townsend d Valley 321 on Look Rock Tower Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center oa Pittman Center Laurel Falls Trail closed for construction GATLINBURG through fall 2026 Wears ay Metcalf Bottoms Rich Mountain Rd opens April 11 321 Tre m Located at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Loop Entrance, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Newfound Gap, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), Greenbrier, Cosby, Big Creek, Townsend Wye, Look Rock, and Cataloochee. PIGEON FORGE TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 ala Park w ills ll s To Chattanooga h CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Exit 447 Cosby Ap p F o ot ay rk w Pa Hartford ek Trail Cre Walland 129 411 ill Exit 443 441 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. Visit go.nps.gov/smokiesconditions for current information. Some roads outside the park are partially closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. See back cover for more information. 321 th To Newport ay area reopening TBD ek 411 o Fo w ar k s P 416 ek Tra il 129 MARYVILLE 32 Cosby Forge Creek Road opens March 7 Kuwohi Road opens April 1 Rich Mtn. Road and Parson Branch Road open April 11 Little Greenbrier Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail open April 18 Heintooga Ridge Road opening TBD 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 Big Parking tag purchase locations within the park ay To Knoxville To I-40 wi in d cu m b er Ga p Trail Tw e n Lake Cheoah OL I NA ty m Twentymile Cascade Fontana H RT La Lake ke vie Juney Whank Falls Trail wD r al a Swain County Visitor Center 28 /Rou a il r) Co ve Ro Bi g Boogerman Loop Trail Balsam Mountain Mingo Falls e Parkw ay 276 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) 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. SYLVA NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST WAYNESVILLE Restrooms Picnic Areas Camping Major Hwys Major Roads Paved Roads Gravel Roads 28 Dellwood 19 23 74 143 To Asheville Heintooga Ridge Rd opening TBD Maggie Valley 19 74 Exit 20 Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd closed due to hurricane impacts ad g e R id Co v Ro e Cre ad ek 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w ©Smokies Life 2025 wi ga e Pa Lake Santeetlah 129 in e nt oo Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA d t ein PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST id g lue R ch e os Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE Deep Creek BRYSON CITY Ap p Tr i Tr rk Fo Trail Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail Twentymile NO Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls K AR H Blu 441 Loop Trail il FONTANA VILLAGE Mingus Hazel Creek Trail ra i Deals Gap area reopening TBD Smokemont Loop Trail Mountain Farm Museum l Wolf Ridge Trail CA TE R ES E SE Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake i Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail eT CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Andrews Bald ac h i a n 129 Chasteen Creek Falls Smokemont Kuwohi Rd opens April 1 Kuwohi at P NAL Straight Fork Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Cre Forge Creek Rd opens March 7 ) ter wi n Trail n Kephart Prong Trail Deep h ch M O U N TA I N S n For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. nc ad IO N AT Tops Trail Thunderhead Mountain Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays early summer–early fall. Cataloochee Trail ia Parking tags are available outside the park at Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend, Gatlinburg Welcome Center, Swain County Visitor Center in Bryson City, and select area businesses. B ra i rs Pa osed (cl NN Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). on Ro Newfound Gap Chimney Tops Chimney Kan App al • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Cades Cove an Heintooga Ridge Rd . Chilhowee Fern Branch Falls Charlies Bunion Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls Alum Cave Trail re sC ke Ja Lane closures in effect Mt. Sterling Road / Old Cataloochee Turnpike Mount Guyot (cl R n n t e r) un t ai Mo Rich Cu Lit tle Ramsey Cascades Bottom Rd nd . Daisy Town lls ek T il ra Elkmont re Kuwohi Visitor Center Parson Branch Rd opens April 11 Big Creek area reopening TBD Mouse Creek Falls Porters Flat r i ll iu Tra m Gap il in Ra b Traow F il a des Trail sca A 40 es M ounta i n Greenbrier Grotto Falls T Road Cades Cove Visitor Center Visitor Center Sugarlands Visitor Center Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades G R E AT il Tra lls Falls Mount Cammerer Trail Lo w Tra Gap il a Ramsey C il Tra e los m s Abrams Fa Abrams Creek N OR TH C AROL IN Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) Red light #8 r Rive Meigs Falls d Ab ra 73 321 Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail opens April 18 r ve Ri Schoolhouse Gap Trail Fighting Creek Trail Trail Heritage Center l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls tR (c Little Brier Gap Trail 73 Townsend d Valley 321 on Look Rock Tower Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center oa Pittman Center Laurel Falls Trail closed for construction GATLINBURG through fall 2026 Wears ay Metcalf Bottoms Rich Mountain Rd opens April 11 321 Tre m Located at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Loop Entrance, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Newfound Gap, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Deep Creek Picnic Area, Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), Greenbrier, Cosby, Big Creek, Townsend Wye, Look Rock, and Cataloochee. PIGEON FORGE TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 ala Park w ills ll s To Chattanooga h CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Exit 447 Cosby Ap p F o ot ay rk w Pa Hartford ek Trail Cre Walland 129 411 ill Exit 443 441 All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. Visit go.nps.gov/smokiesconditions for current information. Some roads outside the park are partially closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. See back cover for more information. 321 th To Newport ay area reopening TBD ek 411 o Fo w ar k s P 416 ek Tra il 129 MARYVILLE 32 Cosby Forge Creek Road opens March 7 Kuwohi Road opens April 1 Rich Mtn. Road and Parson Branch Road open April 11 Little Greenbrier Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail open April 18 Heintooga Ridge Road opening TBD 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 Big Parking tag purchase locations within the park ay Words with a Ranger Continued from page 1 which include visitor centers, campgrounds, roadways, trails, exhibit sites, and historic sites. I design and offer guidance for projects to ensure that new improvements will complement the park aesthetic. Our goal is to provide a similar experience to all visitors, across generations. I appreciate being part of the facilities management team and having access to highly skilled and knowledgeable colleagues in all the divisions. The landscape—its terrain, flora, fauna, sunrises, and sunsets—offers daily reminders of the park’s rare, unique beauty. This environment makes it a pleasure to come to work each day! My role requires both field work and office work. Time in the field and on site is invaluable because it provides critical insights for making design decisions. I value interactions with my coworkers because hearing their perspectives helps me to better understand their needs. When I’m in the office, my work includes writing, drafting, and participating in meetings. Each day presents new and often unanticipated challenges, which makes the job dynamic and engaging. I started here in December 2023, after the design phase of the Laurel Falls Trail rehabilitation project had just finished. Since then, I have been involved with the project in some capacity every day. We are excited that it is now under construction. At Laurel Falls, many existing features will be rehabilitated, including the paved trail tread and drainage culverts. New viewing platforms and stairs will be constructed at the upper and lower falls. The renovated trailhead will feature new seating walls and an additional 50 parking spaces. We ask for your patience with these improvements so that more people can enjoy Laurel Falls safely. 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 firewood pest illustrations 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 2025 • 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 2025 • 9 IF YOU LOVE THE SMOKIES Help protect this special place for future generations! Consider joining our nonprofit park partners described on this page. They, along with over 1,600 volunteers, help serve park staff and address many needs across the park’s 522,000 acres, maintaining this natural resource for millions like you who visit each year. Smokies Life Smokies Life operates the park’s bookstores and publishes books and other media about natural and cultural resources. Since 1953, Smokies Life has given more than $54 million toward scientific and historic preservation efforts. Members, known as Park Keepers, stay informed through: • a subscription to the award-winning semi-annual, full-c