Great Smoky Mountains

https://www.nps.gov/grsm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smoky_Mountains_National_Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. An observation tower tops Clingmans Dome, the highest peak, offering scenic views of the mist-covered mountains. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park. Plan your visit today! Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the borders of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. The three main entrances to the park are in Gatlinburg, TN; Townsend, TN; and Cherokee, NC. Cades Cove Visitor Center Roughly half-way through the Cades Cove Loop Road, pause to speak with park staff and visit various exhibits. Learn about Southern Mountain life and culture, and see a gristmill (operates spring through fall), the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures. Enjoy seasonal ranger-led activities and peruse the park bookstore and shop. Public restrooms available. Located halfway around the Cades Cove Loop Road. Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station Enjoy sweeping views of the Smokies, weather permitting, and get your park questions answered. Peruse a small bookstore and shop. Public restrooms are available. Located at the end of Clingmans Dome Road, seven miles from Newfound Gap Road. Oconaluftee Visitor Center Near Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is an ideal starting point as you enter the park's South District. Explore cultural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Find public restrooms and drink vending machines. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn crib and others. Located on Newfound Gap Road (US-441) two miles north of Cherokee, NC Sugarlands Visitor Center Near Gatlinburg, TN, Sugarlands Visitor Center is an excellent starting point as you enter the park's North District. Learn about the park's plants and animals with natural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Access public restrooms and drink vending machines. The Backcountry Permit Office is here, too. Located on Newfound Gap Road (US-441) two miles south of Gatlinburg, TN. Abrams Creek Campground Abrams Creek Campground—elevation 1,125 feet (~343 m)—is located beside beautiful Abrams Creek in a remote and secluded setting. The climate is moderate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Flush toilets and drinking water are available. No hookups or showers are available at the campground. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. Waterside Sites_Abrams Creek Campground Three campsites in a forested area near a creek, one with a large blue and white tent. Abrams Creek Campground offers many waterside sites. Waterside Tent Pad_Abrams Creek Campground A square tent pad at a waterside site with a picnic table and grill, near an orange and white tent. Each site offers a gravel tent pad, a grill, and a picnic table. Nearby sites are typically visible. Shaded Site_Abrams Creek Campground A forested campsite with a tent pad, picnic table, and grill. A nearby tent pad is visible. Most sites offer ample shade. Accessible Restrooms_Abrams Creek Campground A campground restroom with a paved pathway to it. A sign beside a door says, "Wash dishes here". Abrams Creek Campground provides accessible restrooms and a dishwashing area. Trash Receptacles_Abrams Creek Campground Multiple bear-proof trash cans along a gravel road near campsites under a canopy of trees. Promptly dispose of trash in bear-proof trash receptacles throughout the campground. Water View_Abrams Creek Campground Softly rippling water reflecting surrounding trees. A creek view from a bank in the campground. Find beautiful views of the water at Abrams Creek Campground. Accessible Restroom Path_Abrams Creek Campground A blue handicapped sign beside a paved path and campsite near the gravel roadway. A paved pathway near sites 12 and 13 provides access to the Abrams Creek Campground restrooms. Trailhead_Abrams Creek Campground Brown sign that says, "Cooper Road Trail, Little Bottom Trail 0.9, Cane Gap 3.1, Abrams Falls 5.1". The Cooper Road Trail starts near the back of Abrams Creek Campground. Site in Summer_Abrams Creek Campground A tent pad, grill, and picnic table at a waterside site under a green canopy of trees. Enjoy lush forest views in July. Multiple Sites_Abrams Creek Campground Multiple sites along a gravel road under a canopy of green trees. Colorful tents are visible. The 16 sites at Abrams Creek Campground are typically available from late-April to late-October. Balsam Mountain Campground Balsam Mountain Campground—elevation 5,310 feet (~1,618 m)—is surrounded by mountain ranges and streams. Summer daytime temperatures rarely exceed 70°F and lows may dip into the 50s. RV and tent sites plus flush toilets and drinking water are available. No hookups or showers and no lights in the restrooms. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. Family Time - Balsam Mountain Campground A family of six sitting around a campfire eating dinner. Family Time Big Creek Campground Big Creek Campground—elevation 1,700 feet (~518 m)—is located beside beautiful Big Creek in a remote and secluded setting. The climate is moderate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Tent only camping, flush toilets, and drinking water are available. No hookups or showers at the campground. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. Big Creek Campground A wooded campsite with gravel tent pad Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades Cove Campground Cades Cove Campground—elevation 1,807 feet (~551 m)—is open year round and combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night during reservation season May 15th - October 31st. Cades Cove Campground Wooded campsite with fall color surrounding a yellow tent. Over 2 million visitors annually come to enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures. Cades Cove Group Campground Cades Cove combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. A camp store provides visitors with basic necessities and bike rentals. Events like interpretive programs in the nearby amphitheater and bicycle-only days on the Cades Cove Loop Road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience. Group Site #1-2 35.00 20 person maximum Group Site #3 65.00 30 person maximum Group Site#4 53.00 30 person maximum Cades Cove CADES COVE GROUP CADES COVE GROUP Cades Cove Night Sky Deer Bear Cub Wild Turkey Cataloochee Campground Cataloochee Campground—elevation 2,610 feet (~796 m)—located in historic Cataloochee Valley, is surrounded by mountain ranges and pristine streams characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. It offers traditional camping with the convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. No hookups or showers. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. Reservations are required. Gravel Road_Cataloochee Campground Several campsites off of a gravel road through a campground. Tents, cars, and trailers visible. Cataloochee Campground's road is gravel and each site has a gravel driveway. Campsite_Cataloochee Campground An empty campsite with a fire ring, picnic table, tent pad, and metal pole in view of trash cans. Each site includes a gravel tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table. Trash receptacles are available throughout the campground. Stream View_Cataloochee Campground A rocky stream with greenery along its banks. Bright sky peaks through the tree canopy. A streamside view near Cataloochee Campground. RV and Trailer_Cataloochee Campground A white RV near a black SUV, a white popup camper, and trash cans in a campground with trees. In addition to tents, RVs and trailers are permitted at Cataloochee Campground. Campsite_Cataloochee Campground A picnic table, fire ring, gravel tent pad, and metal pole near a gravel parking area. Trees nearby. Campsites at Cataloochee Campground offer ample shade in the summer months. Parking and Site_Cataloochee Campground A picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and metal pole near a gravel parking area and many trees. Each site includes a level tent pad near a parking spot. Cataloochee Campground offers a more secluded experience compared to some other Smokies campgrounds. Road_Cataloochee Campground A gravel roadway framed by trees. Two tents, a vehicle, and trash receptacles are in the distance. The gravel campground road is level and passable by most vehicles in good weather. Multiple Sites_Cataloochee Campground Two campsites near each other, each within view of restroom structure. Each site is within walking distance of a restroom facility. Most sites are visible to nearby sites. Cosby Campground Cosby Campground—elevation 2,459 feet (~750 m)—is tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade. This campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors. Mountain ranges and a pristine river are the backdrop for your camping adventure in Cosby. Cosby provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Campsites for both tents and RVs available. Campsite Fee 30.00 Per site per night. Up to 6 people per site. Cosby Campground Ranger Station Sunlit trees behind the campground office with the flag raised Cosby Campground Ranger Station Cosby Campground Restroom Paved walkway leads to a wooden restroom structure Cosby Campground Restroom Cosby Campground Tent Only Site Steps lead to a tent only site occupied by a yellow tent Cosby Campground Tent-only Site Deep Creek Campground Deep Creek Campground—elevation 1,800 feet (~549 m)—is located next to one of the park's most popular creeks. Hookups and showers are not provided, but flush toilets and drinking water are available. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or vivid fall colors, the scenery at Deep Creek never disappoints. Camping Fee 30.00 Camping fee is per site, per night. Deep Creek Campground A campsite near flowing water and trees. A blue tent with orange trim sits on the gravel pad. Deep Creek Campground offers a variety of sites, some streamside. Deep Creek Campground Fire Ring Beside a flowing creek, wood sits inside and next to a metal fire ring with a mobile grate afixed. Deep Creek Campground offers a variety of sites, some streamside. Bridge View at Deep Creek A flowing river from the vantage point of a bridge. The body of water is lined with green trees. Visitors can find many enjoyable water views near the Deep Creek Campground. Elkmont Campground Elkmont Campground—elevation 2,150 feet (~655 m)—is the closest frontcountry campground to Sugarlands Visitor Center in the North District of the park. The climate is characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Mountain ranges and a pristine river are the backdrop for your Elkmont adventure. Camping for both tents and RVs available. Campsite 30.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. Elkmont Campground Sun shining through the forest over an occupied campsite. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Campsite Sun rays beaming through the forest over an occupied campsite. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Campsite Unoccupied campsite in Elkmont Campground Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont River Site Unoccupied river campsite in Elkmont Campground. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Campsite Unoccupied campsite in Elkmont Campground on a sunny summer day. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Campground Office Elkmont Campground Office and information kiosk on a sunny day. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Campground Store Elkmont Campground store and vending machines. Generations of campers have returned to Elkmont year after year, drawn by the sounds of the river, the tranquility of the forest, and the variety of recreational activities in the Elkmont area. Elkmont Group Campground These sites offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Camping Fee, Tent Only Area 53.00 Site #1, 30 people maximum, no RVs or trailers allowed. Camping Fee, Tent Only Area 35.00 Site #2, 20 person maximum Camping Fee, Tent Only Area 26.00 Site #3, 15 person maximum Camping Fee, Tent Only Area 35.00 Site #4, 20 person maximum ELKMONT GROUP CAMP ELKMONT GROUP CAMP ELKMONT GROUP CAMP ELKMONT GROUP CAMP ELKMONT GROUP CAMP ELKMONT GROUP CAMP Look Rock Campground Look Rock Campground—elevation 2,600 feet (~792 m)—is located along the beautiful Foothills Parkway West between Walland, Tennessee and Chilhowee Lake. Flush toilets and drinking water are available. Ten of the sites offer electric and water hookups. No shower facilities are located in the campground. Camping Fee 36.00 Camping Fee is per site, per night. The cost varies from $30-36, depending on if the site has electric. Fall_Look Rock Campground A campsite in early fall surrounded by green, yellow, red, and orange trees. Each site is equipped with a gravel tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring. Tent_Look Rock Campground A white tent with a light green rainfly near a picnic table, fire ring, and two paved parking spots. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and paved parking. Pop-Up Camper_Look Rock Campground A white pop-up camper shaded by trees, parked in a paved spot beside a wooden post. Look Rock Campground permits RVs and trailers, in addition to tents. Maximum size depends on the site and is listed on recreation.gov. Fall View_Look Rock Campground Paved road through a forested campground in early fall. Campsites and their parking spots in view. Look Rock Campground in early fall. Pull-Through Sites_Look Rock Campground Multiple pull-through driveways near site picnic tables, tent pads, and fire rings. Roads are paved. Pull-through, one-way driveways are available at some sites at Look Rock Campground. Accessible Parking_Look Rock Campground Paved handicap accessible parking beside a restroom facility surrounded by trees. Accessible parking is available near restroom facilities at Look Rock Campground. Look Rock Overlook Rolling mountains in early fall under clouds, seen from a viewing platform with a rail. Campers can find exceptional mountain views near the campground. Site with Hookup_Look Rock Campground A campsite in the forest with a gravel pad, fire ring, and hookups in view beside the parking spot. Ten sites at Look Rock Campground include electric and water hookups for RV campers. Look Rock Tower Early fall views of rolling mountains. A road cuts through the mountains touched with fall color. A short trail brings visitors to the top of the Look Rock Observation Tower. Site_Look Rock Campground A set of stone stairs leads down to a picnic table, fire ring, and gravel tent pad. Some Look Rock Campground sites are down a set of stone stairs or a slope from the parking space. Sloped Site_Look Rock Campground A picnic table and fire ring upslope from a tent pad at a forested campsite. Some sites are sloped at Look Rock Campground. Dumpster_Look Rock Campground A brown dumpster beside a paved road surrounded by green trees. Bear-proof dumpsters are located throughout Look Rock Campground. Smokemont Campground Smokemont Campground—elevation 2,198 feet (~670 m)—is the closest frontcountry campground to Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the South District of the park. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or vivid fall colors, the scenery at Smokemont never disappoints. Characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers, Smokemont Campground offers an unforgettable outdoor experience with campsites for both tents and RVs. Camping Fee 30.00 Fee is per site, per night (May 15th-October 31st) Tent at Smokemont Campground A yellow, orange, and white-colored tent on a level gravel pad near a picnic table and bikes. Each site is equipped with a gravel tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring. Trailer at Smokemont Campground A person standing on a level gravel area setting up a canopy tent, all next to a white trailer. Each campsite includes a level gravel area to set up needed gear. Trailer at Smokemont Campground A white trailer and gray SUV parked at a campsite with a red checkered cloth on its picnic table. Smokemont Campground offers many sites in the shade of the park's various tree species. Tiny Home Trailer at Smokemont Campground A trailer that resembles a tiny home with a red roof and porch cover parked in a campsite. Campsite areas offer space to set up personal chairs and tables. Trailer at Smokemont Campground A gray pickup truck and pop up trailer in the driveway of a campsite surrounded by trees. Smokemont Campground includes some sites that can accomodate trailers. Summer in Smokemont Campground Trees in summer surrounding several campsites, one with a white trailer and gold pickup truck. The trees around many sites in Smokemont Campground offer ample shade. RV in Smokemont Campground A white camper trailer with multiple bikes parked on the side, all under the shade of trees. Many campers enjoy biking around campgrounds during their stay. Side-by-side sites at Smokemont Campground A tent and pop up trailer in sites beside each other under green trees near a dumpster and bathroom. Smokemont Campground offers shady sites for tents, trailers, and RVs. Smokemont Group Campground Mountain ranges and pristine streams and rivers are the backdrop for your camping adventure in Smokemont. Whether blanketed in spring wildflowers or vivid fall colors, the scenery at Smokemont never disappoints. At 2,198 feet (~670 m), Smokemont provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Smokemont Campground offers an unforgettable outdoor experience with campsites for both tents and RVs. Fall Colors Near Newfound Gap Bright gold and red leaves shine through the fog in a forest. Fall leaf season is one of the busiest times of year in the park. The "Wildflower National Park" A hillside in the forest covered with white trillium flowers Wildflowers, such as these white trillium, can be found blooming from February through November in the park. "Smoke" Rising From the Mountains Wisps of fog hang over the forests in the mountains. The park gets its name from mists that often rise like smoke from the mountains. Frosty Morning in Cades Cove A thick layer of frost covers the fields, trees, and mountains in Cades Cove. Wintertime brings a quiet beauty to the Great Smoky Mountains. Fall Meets Winter Gold and red fall colors fill the valleys while snow coats the mountain tops. In spring and fall, weather in the foothills can be pleasant, while snow and cold rule on the mountain tops. A Foggy Morning at Cades Cove Methodist Church Tombstones stand in front of a white, wooden church on a foggy morning. Historic buildings such as churches, gristmills, barns, and homes allow visitors to get a feel for life in the mountains before the national park was created. The Waters of Roaring Fork Below Grotto Falls Rhododendron bushes line the banks of a stream filled with large boulders. Abundant rainfall means lush forests and beautiful stream scenes in the Great Smoky Mountains. Listening to the Eclipse: National Park Service scientists join Smithsonian, NASA in nationwide project A solar eclipse is visually stunning, but what will it sound like? NPS scientists will find out by recording sounds in parks across the USA. An NPS scientist installs audio recording equipment in a lush valley at Valles Caldera NP. 2015 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Six people and programs received the 2015 Harzog Award for their exceptional volunteer service. Check out their amazing contributions! Young volunteer giving a thumbs up sign 2014 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Discover the inspirational stories and amazing dedication of volunteers honored with the 2014 Hartzog Award. Volunteer Thelma Johnson standing with her cooking equipment 2012 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Every year, the National Park Service benefits from the extraordinary contributions of dedicated volunteers. Meet the six recipients of the 2012 Hartzog Awards honoring that service. Two volunteers assisting a visitor NPS Structural Fire Program Highlights 2014 Intern Accomplishments Study Finds Cleaner Air in the Smokies New research finds that ground-level ozone pollution in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NP) has dropped to its lowest levels since the mid-1980s. Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Natural Partnership Forged in Fire: National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy Early in 2015, Great Smoky Mountains fire staff met with local TNC representatives to explore avenues for sharing resources on prescribed fire activities and getting more fire on the ground in the Smokies and the Southern Appalachians. Cultural Landscapes by Bicycle There are many ways to experience national parks by bicycle, with route options for all levels of experience and preference. Here are just three examples of ways to explore park cultural landscapes by bike in the southeastern part of the United States. Ride a loop road through an agricultural community in a fertile valley, follow the path of a former railroad that once brought tourists to Mammoth Cave, or travel mountain bike trails to a farmstead from the late 1800s. Two people with bikes gaze over a valley filled with fog, with blue mountains in the background. Testing Hypotheses for Plant Species Distributions in the Mountains Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a site with scientific value. One such scientific landmark is the work of Robert Whittaker, whose PhD dissertation research in the 1940s illuminated the complexity of ecological succession. His work has had a lasting effect on the field of ecology ever since. Orange, yellow and green foliage on a mountainside Park Air Profiles - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Air quality profile for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Great Smoky Mountains NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Great Smoky Mountains NP. Fall foliage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Canadian Top Prescribed Burn 2013 In May 2013, wildland firefighters in Great Smoky Mountains NP began a prescribed burn in the Jesse Ridge subunit as part of the Canadian Top Prescribed Fire Plan for the pines and mixed hardwoods found on ridges surrounding the Cataloochee Valley area in the eastern portion on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The plan includes reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and restoring and maintaining a diverse and functioning ecosystem. Ozone effects on two ecosystem services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA Protected areas such as national parks are recognized as important providers of ecosystem services, the benefits nature conveys to humans. However, some threats to these services, such as air pollution, can derive from outside a park’s boundaries. Stream and forest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. NPS/Tamara Blett World War II Plane Crashes in National Parks During WWII, more than 7,100 air crashes involved US Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft occurred on American soil. Collectively these crashes resulted in the loss of more than 15,599 lives (Mireles 2006). Many of these military aircraft accidents occurred in remote, often mountainous, areas managed by the National Park Service. plane crash at base of grassy hill Louis E. Voorheis The Voorheis Estate, a landscape within the North District of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, encompass the former mountain retreat developed by Louis E. Voorheis from 1928-1944. It is an example of Rustic style architecture and landscape architecture, evident in the form of structures and designed water features. A stone wall with a rounded top and a square stone basin, surrounded by woodland Reef Bay Trail Rehabilitation Virgin Islands National Park wants to thank Great Smoky Mountain Trail Crew for their tremendous work in rehabilitate the Reef Bay Trail. In addition to clearing the trail much of it had to be reconstructed or redirected. Smoky Mountain Trail Crew Bat Projects in Parks: Great Smoky Mountains National Park There are more than one way to keep up with bats in a park. Find out all the Great Smoky Mountains National Park did! A bat with white fuzz on its muzzle Wildlife Connectivity Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park Jeff Hunter provides an overview of a collaborative wildlife connectivity project focused on 28-miles of highway corridor along I-40 near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project seeks to improve the ability of black bear, white-tailed deer, elk (reintroduced in 2001), & other wildlife to safely cross this busy interstate highway and access Cherokee National Forest and other conservation lands northeast of the park. (March 2019) two black bears Creating BearWise Community Partnerships Creating BearWise Community Partnerships looks at the working relationship between Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and how it has fostered community partnerships that encourage communities surrounding GRSM to become BearWise. (June 2020) evening city view with mountains in the background Women in Fire Science: Cynthia Worthington Cynthia Worthington is a fire effects monitor and has worked in several different units of the National Park Service during her career. The importance of collaboration with other fields and the built-in adaptability of fire programs is one of her favorite parts of working in fire that keeps her coming back. A woman in black rain gear stands with a clipboard in a meadow. Outside Science (inside parks): Smoky Salamanders Student interns get their hands dirty while looking for tiny salamanders at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. captured salamander in a baggie National Parks’ Homefront Battle: Protecting Parks During WWII Though the National Park Service (NPS) was only 25 years old at the outbreak of World War II, the agency found itself fighting a battle on the homefront. With little precedent to work from and dwindling budgets and staff, the NPS strongly defended its parks against a flood of demands to log, mine, graze, drain, and take over national parks Pollinators - Monarch butterfly More than beautiful, monarch butterflies contribute to the health of our planet. While feeding on nectar, they pollinate many types of wildflowers, yet one of the greatest threats to Monarch populations is loss of habitat. A Monarch clings to an orange flower Using Citizen Scientists to Document Life Cycle Changes Citizen scientists of all ages help uncover how the timing of natural events, such as flowering or migration, is changing from year to year in the Great Smoky Mountains. Two girls identifying a tree Partnerships Make Wetland Restoration Happen Tribes, volunteers, and students came together to restore a critically important wetland in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Teamwork made the project successful. group of people plant native plants in a grassy meadow Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: Parks in Science History Parks in Science History is a series of articles and videos made in cooperation with graduate students from various universities. They highlight the roles that national parks have played in the history of science and, therefore, the world's intellectual heritage. A woman looking through binoculars Series: Park Air Profiles Clean air matters for national parks around the country. Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ Burned Area Recovery from the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, Great Smoky Mountains National Park After the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, staff has undertaken several projects to stabilize and restore the landscape, including a project for the cultivation and preservation of eastern hemlock. Two Americorps team members hold insecticide next to a tree. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. [Site Under Development] valley with stream Cambrian Period—541 to 485.4 MYA The flat layers of rock exposed in Grand Canyon National Park encompass much of the Paleozoic, beginning in the Cambrian where they record an ancient shoreline. rock with fossil burrow tracks Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Dare to Imagine: Alix Pfennigwerth Scroll through this bright data visualization to learn how Biologist Alix Pfennigwerth studies and protects biodiversity hotspots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This data story is part of a National Park Foundation funded project called the Dare to Imagine project dedicated to highlighting women in parks who are breaking barriers and showing what a scientist looks like. Meet Alix Pfennigwerth, a Biological Science Technician at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian-Piedmont-Coastal Zone Fire Management Staff Complete Wears Valley Boundary Prescribed Fire Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian-Piedmont-Coastal Zone fire management staff successfully completed a 175-acre prescribed burn along a half-mile of the park boundary in Wears Valley in March 2021. The prescribed burn was conducted to reduce the amount of flammable brush along the park's boundary with residential homes, as well as maintain an open woodland habitat for drought-tolerant trees, like oak and pine.   Staff monitors prescribed fire at Great Smoky National Park. Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Girl (Guide) Power Just as the contributions of many women have been overlooked in NPS history, so too have the contributions of girls who held officially sanctioned guide positions. Two girl ranger aides speak with a man across a counter. The bioblitz: Good science, good outreach, good fun Part contest, part festival, part educational event, and part scientific endeavor, bioblitzes bring together naturalists, professional scientists, and the interested public, who canvass the area over a 24-hour period to find and document all plants and animals. young woman gathers flying insects from a backlit white sheet at night. 2021 National Park Service Aviation Awards In 2021, the National Park Service Aviation Program awarded the Excellence in Mentorship Aviation Award, the Tom Clausing Aviation All Risk (Hazard) Program Award, Aviator of the Year Award, and the Wright Brothers Aviation Safety Award. Five men and a woman stand surrounding a Mesa Verde Helitack sign. Two men hold awards. Taking the Pulse of U.S. National Parks How do we know if parks are healthy? We measure their vital signs, of course! Across the country, there are 32 inventory and monitoring networks that measure the status and trends of all kinds of park resources. We're learning a lot after years of collecting data. Check out these articles written for kids and reviewed by kids in partnership with the international online journal Frontiers for Young Minds. A cartoon of a ranger taking the pulse of the Earth. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Fuels treatments fulfill needs of wildlife and visitors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Over the past three years, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest, and the Appalachian-Piedmont-Coastal Fire Management Zone (APC Zone) have worked together to do fuels treatments. This project is one of a suite of management actions used at Great Smoky Mountains to preserve the cultural landscape and ecological character of this unique area in the park. The corner of a cabin looking toward a cleared area with deciduous forest beyond. Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection. 50 Nifty Finds #5: Keeping Their Cool The park ranger uniform is known the world over. Perhaps the most iconic part of the uniform is the broad-brimmed flat hat. Over the last century, however, many different kinds of hats have been worn by rangers depending on their gender, where they work, the season of the year, and the jobs they do. While a pith helmet may bring up images of Colonial Britain, World War II soldiers, explorers, or people on safaris, for a while it was also be worn by some park rangers. Tan pith helmet with a silver Sequoia cone on the front Natural High Points of States in Parks We all strive to reach new heights whether taking on the physical challenge to climb to the top or armchair-exploring from the comfort of our own home through virtual experiences. Discover the highest natural points in each state that are located within the National Park System, many of which can be visited by hikers, climbers, mountaineers, and drivers who are often rewarded by breathtaking views. Find photos, virtual tours, fun facts, and more on park websites. Snow-covered mountain elevation 50 Nifty Finds #9: Green Stamps Described by some as "the greatest propaganda campaign ever launched by the federal government to exploit the scenic wonders of the United States," the national park stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office Department in 1934 became one of the most recognized series of U.S. stamps. Despite being in the middle of the Great Depression, over one billion of the 10 national park stamps were printed in under two years. College of ten colorful national park stamps Investigation and Stabilization of Apple Trees at Purchase Knob At Purchase Knob, more than 30 apple trees have persisted for well over a hundred years, despite decades without human care. When they were planted in the late 1800s by John Fergsuon, he found that the high elevation and cool nights were favorable to both production and storage. Now, the NPS is taking steps to stabilize these trees by clearing encroaching vegetation, removing dead or damaged limbs, and using DNA analysis to identify specific varieties. NPS staff stands with a sign beside the trunk of a tall apple tree with upright, leafless branches Girl Scouts Use Girl Scout Cookie Boxes to Create National Park Designs Have you ever considered how Girl Scout cookie boxes could be used for something other than the cookies themselves? In March of this year, six teams from the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas in grades 6-12 partnered with local architects and engineers in Dallas Texas to compete in a design contest that transformed Girl Scout cookie boxes into National Park-themed structures. A view of a national park made from Girl Scout cookie boxes 2022 Excellence in Education Awards View regional recipients of the National Park Service Excellence in Education Awards, which recognize expertise within the field of education. Young students participate in an activity with a park ranger at a table outdoors. 2022 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service The National Park Service is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the 2022 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. A montage of photos of volunteers working in a national park. Project Profile: Detect and Control Invasive Feral Swine The National Park Service will reduce invasive wild hog populations at Great Smoky Mountains National Park to protect cultural and natural resources. a group of feral swine 50 Nifty Finds #33: "First Lady" of National Parks Although the spouses of directors don't have formal roles in the NPS, they can be crucial to the success of a directorship. This was certainly true of the powerful partnership of Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. and his wife. Throughout his career, Helen C. Hartzog was his cheerleader, confident, and partner in developing a vision for the NPS that has had long-lasting effects. More than anyone, she served as a “first lady” of the NPS. Woman smiling at the camera wearing a fur wrap and corsage. Mission 66 and Modern Architecture A brief overview of the Park Service Modern architectural style established during Mission 66. A modern building with tall, angular window walls and an attached cyclorama

5 Tr er ay er m am Tr tC oun M we Lo 1 2. M o 0.6 il e Cr Bi g to g Bo t Walnu t il l Ga p Trail 2.5 1.0 ee T 4.1 rail oc h a lo 9 3. t il 0.8 h Li t Ri 2. 3 Br Tr k 40 E Exit 20 Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center Purchase Gap 0 276 1.8 Bal d CH EE Jonath O C ATA L O an 5.5 ph E C r ee k il l Hem Black Camp Gap To Asheville Dellwood Maggie Valley To Asheville Soco Gap Tr ai l 2. 4 Q UAL L A B O UNDAR Y (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians land) F Creek WAYNESVILLE Waterrock Knob Great Smoky Mountains National Park occupies the traditional lands of the Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ, Tsalagi) people, now the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United MS L SA Keetoowah Band of the Cherokee. BA ue Bl Ridge Whittier Pa 74 G rk Swain County Visitor Center P LO TT wa k Tuc a gee R i ve r l pa 23 hi ac ad ley an SYLVA Fork ok em on t Lo 9 op 3. Tr ws 1.0 10 Kilometers 1 10 Miles 1 trin Appalachian Trail Hiking only (top) Horse and hiking Hiking trail Mountains-To-Sea Trail Horse and hiking trail Benton MacKaye Trail g Tr Unpaved road 2.2 Ri ve Developed campground Auto-access horse camp r ta ha la Ranger station Observation tower MO 129 Roads in park are closed to commercial vehicles. TA H ALA UNT AIN S 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shelter (Hiker only) Shelter (Horse and hiker) 00 Hiker only campsite 1.3 Trail distances are shown in miles between intersections 00 Horse and hiker campsite 00 Boat-in only campsite This trail map is not intended to show legal boundary of the national park. To Atlanta 4 H 441 NAN I NS LD To Tennessee ton Bald Tr E MAP LEGEND North 0 Riv er BA 23 0 New G OLD 0.9 Lit tle 28 D 441 Br 0.3 Cheoah Bald D Ro DIV ee 3.9 Tra il 1.9 ee Cr ee D iv ide 4.6 Tr a 0.5 M cK n ma Catalo och 2.9 il B ooger Tr 6 4. ad Ro Fork gh t e C a t a l o oc h e e ra e 1.7 For rk Fo Parkway ve Double Gap r dg 3. Polls Gap oga Rid ge into He Road s o (cl ed in winter) e Ra v e n 4.4 ast Stra i 1.7 l el w .4 1 ld Balsam Mountain i Ra g ve n as m Tr a Tra il 3. 3 0.6 Ba 3.1 Divide MA S Cre e Ch Tr rk Fo Trail E G RI D il Tra ge Rid 2 2. an di 1.1 1.0 2.0 0.7 k T rail Sunk o ta 0.7 3.8 p TH O Trail 3.6 Cr ee k p Dee Cree 4.3 k IDE D IV A NOL Dee Tr 4.1 k C d lan No 1.0 Sna k 0 1. 4. 5 Tr ai l in ta in w int er ) d P 5 re ek ND y ch Y NE FO R 0.4 3.9 Do m 3.5 Clin gm an s il T 4. e l Cr ee k Fo 1.2 h ug 3.5 Co ID in k 7.6 0.4 3.6 T e r Ro u 0.7 1.1 Forney e ac Ka y M 1.8 Huskey 2. 1 1.7 0.9 A lu m C av l ai Tra il Welc h GE RID Cr 1.3 Tr Cr Cree k H 0.9 0.9 C es J ak 5 2. R I D GE JENK INS kins Ridge T RAIL Trail Jen 5.2 S na Creek Cove 1.4 Lu m 4.1 b Trail C e Eag l Ea gl e 8.7 3.1 3.7 ty W es t TN E M BO T Tra il ll F us se 6. 4 il e Tra idg yR or Pro ng 2. 7 Mtn t ie l d 3.5 Road k 1.2 Rd n Rich one-way 0 1. r) Forge C ( clo sed in Bote Mtn d TC HA 2.6 rM tn Tr Turkeypen Ridg La 3.4 Cr ee k M R Ca HE an 7 1. ar re g Tr IN ne O U 4.2 Tr N TA 2.1 Tr ai l Cr ee e k M 9 0. d rk wa y Be 2. Tw 6 en Ro Ca rk Fo Ri dg e 3.2 41 rk T (tem po Fo Cove Creek Gap l y ey Ro a 40 2.6 Parson B er ) Bi 42 Creek NA i Tra ad Pa Palmer House Tr pp yV al l PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST 0.8 Spruce Mountain Flat LI ai l Tr ek Cataloochee g Fk Round Bottom Rd om ot t RO eek Cr e Cr 0.8 lls 3 Spruce Mountain Trail H Ha Pin Oak Gap 1.2 CA il Tra 3.6 3. 40 k 4.0 rail p T ow Ga S C WATERVILLE LAKE un e Ridg tty Holl N d t hi i aye Tra acK Pretty Hollow Gap Palmer dB t o o g a / Ro u n ot T Mount Sterling Gap 39 le Tr ei n E t Sterling T r Long B l I TA Fo 3 M Tra i UN SE 2. Fo rk MO 2.3 lsam Mtn in w ES Cree k Tr ail Mount Sterling 4.0 Laurel Gap 0 in H e xt Ba r 1 Pre AM n Mount ed 441 FOREST 19 3 6. 38 ow LS to Ben c Bee n Na 2 m a ll Sw BA 9 (clo s 19 Ap NATIONAL 74 1 n ap k ek Plott Balsam Ela er NANTAHALA 143 S es t ek Tr Trail 5.1 Oconaluftee River Trail 1.5 S oc o 28 ROBBINSVILLE NO Br Tr CHEROKEE 0.5 Trail Wesser NTA B 2.1 RI Skyway nic MO U ut 19 441 143 D MOUNTAIN Waterville Big Creek 9 1. Ch Cr e 36 M Tr B Oconaluftee Visitor Center 4 2.8 ge p H ya t t NN y 0.9 Ga Ri Trail lu e 1.0 Mt Cammerer Bi 9 E 5 or Tow String Deep Creek er RIDG R iv HES Smokemont Davenport Gap e ek Cr 37 1.0 ail .1 R o ad Cove 2.2 e 4. Ba 1.8 47 50 Tow String Tr k Trail or 2.2 Tuckasege ge Stone Pile Gap Trail l k Tr 3.6 lo e C ree k k Creek Tr 2.9 Indian Creek Motor Trail In 0.9 Rid 60 2. 2.5 RT NORTH CAROLINA 2.3 Low Gap Tr ail 2.5 B o Th 1. 1.8 51 Tra i 9 r 59 e De

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE s, ra be rt nc Ro hC B rad hief The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Fall 2023 Bu il d i ng s an d G n r ou ds B Words with a Ranger As branch chief of buildings and grounds, I oversee a talented and dedicated team responsible for maintaining 10 campgrounds, 11 picnic areas, and more than 360 structures here in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It may not be the first thing you notice as you take in the scenery, but our team works hard year-round to make sure all kinds of critical park facilities stay clean, safe, and structurally sound. I began my 31-year career in the Smokies at the age of 16 as a Job Corps member serving in Oconaluftee and then as a ‘student in training’ before I was eventually hired as a permanent staff member. Between then and now, I’ve worked as a laborer, maintenance worker, work leader, sign maker, building utility supervisor, and maintenance mechanic supervisor. If you’ve ever enjoyed a campground or picnic area in the Smokies, chances are your experience was made possible by a custodial or grounds employee. These staff members perform vital services like cleaning bathrooms, removing trash, Continued on page 8 Vacation homes constructed just prior to the creation of the national park are preserved in the Daisy Town area of Elkmont. Thirteen renovated cabins were recently reopened for visitors to explore. Image by Susan Milinkovich. Windows into the Past Historic structures help tell the Smokies story T he Great Smoky Mountains are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, more than 100 species of native trees, and some of the largest stands of old-growth forest in the eastern United States. While much of this mountain range may seem like a rugged wilderness, human stories have been embedded within this landscape even longer than the park’s very oldest blackgum tree. “For thousands of years, there has been a human footprint on this land,” said Interpretive Ranger Brad Free. Today, traces of these stories can still be found in everything from the routes of trails first created by Cherokee people to the many historic homes, schools, churches, and mills maintained by the park’s Forever Places preservation crew. “Over a hundred structures have become tangible pieces of evidence OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA that show us how life was here in the Smokies,” said Free. “It doesn’t give us the whole picture, but it does give us a foundation on which to gain more knowledge of the folks who once lived here.” Historic buildings recently renovated and reopened to the public include more than a dozen cabins in the Daisy Town area of Elkmont as well as the Walker Sisters Cabin near Metcalf Bottoms. Cades Cove, Cataloochee, and Oconaluftee also offer opportunities to explore the Smokies’ rich cultural history. Several structures in these areas date to the 1800s, and nearly all make use of materials sourced nearby. To learn more, talk to a volunteer or ranger, pick up a book in a park bookstore, or visit nps.gov/grsm. You can also visit Elkmont during Daisy Town Day (see page 3) or dive into the Daisy Town scavenger hunt on page 11. GreatSmokyMountainsNPS 86A-B68 PARKING TAG REQUIRED! Parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes requires a valid parking tag (annual tag pictured). For more info, scan code with camera app GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. September through November; 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. December. Clingmans Dome: open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. September through October; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. November. Closed December. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday through December 16. Tuesday–Friday only after December 16. Road closures • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27 to allow for walking and biking. • Many secondary and higher-­ elevation roads close in late fall and remain closed through winter. Refer to the map on pages 6-7 for closing dates. • All roads are subject to temporary closure due to dangerous driving conditions. Shuttle services Local shuttle services offer convenient transportation to and from the park’s most iconic destinations. Routes, schedules, pricing, and pick-up/drop-off locations vary. Visit go.nps.gov/GRSMShuttles for a list of authorized concessioners. Park weather In autumn, a pattern of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights emerges by mid-September. However, cool, rainy days may also occur. Snow may fall at higher elevations beginning in November. As winter arrives, days can be sunny and 65°F or snowy with highs in the 20s. Snows of an inch or more may occur at lower ­elevations. SMOKIES GUIDE P L A N N E R Firewood Camping in the national park The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at ten locations in the park. There are no showers, and hookups are only available at Look Rock

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 larg

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE Be ck yN ist The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Spring 2023 ic h o ls , Ento lo mo g Words with a Ranger Spring is a great time to observe wildlife in the Smokies, the vibrant green of new plant growth, and of course, the abundant wildflowers that carpet the understory. As an entomologist—a scientist who studies insects—I like to keep an eye out for pollinators, the roaming heroes of wildflower season. Pollinators are animals that transfer pollen from one flower to another as they drink nectar or gather pollen. Without them, spring wildflowers could not reproduce. This transfer of pollen fertilizes the plant, which will then produce seeds, ensuring the future survival of the species. Several different kinds of animals can serve as pollinators, including some birds and mammals, but more than 70 percent of flowering plants worldwide are pollinated by insects. Among the insects, bees are by far the most efficient and abundant of pollinators. We have documented 304 species of bees in the park so far, and over 200 of these have been discovered only in the last 25 years, mostly as a result of the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or ATBI. This diversity of bees is directly Continued on page 8 Crested dwarf irises are a common sight in park woodlands around mid-April. These petite perennials grow in densely formed clusters no more than nine inches tall. Image by Ryan Somma. Park It Forward in 2023 Parking tags help pave the way for improved visitor services and park preservation A s of March 1, a valid parking tag is required for all visitors parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are not required for motorists who simply pass through the area or park for less than 15 minutes. Daily ($5), weekly ($15), and annual ($40) parking tags are available for purchase at automated fee machines and visitor centers as well as online at recreation.gov or smokiesinformation. org. Each tag is valid for use in a single vehicle and must include a license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. Tags must be displayed physically in vehicles; digital representations will not be accepted. Parking tags do not guarantee a parking spot in a specific location or at a specific time. Revenue generated by parking tags will help to improve visitor services OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA in the park and preserve the Smokies for generations to come. Park visitation has increased by 38 percent over the last decade to 12.9 million visits in 2022. These critically needed funds will supplement federal funding, grant monies, and donation dollars, providing an opportunity to address the rising costs associated with maintaining what is consistently the most visited national park in the country. All revenue generated through the sales of parking tags will stay in the Smokies to directly improve visitor experiences and help fund things like trail maintenance, custodial services, trash removal, historic cabin preservation, and staffing for increased ranger presence across the park. For more information about parking tags, scan the code at the right with your camera app or visit go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. GreatSmoky MountainsNPS 86A-B68 PARKING TAG REQUIRED! Parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes requires a valid parking tag (annual tag pictured). For more info, scan code with camera app GreatSmokyNPS and SmokiesRoadsNPS GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Oconaluftee, Sugarlands, and Cades Cove: open 9 a.m–5 p.m. March through May. Clingmans Dome: reopens April 1, open 10 a.m–6 p.m. in April and May. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday only. Mingus Mill: closed until further notice. Cable Mill: opens March 5. Road closures Many secondary and higher-­ elevation roads are closed s­ easonally in winter and reopen in spring. Refer to the map on pages 6-7 for opening dates. • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from May 3 through September 27 to allow for non-motorized recreation. • All roads including Newfound Gap, Cataloochee, and Cades Cove Loop roads are subject to temporary closure due to dangerous driving conditions. Check twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS for updates. Park weather March is an unpredictable time in the Smokies. Snow can fall any day, especially at the higher elevations. Backpackers are often caught off guard when a sunny, warm day is followed by a wet, bitterly cold one. By mid- to late April, the weather is typically more mild with an average high of 71ºF in Gatlinburg and 52ºF at Mount Le Conte. Special events and ranger programs • April 26–29, Wildflower Pilgrimage: parkwide, see ­­wildflowerpilgrimage.­org • June, Firefly viewing: Elkmont Campground, lottery for vehicle passes opens April 28 at recreation.gov SMOKIES GUIDE P L A N N E R Firewood Camping in the national park The

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE Drive safely in wintry conditions The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Winter 2022-23 Temperatures drop swiftly at higher elevations, and precipitation is much more frequent and heavy. Steep grades and curves can become especially dangerous in winter. Be prepared: • Reduce your speed • Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you • Avoid sudden braking— instead, use lower gears or brake gently to slow down • Check current conditions at twitter.com/ SmokiesRoadsNPS before departing The Mount Cammerer fire tower located in the Cosby area of the park is one of many iconic Smokies structures constructed in the 1930s by Civilian Conservation Corps workers. Image by Roger Trentham. Park It Forward in 2023 Parking tags help pave the way for improved visitor services and park preservation B eginning March 1, a valid parking tag will be required for all visitors parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags will not be required for motorists who simply pass through the area or park for less than 15 minutes. Daily ($5), weekly ($15), and annual ($40) parking tags will be available for purchase at automated fee machines and visitor centers as well as online at recreation.gov or smokiesinformation. org. Each tag is valid for use in a single vehicle and must include a license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. Tags must be displayed physically in vehicles; digital representations will not be accepted. Parking tags do not guarantee a parking spot in a specific location or at a specific time. Revenue generated by parking tags will help to improve visitor services in OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA the park and preserve the Smokies for generations to come. Park visitation has increased by 57 percent over the last decade to a record 14.1 million visits in 2021. These critically needed funds will supplement federal funding, grant monies, and donation dollars, providing an opportunity to address the rising costs associated with maintaining what is consistently the most visited national park in the country. All revenue generated through the sales of parking tags will stay in the Smokies to directly improve visitor experiences and help fund things like trail maintenance, custodial services, trash removal, historic cabin preservation, and staffing for increased ranger presence across the park. For more information about parking tags, scan the code at the right with your camera app or visit go.nps.gov/GRSMfees. GreatSmoky MountainsNPS PARKING TAGS AHEAD! Beginning in March 2023, parking in the Smokies will require a valid parking tag (annual tag pictured). For more info, scan code with camera app. GreatSmokyNPS and SmokiesRoadsNPS GreatSmokyNPS S M O K I E S Visitor centers Oconaluftee, Sugarlands, and Cades Cove: 9 a.m–4:30 p.m. Dec.– Feb., 9 a.m–5 p.m. in March. Clingmans Dome: closed for the season. Mingus Mill: closed for the season. Cable Mill: closed for the season. Note: All visitor centers are closed on Dec. 25. Road closures • Seasonal closures include: Forge Creek Road, Parson Branch Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Heintooga/Round Bottom and Straight Fork roads, Rich Mountain Road, Clingmans Dome Road, Little Greenbrier Road, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. • All roads including Newfound Gap, Cataloochee, and Cades Cove Loop roads are subject to temporary closure due to dangerous driving conditions. Check twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS for updates. Park weather As winter arrives, days can be sunny and 65°F or snowy with highs in the 20s. Conditions vary considerably between low and high elevations. Nearly 70 inches of snow fall on Newfound Gap every year. Lows of -20°F are possible at the higher elevations. At lower elevations, snows of an inch or more can be expected about three to five times a year. Milder temperatures typically arrive by mid-to-late April. Special events and ranger programs Check at visitor centers or nps.gov/ grsm for information about special events and ranger programs. SMOKIES GUIDE P L A N N E R Firewood Camping in the national park The National Park Service maintains developed campgrounds at ten locations in the park. Only Cades Cove and Smokemont are open in winter. There are no showers or hookups other than circuits for special medical uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Campsite reservations are required at all park campgrounds, including Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, Smokemont, and Look Rock. Sites may be reserved up to six months in advance. Make your reservation 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 large groups are at Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smok

World Heritage Sites in the United States Governor’s House, La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historical Site Red-footed booby, Papahaˉnaumokuaˉ kea Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park © HARVEY BARRISON © KRIS KRUG JEFF SULLIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY 2 Kluane /  Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay /  Tatshenshini-Alsek 1 Statue of Liberty Grand Canyon National Park © MICHAEL BELL PIXABAY/SKEEZE © MICHAEL LOYD Olympic National Park 3 WA SH I N GTO N - 19 81 Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park vii • ix vii • viii • ix • x A L A SK A (US), C A N A DA - 1979 Features temperate rainforest, glaciers, peaks, alpine meadows, old-growth forest, and wilderness coastline. Critical habitat for endangered species including northern spotted owl and bull trout. www.nps.gov/olym Over 24 million acres of wild lands and waters are changed by glaciers and volcanic activity. www.nps.gov/glba, www.nps.gov/wrst www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore vii • ix © MIKE CRISS Montana (US), Canada - 1995 World’s first international peace park. Rich biodiversity and outstanding scenery with prairie, forest, alpine, and glacial features. www.nps.gov/glac www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/ Grinnell Point © MIKE KOCH Old Faithful © MARK STEVENS 23 © STEVE BOND Yellowstone National Park vii • viii • ix • x Renowned for geothermal features, Yellowstone has the world’s largest concentration of geysers. Protects grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. www.nps.gov/yell iii • iv I L L I N O I S - 19 82 With over 1,100 properties, the World Heritage List This urban complex flourished 1000– 1350 CE (Common Era). Regional center for prehistoric Mississippian culture. www.cahokiamounds.org shows a shared global commitment to preserve the world’s most important natural and cultural sites. Monks Mound Learn more about the World Heritage sites in the 22 4 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Preserved for All Humanity W YO M I N G, M O N TA N A , I DA H O - 1978 © JIM WARK/AIRPHOTO United States, described here with selection criteria Redwood National and State Parks This gift from France to the United States is a symbol of international friendship, peace, progress, freedom, democracy, and human migration. Renowned for art and engineering. www.nps.gov/stli World Heritage Sites in the United States can be pur- Coastal mountain home to California brown pelicans, sea lions, bald eagles, and ancient redwood forest—the world’s tallest trees. www.nps.gov/redw i • vi N E W YO R K - 19 8 4 scription year, and websites. The Passport booklet C A L I F O R N I A - 19 8 0 Statue of Liberty 5 in Roman numerals (details other side), location, in- vii • ix Black bear, Great Smoky Mountains National Park chased at www.eparks.com. For more on the World Pixabay Heritage List: whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/us. © AMY HUDECHEK Natural Papahaˉnaumokuaˉkea iii • vi • viii • ix • x Cultural Mixed 21 6 H AWA I I - 2010 Independence Hall This vast living “cultural seascape” embodies kinship of people to place in Native Hawaiian cosmology. Includes seamounts, endemic species, critical habitats, and coral reefs. www.papahanaumokuakea.gov vi P EN N S Y LVA N I A - 1979 An international symbol of freedom and democracy, this 18th-century building is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were created and signed. www.nps.gov/inde Greg McFall / NOAA 20 Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park © TODD LANDRY viii H AWA I I - 19 87 Earth’s greatest mass of volcanoes, including Mauna Loa and Kilauea, tower over a “hotspot” in the mantle. Continuous geologic activity builds an ever changing landscape home to rare and endemic species. www.nps.gov/havo 21 7 PACIFIC OCEAN 0 Hawaii Everglades National Park viii • ix • x 20 F LO R I DA - 1979 800 Kilometers 0 800 Miles North America’s largest subtropical wilderness has several vital habitats for plants and animals including Florida panthers and manatees. Key area for bird migration and breeding. www.nps.gov/ever NPS Yosemite National Park 19 vii • viii © CARLTON WARD JR. C A L I F O R N I A - 19 8 4 Glacial erosion helped sculpt this scenic landscape. Soaring granite cliffs, polished domes, high waterfalls, sequoia groves, wilderness, deep-cut valleys, and alpine meadow habitats. www.nps.gov/yose 18 Chaco Culture iii Castillo San Felipe del Morro N E W M E X I CO - 19 87 © ANGEL LOPEZ Prehistoric, monumental masonry structures in Chaco Canyon, along with a network of roads and outlier sites like Aztec Ruins, exhibit the vast influence of the ancestral Puebloan culture on the Southwestern landscape. www.nps.gov/azru, www.nps.gov/chcu © JOCELYN PANTALEON HIDALGO The 20th-century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site vi © OJEFFREY PHOTOGRAPHY P U ERTO R I CO - 19 8 3 ii Strategic defensive structures represent early European military architecture, e