Summer 2025

Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior SMOKIES GUIDE The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Summer 2025 A day hike to Abrams Falls is a popular outing in any season, but summer brings an increased risk of heat exhaustion. Proper preparation can help your hike stay safe and enjoyable. Photo by Reggie Tidwell. C re r ig rp t ie ter Ka or an , P ar k R an ge n rI te Words with a Ranger Hello! Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As a park ranger interpreter, I help connect visitors with the natural and cultural resources of the park in hopes of inspiring stewardship of our public lands. As interpreters, we don’t interpret a language—we interpret the park, its resources, and its history. We aim to connect visitors with these special places. Since 2023, GSMNP has been working to make outdoor recreation more available for visitors of all abilities. The park is offering several adaptive ranger-led programs that allow visitors of all abilities and their families to explore the park. Park rangers lead hiking, biking, and kayaking opportunities using adaptive equipment, such as off-road wheelchairs and handcycles. We also offer an adaptive Continued on page 12 Preparation is Key for Hiker Safety New ranger crew works to prevent backcountry emergencies O ver the past year, some Smokies visitors may have noticed more park rangers at their favorite trailhead. Many of these rangers are part of the new Preventative Search and Rescue team—or PSAR—an elite group of first responders that aims to stop emergencies before they start, and respond to them if they do. The Smokies PSAR team includes about 13 National Park Service employees, plus a dozen highly skilled volunteers. Created in 2023, it expanded in 2024 using funds from the Park It Forward parking tag program and additional support from Friends of the Smokies. The team has since interacted with thousands of visitors and responded to hundreds of incidents. “By and large the program has been a major success for the park,” said Supervisory PSAR Ranger Joshua Albritton. “It’s leading to better out- OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA comes for visitors, which is the goal.” In addition to participating in search and rescue missions when a park visitor faces a backcountry emergency, PSAR rangers patrol popular trails, trailheads, and visitor centers, sharing information about trip planning and hiking safety. Rangers might point out lapses in preparation that could lead to an emergency rescue later on—flip flops instead of hiking boots, an overly ambitious itinerary, insufficient food or water—giving visitors a chance to address the issue before walking into the woods. On the trail, rangers might offer a bottle of water to a dehydrated hiker, advice about conditions ahead, or a rapid response to someone in need of medical attention. To stay safe during your next adventure, use the guide at nps.gov/ grsm/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm. 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. June through September. Cades Cove open 7 a.m.–3 p.m. on Wednesdays starting June 18. Kuwohi: open 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. June through September. GSM Institute at Tremont: open 10 a.m–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Road closures • Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicles on Wednesdays from June 18 through September 24 to allow for non-motorized recreation. • Heintooga/Round Bottom Road and Straight Fork Road are closed due to hurricane impacts. • All park roads are subject to temporary closure during dangerous driving conditions. Visit nps.gov/grsm and click “Alerts.” Shuttle services Local shuttle services offer convenient transportation to and from the park’s most iconic destinations. Routes, schedules, pricing, and pick-up/drop-off locations vary. Visit go.nps.gov/grsmshuttles. Weather In summer, the Smokies are often hot, hazy, and humid by mid-June. Most precipitation occurs as afternoon thundershowers. By mid-September, a pattern of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights begins. However, cool, rainy days may also occur. Special events and ranger activities See pages 4, 5, and 7 for ranger activities, inquire at visitor centers, or visit go.nps.gov/grsmcalendar for a full calendar of events. 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). Circuits for special medical uses are offered 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. All campgrounds are scheduled to be open for the summer. Campsites for larger groups are available at Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Reservations are required and can be made one year in advance. Visit nps.gov/grsm for the most up-to-date information. No. of Sites Elevation Expected Open Dates 2025 Nightly Fees Max RV Length Abrams Creek 16 1,125' 5/19–10/26 $30 12' Balsam Mountain 43 5,310' 5/23–10/13 $30 30' Big Creek 12 1,700' 5/19–10/26 $30 tents only Cades Cove 159 1,807' open year-round $30 35–40' Cataloochee 27 2,610' 5/5–10/26 $30 31' Cosby 157 2,459' 5/19–10/26 $30 25' Deep Creek 92 1,800' 4/18–10/26 $30 26' Elkmont 220 2,150' 3/15–11/30 $30 32–35' Look Rock 69 2,600' 5/19–10/26 $30–36 no limit Smokemont 142 2,198' open year-round $30 35–40' Campground 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, Chimneys, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf Bottoms are open. However, Big Creek, Collins Creek, Cosby, Look Rock, Twin Creeks, and Heintooga picnic areas remain closed at this time. Picnic pavilions may be reserved for a fee at recreation.gov. Some restroom facilities at picnic areas may be closed. Accommodations LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail only, closes November 15) 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 close October 31. 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 Summer 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 June 18 through September 24. Bikes may be rented at the Cades Cove ­Campground Store 9 a.m.–4p.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. The Anthony Creek, Cataloochee, and Tow String horse camps are open. Camps at Big Creek and Round Bottom remain closed due to storm damage. Visit recreation.gov for 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 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 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or drop into the GSMNP BY THE NUMBERS 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 by phone or in person through the Backcountry Office at Sugarlands Visitor Center or online at smokiespermits.nps. gov. Reservations and permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry. The cost is $8 per person per night. Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance. Backcountry camping permit holders are not exempt from parking tag requirements. Summer hikers should be especially aware of the dangers of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and hyponatremia—the combination of increased water intake and inadequate sodium and electrolyte levels. Drink when thirsty; rest and eat often. Always carry an ample supply of water, snacks, and sun protection. Know your limits. Reduce the risk of hypothermia, a danger even in summer, with layered clothing and rain gear. See page 11 for more hiking tips and trip essentials. 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 12 million+ 1,000 +species visitors per year new to science found in the park MOVING ROCKS HARMS AQUATIC LIFE. bark ranger great smoky mountains national park species of species mtns. higher 31 species salamanders 70 of mammals 10,500+of insects 16 than 6,000' Smokies Guide Summer 2025 • 3 Download the free NPS App for interactive maps, tours, and more! RANGER ACTIVITIES JUNE 7–AUGUST 31, 2025 Event schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. More programs listed on page 7. For a full list, inquire at a visitor center or visit: go.nps.gov/grsmcalendar Ranger Jeanine Ferrence leads a program at John Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove. Photo by Robin Pyle. NORTH DISTRICT (near Gatlinburg, TN) WHEN? Junior Ranger Ramble: Join a ranger for a walk, talk, or guided activity to learn more about natural and cultural history and become a steward of the park. Topics vary daily. Check Sugarlands Visitor Center for more information. Vital Signs of the Smokies: Join a ranger for a walk or talk about the Smokies’ “vital signs,” observations that can help us better understand the challenges this fragile ecosystem faces and appreciate the beauty around us. Walker Sisters Hike: Take a walk through the woods to the Walker Sisters Cabin, learning about the communities, religion, education, and “modern” conveniences of the folks who once lived in these mountains. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11 a.m. Sunday, Tuesday 12 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday 11 a.m. Bear With Us!: Come learn all about an iconic symbol of Great Smoky Mountains National Park­—black bears! Monday, Wednesday Hiking 101: Come hear from a ranger about tips, skills, and basics to help you experience the joys of hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Monday, Thursday Porters Creek Hike: Ever wanted to be a history detective? Join a ranger in searching for signs of early Smokies settlers, learning about cultural and natural history along the way. Monday, Saturday History of Daisy Town: Visit the popular Non-Ghost Town of the Smokies and learn about the community of Daisy Town before the Smokies became a park. Tuesday, Friday Stream Splashers: Embark on a hands-on splash in the water with a ranger to learn about the health and history of our Smokies streams. Water shoes recommended. Participation limited to 25. Weather-dependent. 11 a.m. 12 p.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Thursday (every other week) Smokies Guide Summer 2025 • 4 11 a.m. MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 1 hour Newfound Gap Overlook 1 hour Little Greenbrier School 1.5 hours Sugarlands Visitor Center patio 1 hour Newfound Gap Overlook 1 hour Porters Creek trailhead 3 hours Jakes Creek parking area (Elkmont) 1 hour Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area 1.5 hours SOUTH DISTRICT (near Cherokee, NC) WHEN? 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! Rangers and living history demonstrators will showcase skills like blacksmithing, fence-making, and hearth cooking on which families once depended to make their living in the Smokies. Program topic varies. Check Oconaluftee Visitor Center for more information. Kuwohi Guided Hike: Walk through a unique spruce-fir forest on the Smokies’ tallest mountain and discover all this park has to offer. A ranger will guide this 1.5-mile hike leading to the majestic views atop Kuwohi Observation Tower. Stream Splashers: Get ready for a splashing good time discovering the magic of local streams, learning about aquatic life, and connecting with the environment. Water shoes recommended. Daily 3 p.m. Monday to Friday Drop in, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Sunday, Thursday 11 a.m. Saturday 2 p.m. Old-Time Music Jam: Join in with local musicians playing old-time songs on traditional Appalachian instruments such as the mountain dulcimer. All experience levels and instruments welcome. Sunday (third week of the month) Evening Program: Grab your chair or blanket and gather at the grassy area between C and D loop at Smokemont Campground for an unforgettable evening program featuring the ranger’s favorite Smokies topic. Saturday (first week of the month) CADES COVE (near Townsend, TN) 1 p.m. 7 p.m. WHEN? Bear Aware: Join us in the picnic area 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. Drop into History: Watch (and possibly try) historic demonstrations related to life in Cades Cove. Offerings vary from day to day but may include blacksmithing, music, quilting, storytelling, doll-making, or weaving. 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. Stream Connections: Learn about and look for the critters found in park waterways while discovering what they reveal about the health of our streams. Be prepared to get wet. Closed-toed shoes recommended. Milling Around: Visit the historic buildings in the mill area to learn how residents used innovative technology to make life in Cades Cove more comfortable and efficient. Wild Things: Bring the whole family for an interactive experience to learn about some of the creatures that call Cades Cove home. Some programs ADA-accessible. Check visitor center for more information. The Cove After Dark: Take an evening walk with a ranger to experience the sights and sounds of Cades Cove at night. If the clouds cooperate, we’ll even peek at the stars. Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday Drop in, 1–3 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday Drop in, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday Drop in, 9–11 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday 2 p.m. Thursday, Friday 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Thursday, Friday 1 p.m. Friday 9 p.m. June–July, 8:30 p.m. August Smokies Guide Summer 2025 • 5 MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch 30 minutes Mountain Farm Museum Drop in Kuwohi parking lot 1.5 hours Smokemont Campground Nature Trail trailhead 1.5 hours Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch 2 hours Smokemont Campground 1 hour MEETING LOCATION DURATION/ ACCESSIBILITY Cades Cove Orientation Shelter Drop in Cable Mill Historic Area Drop in John Oliver Cabin Drop in Cades Cove Ampitheater 1.5 hours Cable Mill Historic Area Drop in Cable Mill Historic Area, Program Circle 45 minutes–1 hour (talk or activity) Cades Cove Orientation Shelter 1.5 hours RECOG N IZ I N G OUR RANGERS Every day throughout the summer, more than 250 people don the green and gray National Park Service uniform in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each plays a vital role in serving the millions of people who visit this beloved park over the course of the season. From swearing in the newest crop of Junior Rangers to adding to the scientific knowledge of these incredibly diverse montains to embarking on demanding and sometimes dangerous search and rescue missions, Smokies staff are an indispensable part of what makes the Smokies so great. Photos courtesy of Smokies Life (top), NPS (left and center), Joye Ardyn Durham (right), and David Brill (bottom center). Smokies Guide Summer 2025 • 6 THINGS TO DO I N THE SUMME R T I ME Adaptive programs make Smokies trails more accessible A dventure awaits all visitors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, regardless of ability or accessibility needs. Through a partnership with Catalyst Sports, the park will offer three ranger-led adaptive excursions this summer, with a free wheelchair checkout program allowing visitors to explore the park on their own schedule. Registration is required for ranger-led programs to ensure adequate availability of volunteers and equipment, and group size is limited. Registered participants may also bring their own adaptive equipment. Planned programs, each approximately two hours in length, are shown in the green table to the right. Through September, park visitors can also borrow a GRIT Freedom Chair at no charge to explore approved trails within the park. These manual, offroad-capable wheelchairs are designed to navigate uneven terrain, including grass and hiking trails. Adult chairs have an 18-inch seat width, and junior chairs have a 12-inch seat width. These chairs are available to qualifying visitors on a first-come, firstserved basis Mondays and Tuesdays at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg and can be reserved ahead of time for specific park trails Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To ensure safety, users must have a companion with them while using one of the chairs. This can be either a park volunteer or a friend or family member. To learn more about adaptive programs and chair rentals, or to register, visit CatalystSports.org/great-smoky-mountain-adaptive-hike-bike. Hikers use adaptive wheelchairs with Ranger Katie Corrigan. Photo by NPS. SUMMER 2025 ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS WHEN? MEETING LOCATION Adaptive Night Hiking June 6 Little River Trailhead Adaptive Kayaking June 8 Fontana Lake Marina Adaptive Mountain Biking July 12 Deep Creek Trailhead ASL ranger programs come to the Smokies T his summer, rangers, professional American Sign Language interpreters, and ASL students will present six programs throughout the park. No reservations are required for these family-friendly programs. SUMMER 2025 ASL RANGER PROGRAMS Portraits from the Past Drop Into History (drop in) Kuwohi guided hike Mingus Mill program Walker Sisters hike Park visitors, volunteers, and rangers participate in the Signs of Spring event in Cades Cove. Photo by NPS. Stream Splashers Smokies Guide Summer 2025 • 7 WHEN? MEETING LOCATION June 28 John Oliver parking area June 28 Cable Mill Historic Area July 20 Kuwohi parking area 9 a.m. 10 a.m–2 p.m. 9 a.m. July 20 2 p.m. Mingus Mill August 17 Little Greenbrier School August 17 Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area 11 a.m 2 p.m. To Knoxville To I-40 32 PIGEON FORGE p Trail Tops Trail M O U N TA I N S E SE R ES Lake Cheoah OL I NA Tr rk Bi g Cre App al il Twentymile Cascade Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake Twentymile H RT NO Ap p al a vie wD r Swain County Visitor Center r) Big Boogerman Loop Trail Mingo Falls e Parkw ay 276 Maggie Valley 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 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 (see left column) Soco Falls 23 74 143 To Asheville 19 19 74 Exit 20 Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Balsam Mountain g e R id Co v Ro e Cre ad ek 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w ©Smokies Life 2025 /Rou e Pa Lake Santeetlah 129 ga Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA wi ad Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE Deep Creek BRYSON CITY 28 ch ke Juney Whank Falls Trail in e nt oo id g lue R FONTANA VILLAGE Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Loop Trail ra i Tw e n ty m Ro Blu 441 Hazel Creek Trail eT Deals Gap Mountain Farm Museum l Wolf Ridge Trail CA TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail ac h i a n 129 d t ein Smokemont Loop Trail Collins Creek n For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. n Andrews Bald ) ter wi n i Smokemont Kuwohi Deep i rs Pa osed (cl ad at 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 Ro Trail on h Thunderhead Mountain Chasteen Creek Falls e os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee H Straight Fork Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Kephart Prong Trail Kan Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays June 18– September 24. IO N AT P NAL K AR Heintooga Ridge Rd . Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). Cades Cove c ra n Newfound Gap Kuwohi Visitor Center Chilhowee • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Charlies Bunion Chimney Tops Chimney Cades Cove Visitor Center Visitor Center Alum Cave Trail re sC ke Ja Trail an (cl b er Ga Fern Branch Falls Rd . cu m Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls ek T rk wi in d Cu Lane closures in effect Mt. Sterling Road / Old Cataloochee Turnpike Mount Guyot Co ve R n n t e r) un t ai Mo Rich Daisy Town Lit tle Ramsey Cascades Bottom Rd nd . G R E AT il Tra lls Falls Elkmont lls re il ra Abrams Creek in Ra m s Abrams Fa Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il il Tra d Ab ra b Traow F il a des Trail sca Big Creek Porters Flat Grotto Falls T r ve Ri tR e los Sugarlands Visitor Center r Rive Meigs Falls a Ramsey C Road Trail Heritage Center Schoolhouse Gap Trail Fighting Creek Trail Red light #8 Mouse Creek Falls i 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls on (c Little Brier Gap Trail 321 Townsend ad Valley Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center Look Rock Tower 40 Lo w Tra Gap il Greenbrier ch ll s Metcalf Bottoms o Mount Cammerer Trail NA es M ounta i n ala Pa ills NOR TH CAROL I Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Laurel Falls Trail closed for construction GATLINBURG through fall 2026 Wears y rk wa 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. 73 321 Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center Ap p way Pittman Center TENNESSEE Exit 451 32 Cosby Fo rk Pa To Chattanooga CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST ek Trail Cre Walland h F o ot Hartford Exit 447 a il 321 321 129 411 Exit 443 Tr Some picnic areas will have delayed openings or remain closed this season. See page 2 and visit nps.gov/grsm for the most up-to-date information. All roads are subject to temporary closures due to dangerous driving conditions. Trail 411 ill To Newport ay 441 ek MARYVILLE th w ar k s P 416 ek Tra il 129 o Fo Cosby Heintooga/Round Bottom Road and Straight Fork Road closed due to hurricane impacts Laurel Falls Trail closed for construction through fall 2026 Cosby Entrance Road partially closed (single-lane traffic) through June Mingus Mill closed for repairs 321 • Available 24 hours per day • Accepts credit/debit only • Daily and weekly tags only 321 CLOSURES AND ADVISORIES Parking tags may be purchased at locations designated by these symbols on the map: Automated Fee Machine (AFM) SEVIERVILLE S tra ig h t Fo Parking tag purchase locations within the park ay To Knoxville To I-40 32 PIGEON FORGE p Trail Tops Trail M O U N TA I N S E SE R ES Lake Cheoah OL I NA Tr rk Bi g Cre App al il Twentymile Cascade Fontana Juney Whank Falls Goldmine Loop Trail La Lake Twentymile H RT NO Ap p al a vie wD r Swain County Visitor Center r) Big Boogerman Loop Trail Mingo Falls e Parkw ay 276 Maggie Valley 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 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 (see left column) Soco Falls 23 74 143 To Asheville 19 19 74 Exit 20 Heintooga/Round Bottom Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Balsam Mountain g e R id Co v Ro e Cre ad ek 441 23 Select Trails Closed Roads B rk w ©Smokies Life 2025 /Rou e Pa Lake Santeetlah 129 ga Trail JOYCE KILMER - SLICKROCK WILDERNESS AREA wi ad Oconaluftee River Trail CHEROKEE Deep Creek BRYSON CITY 28 ch ke Juney Whank Falls Trail in e nt oo id g lue R FONTANA VILLAGE Indian Creek Falls Tom Branch Falls Loop Trail ra i Tw e n ty m Ro Blu 441 Hazel Creek Trail eT Deals Gap Mountain Farm Museum l Wolf Ridge Trail CA TE NN CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST Twentymile Loop Trail Calderwood Lake Mingus Oconaluftee Mill Visitor Center Bone Valley Trail ac h i a n 129 d t ein Smokemont Loop Trail Collins Creek n For all purchase locations, see go.nps.gov/grsmfees. n Andrews Bald ) ter wi n i Smokemont Kuwohi Deep i rs Pa osed (cl ad at 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 Ro Trail on h Thunderhead Mountain Chasteen Creek Falls e os PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Cataloochee H Straight Fork Rd closed due to hurricane impacts Kephart Prong Trail Kan Loop Road closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays June 18– September 24. IO N AT P NAL K AR Heintooga Ridge Rd . Located at Sugarlands, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cades Cove, Oconaluftee, and Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome). Cades Cove c ra n Newfound Gap Kuwohi Visitor Center Chilhowee • Open business hours (see page 2) • Accepts cash or credit/debit • Daily, weekly, and annual tags available Alum Cave Bluffs Middle Prong Trail SMOKY Charlies Bunion Chimney Tops Chimney Cades Cove Visitor Center Visitor Center Alum Cave Trail re sC ke Ja Trail an (cl b er Ga Fern Branch Falls Rd . cu m Mount Le Conte Rainbow Falls ek T rk wi in d Cu Lane closures in effect Mt. Sterling Road / Old Cataloochee Turnpike Mount Guyot Co ve R n n t e r) un t ai Mo Rich Daisy Town Lit tle Ramsey Cascades Bottom Rd nd . G R E AT il Tra lls Falls Elkmont lls re il ra Abrams Creek in Ra m s Abrams Fa Little GSM Institute at Tremont Lynn Camp Prong Cascades r i ll iu Tra m Gap il il Tra d Ab ra b Traow F il a des Trail sca Big Creek Porters Flat Grotto Falls T r ve Ri tR e los Sugarlands Visitor Center r Rive Meigs Falls a Ramsey C Road Trail Heritage Center Schoolhouse Gap Trail Fighting Creek Trail Red light #8 Mouse Creek Falls i 73 l op Trai ut T stn Ch e Cataract Falls Little Greenbrier Road Little Greenbrier Laurel School Falls Laurel Falls on (c Little Brier Gap Trail 321 Townsend ad Valley Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (closed in winter) Po r t e r s C Fo o t hi Great Smokies Welcome Center Look Rock Tower 40 Lo w Tra Gap il Greenbrier ch ll s Metcalf Bottoms o Mount Cammerer Trail NA es M ounta i n ala Pa ills NOR TH CAROL I Mount Cammerer Hen Wallow Falls Gab Laurel Falls Trail closed for construction GATLINBURG through fall 2026 Wears y rk wa 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. 73 321 Ga