October 03, 2008
Park Extends Spur Paving Period by Two Days
The park has extended the date for completion of the final paving of the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Spur (U.S. 441) by two days with completion now set for noon on Friday, October 10.
September 30, 2008
Ranger-led Hike in Cataloochee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering a guided hike in Cataloochee, a scenic mountain valley encompassing historic farmsteads, on Saturday, October 4, beginning at 10 a.m., in association with Haywood County (North Carolina) Bicentennial.
September 30, 2008
Stargazing Program Offered at Cades Cove
For the third year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer a 2-hour stargazing program in Cades Cove on October 4, beginning a 7:30 p.m. Several telescopes and in-depth astronomy knowledge will be provided by the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society.
September 09, 2008
Celebrate Fall Harvest at the Mountain Life Festival
The annual Mountain Life Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is scheduled for Saturday, September 20. The event hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and all activities are free and open to the public.
September 08, 2008
Brook Trout Restoration Project in Tremont Area
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the closure of several streams in the Tremont area of Blount County, Tenn., starting at 8 p.m. September 7-September 19, 2008, to public use for the purpose of conducting native, Southern Appalachian Brook Trout restoration.
August 07, 2008
Park to Host Civilian Conservation Corps Anniversary Event
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is making plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) this year. The Park will host a special day of commemorative activities on Saturday, September 27, 2008. The activities will take place in and around the Sugarlands Visitor Center starting at 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The event is free to the public.
June 13, 2008
National Park Hosts "Women's Work"
The Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual "Women’s Work" event on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 12, 2008
Paving Underway on Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur
Paving and milling operations on the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur (U.S. 441)have begun. From now through June 27 motorists can expect to find single-lane closures in each direction during daylight hours each weekday, but no closures will occur on weekends from Friday noon until Monday morning.
May 30, 2008
Park Opens Lynn Camp Prong Under Special Fishing Regulations
From Monday, June 2 through Saturday, June 14 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, anglers along an eight mile stretch of Lynn Camp Prong and its tributary Marks Creek will be allowed to keep all the rainbow trout they can catch under temporary regulations designed to help the park restore its native brook trout population.
May 29, 2008
Musician and Songwriter Scheduled to Entertain Cades Cove Visitors
Ellie Grace, a singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, will entertain visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Friday, June 6 at 9 p.m. The performance will take place at Cades Cove in the auditorium next to the campground.
May 29, 2008
Synchronous Firefly Viewing
Trolley service from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Elkmont for synchronous firefly viewing will be offered June 7-14. The entrance road to Elkmont will be closed nightly during this time.
May 15, 2008
Cosby in the Park Festival
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the eighth annual "Cosby in the Park" festival on Saturday, May 17, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. near the Cosby campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The event, a partnership between Cocke County government, Great Smoky Mountains Association, and the National Park Service, is free to the public.
May 02, 2008
Little River Road Closure
Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area and the Townsend Wye will be closed May 12-20 for rock face stabilization.
April 28, 2008
Cades Cove Loop Road Scheduled Delayed Morning Openings
The Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed temporarily to motor vehicles until 10 a.m. each morning, April 28-May 1, Monday-Thursday, to accommodate road construction along the one-way loop road. During the construction period, hikers and bikers will be permitted to travel back and forth just on a 5-mile portion of the road between the loop road entrance and the construction site.
April 23, 2008
Park Plans Prescribed Burn Near Cades Cove
Weather permitting, park managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a prescribed burn on an 1,800-acre tract of forest just northwest of Cades Cove on Thursday, April 24. Several park trails in the area will be temporarily closed during the burn.
April 23, 2008
Park Schedules Open House of Un-opened Section of Foothills Parkway
Park managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced that the public will be invited to an Open House on the un-opened section of the Foothills Parkway in Blount County (Tenn.) from 10 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, 2008.
April 23, 2008
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
The 2008 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held April 23-27, offering everyone from the serious botanist to the weekend gardener access to some of the nation’s leading botanical experts as well as Appalachian wildlife authorities.
April 11, 2008
Elk Bugle Corp Volunteer Recruitment
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Volunteers-in-Parks program is currently enlisting another round of volunteers to assist with the experimental elk reintroduction project in Cataloochee Valley, N.C.
April 11, 2008
Trout Unlimited River Cleanup
Two local chapters of Trout Unlimited, a leading trout conservation organization, are sponsoring litter cleanup volunteer efforts with a complimentary lunch in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are scheduled on two Saturdays in April in the Tennessee and North Carolina areas of the Park. Volunteers are being recruited to join members of Trout Unlimited to help pick up litter on April 12 along the Little River in Tennessee with the Little River Chapter and on April 26 along the Oconaluftee River in North Carolina with the Tuskaseigee Chapter.
April 10, 2008
Smokies Announces National Junior Ranger Day Programs
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate the second annual National Junior Ranger Day on April 26 with special activities at the park’s three visitor centers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children and their families can join in a variety of free hands-on activities at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN; Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC; and Cades Cove’s Cable Mill Visitor Center near Townsend, TN.
March 06, 2008
Park Recruiting High School Students for Paid Summer Internships
The Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now recruiting high school students for its summer internship program for 2008. The program is made possible through a 3-year, $138,600 grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit organization that supports conservation, education, and other Park priorities.
February 07, 2008
Music of the Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its fourth annual "Music of the Mountains" festival on Saturday, March 29, in partnership with City of Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains Association.
January 16, 2008
North Shore Road Record of Decision Available for Review
The National Park Service announced its Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the North Shore Road in December 2007 calling for a monetary settlement to Swain County, North Carolina. The Record of Decision is now available for review at several locations.
January 07, 2008
Smokies Sets Public Meetings on Newfound Gap Road Work Plans
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has set two public workshops for January 15 and 17 to invite public input on the park’s plans to carry out a major rehabilitation of a 14 ½ mile section of Newfound Gap Road (US 441).
January 07, 2008
Construction-related Lane Closures to Begin on Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur
Lane closures along the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur (U.S. 441) will begin on Monday, January 7 to allow for repairs to the tunnel. The construction is part of a $6.3 million contract to repave the 4.5 mile road and perform associated drainage, curb and culvert work between now and March 2009.
January 03, 2008
New Federal Budget Provides Increases for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
According to Great Smoky Mountains Superintendent, Dale A. Ditmanson, the new Federal budget signed by President Bush on December 26 contains the largest single year operational increase in the Park’s history.
January 03, 2008
Smokies Receives Equipment Donation from ORVIS
Fisheries managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently accepted a $5,000 assortment of waders and wading shoes from the ORVIS Corporation.
January 02, 2008
Monetary Settlement to Resolve North Shore Road Issue
On December 28, 2007 Paul Anderson, the Acting Southeast Regional Director of the National Park Service, signed a Record of Decision that officially calls for a monetary settlement to Swain County, North Carolina as the conclusion to the Environmental Impact Statement process at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
December 19, 2007
Smokemont Campground Closed For Utility Installation
The Smokemont Campground will be closed from January 2 until February 29, 2008 to allow the facilities to be tied into Cherokee, NC water and sewer services.
December 05, 2007
Oconaluftee Visitor Center Hosts Holiday Open House
On Saturday, December 15, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a holiday open house at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Mountain Farm Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and will include an exhibit on Christmas in the mountains as it was celebrated in the past.
December 05, 2007
Horseback Riding Stable Extends Service Through December
Smoky Mountain Stables has extended its operating period in the park through December 31, weather permitting.
November 29, 2007
Festival of Christmas Past
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces the 32nd annual “Festival of Christmas Past” celebration scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center.
November 28, 2007
Twin Creeks Science and Education Center Open House
The public is invited to tour the park’s new state-of-the-art facility, the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, on Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Center is located off the Cherokee Orchard Road, near Gatlinburg, Tenn.
November 28, 2007
Cades Cove Loop Road To Be Closed for Hemlock Spraying
The Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic on Wednesday, December 5, and partially closed on Thursday, December 6. During this time, park forestry technicians will treat hemlock woolly adelgid-infested hemlock trees. In the event of heavy rain or freezing weather, the operation will be rescheduled. To check the status of the road closure, call the park’s general information number at (865) 436-1200.
October 19, 2007
Increased Fire Danger Leads To Second Campfire Ban In Backcountry This Year
The fall fire season coupled with a deepening drought has caused Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials to impose a ban on campfires in the park’s backcountry, effective immediately.
October 17, 2007
National Park Service is Soliciting Offers to Operate LeConte Lodge Concession
The National Park Service has issued a prospectus to solicit individuals or businesses who are interested in competing for a 10 year concession contract to operate the remote and scenic LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
October 05, 2007
An Evening at the Mountain Farm Museum
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is pleased to present "An Evening at the Mountain Farm Museum" on Thursday, October 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The century-old buildings at the Mountain Farm Museum will provide a backdrop to the many traditional activities planned.
October 05, 2007
Stargazing Program Offered in Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers will offer a 2-hour stargazing program in Cades Cove on October 13, beginning a 7 p.m. Several telescopes and in-depth astronomy knowledge will be provided by the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society.
October 03, 2007
Smokies Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement on North Shore Road
Officials from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which outlines the Agency’s Preferred Alternative for the North Shore Road.
October 01, 2007
Old-Time Music Performance Scheduled
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces several free, old-time music performances featuring the musical group "Boogertown Gap" at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Cosby Campground.
October 01, 2007
Ranger-led hike in Little Cataloochee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering a guided hike in Cataloochee, a scenic mountain valley encompassing historic farmsteads, on Saturday, October 13, beginning at 10 a.m.
September 21, 2007
Prospectus Issued for Cades Cove Riding Stables Concession Contract
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus to solicit offers from individuals or businesses who are interested in competing for a 7 year concession contract to provide guided horseback rides and related services at the Cades Cove Riding Stable in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
September 21, 2007
Prospectus Issued for Smokemont Riding Stables Concession Contract
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus to solicit offers from individuals or businesses who are interested in competing for a 7 year concession contract to provide guided horseback rides and related services at the Smokemont Riding Stable in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
September 21, 2007
Parson Branch Road Reopens
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that Parson Branch Road will reopen at noon on Friday, September 21.
September 04, 2007
Celebrate Fall Harvest At The Mountain Farm Museum
The annual Mountain Life Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is scheduled for Saturday, September 15th. The event hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and all activities are free and open to the public.
August 27, 2007
Fall Evening Programs Scheduled For Elkmont Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces a new series of traditional ranger-conducted programs at the Elkmont campground amphitheater on Saturday nights during September and October. These special fall programs are free to the public and cover a broad range of themes, such as the return of elk to the park, the life cycle of the black bear, and the deciduous forests of the national park. Additionally, history talks will be presented about the Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier, the life of writer Horace Kephart in the Smoky Mountains, and the Old World origins of music in the southern mountains.
August 24, 2007
National Park Announces First Phase Of Approved Centennial Challenge Projects
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale A. Ditmanson announced today the selection of 13 eligible National Park Service (NPS) Centennial Challenge projects totaling $4,276,600 to be considered under the President’s proposed Fiscal Year 2008 National Park Service budget which begins October 1, 2007.
August 22, 2007
National Park Service Invites Proposal to Operate Cades Cove Campground Store Concession
The Southeast Regional Office of the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus seeking proposals for a concession contract to operate Cades Cove Campground Store in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The new concession contract is expected to begin on November 15, 2007 and will be awarded for a seven year term.
August 22, 2007
Increased Fire Danger Leads To Campfire Ban In Backcountry
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced a ban on campfires in the park’s backcountry, effective immediately, due to extremely dry conditions and high fire danger. This restriction will be in effect until further notice.
August 10, 2007
Singer-Songwriter to Perform in Cades Cove
Ellie Grace, a singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, will entertain visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, August 18, at 9 p.m. The performance will take place at Cades Cove in the auditorium next to the campground.
August 10, 2007
Parson Branch Road Repair Completion is Delayed
Work needed to reopen the park’s flood damaged Parson Branch Road is not expected to be finished until about mid-September.
July 10, 2007
Smokies Unveils New Junior Ranger Booklets
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is unveiling four new Junior Ranger activity booklets for children who want to become Junior Rangers this summer.
July 10, 2007
Cherokee Students Become Science Investigators In Park
Students in Cherokee Middle School’s CSI camp have been performing investigations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are not looking at crime scenes but instead are focusing their attention on investigating science.
July 10, 2007
National Park Service Invites Proposals to Operate Two Great Smoky Mountains National Park Horse Stable Concessions
The Southeast Regional Office of the National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus seeking proposals for a single concession contract to operate Sugarlands Riding Stables and Smoky Mountain Riding Stables, two concession operations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
July 10, 2007
Special Ranger-Led Hikes In North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering two ranger-led hikes on Sunday, July 15, and Saturday, July 28, at two locations in the North Carolina area of the Park.
July 10, 2007
Public Meeting on Proposed Improvements To Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are seeking public input on a Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment for proposed facility improvements at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina. The public is invited to attend a meeting scheduled on Thursday, July 19, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to review and comment on conceptual design alternatives.
June 28, 2007
Park Unveils New Junior Ranger Books and Summer Program Schedule
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is unveiling four new Junior Ranger activity booklets for children who want to become Junior Rangers this summer. The booklets are designed to better serve a variety of targeted age groups: 5 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, and 11 to 12.
June 28, 2007
Park Issues Decision Following Brook Trout Assessment
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson announced today the approval of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) signaling completion of the Final Environmental Assessment for Opening of the Brook Trout Fishery for Recreational Use. The FONSI was signed on June 11, 2007, and culminates nearly a year of planning in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
June 06, 2007
National Park Hosts "Women's Work" Event
On Saturday, June 16th Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the traditional "Women’s Work" event, featuring lifeways demonstrations, storytelling, and a quilt exhibit at the Mountain Farm Museum near Cherokee, N.C.
June 01, 2007
Air Pollution Advisory Issued for Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have issued an air pollution advisory that the levels of particulate matter at the park are expected to reach a level that poses a threat to the health of park visitors.
May 31, 2007
National Park Campground Reservation System Resumes Operation
The National Recreation Reservation System through which visitors can make reservations for park campgrounds is now back in operation after experiencing a disruption in service. All reservation facilities are back on line except for four of the park’s five drive-to horse camps.
May 30, 2007
Park Implements Transportation Plan To Elkmont During Nightly Firefly Activity
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the transportation schedule for visitor use during the mating period of the synchronous firefly beetles at Elkmont. The plan, coinciding with the expected peak flashing period, will be in operation from June 8-16, 2007.
May 25, 2007
Smokies Announces Status of North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, Dale A. Ditmanson, has announced that the National Park Service (NPS) has begun preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which was undertaken to resolve the long-standing issues regarding the proposed North Shore Road in the Swain County, NC area of the Park. As currently drafted, the FEIS will call for a monetary settlement to Swain County as the National Park Service’s Agency Preferred Alternative.
May 24, 2007
Campground Reservation System Out of Service
Due to technical difficulties, advanced campground reservations to National Park Service areas are currently unavailable through the National Recreation Reservation System website or its telephone call center. As a result, new advance reservations at Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s three reservation campgrounds—Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont—and all group campsites, horse camps, and picnic pavilions in the Park are also unavailable until the federal-contract reservation program resumes its services.
April 24, 2007
Wildfire At Big Creek Area Of The National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the emergency closures of several facilities in Big Creek area of the Park, near Waterville, North Carolina, due to a wildfire that became active Monday afternoon.
April 16, 2007
Newfound Gap Road Lane Closures to Begin
Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have advised that temporary weekday lane closures will begin Monday, April 16 on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) between Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN to allow for re-paving of the road. The area being repaved is the five miles of Newfound Gap Road from Collins Creek Picnic Area north towards Newfound Gap.
April 16, 2007
Park Recruits For Volunteers To Assist With Elk Program
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Volunteers-in-Parks program is currently enlisting volunteers to assist with the experimental elk reintroduction project in Cataloochee Valley, N.C., during the period May 25-November 19.
March 26, 2007
Smokies Announces Summer Educator Programs
North Carolina teachers and other educators are invited to participate in six seminars this summer that will highlight behind-the-scenes research activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each training module focuses on approaches to teach critical thinking skills and learn scientific methods, points of emphasis for the Science Course of Study for North Carolina’s public schools.
March 26, 2007
Park Seeking High School Students for Paid Summer Internships
The Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now recruiting high school students for its summer internship program for the summer of 2007.
March 12, 2007
Park Hosts Listening Session on $3 Billion National Park Centennial Initiative
On Tuesday, March 13, 2007, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar will host a listening session in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to seek suggestions and ideas on President Bush’s $3 billion National Park Centennial Initiative.
January 31, 2007
Smokies 2006 Visitation
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials reported a 2 percent increase in the number of visitors to the Smokies in Calendar Year 2006 when compared to 2005 travel, the largest increase recorded over the past 5 years.
January 30, 2007
Smokies Announce New Reservation System
Starting February 7 campers planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many other federally-managed recreation areas will be able to make their campsite reservations on-line at www.Recreation.Gov and by phone toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 up to six months before their arrival.
January 22, 2007
Smokies Releases Transportation Conformity Report on North Shore Road
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is inviting public comments on a new report which evaluates whether air pollutants for vehicular traffic on the proposed North Shore Road would conflict with Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Conformity regulations or North Carolina’s ability to reach and maintain Federal air quality standards.
December 18, 2006
Roaring Fork Road Rehabilitation Project
Park officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are inviting public comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) which evaluates the possible impacts of a proposed rehabilitation of the Park’s Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
October 24, 2006
Wonderland Hotel Salvage Work to Begin
On November 1, a contractor will begin the process of salvaging the historic materials from the Wonderland Hotel in the Elkmont area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
October 23, 2006
Some Horse Trails Closed Due to Downed Trees
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced closures of selected horse trails to horse use on the Tennessee side of the Park between Elkmont (Sevier County) and Cades Cove (Blount County).
October 02, 2006
Repairs to Parson Branch Road
Repair to Parson Branch Road will begin on October 16, 2006. For safety reasons, the road will be closed to all public use, including hikers, equestrians and cyclists, once construction begins.
September 18, 2006
New Guidelines For Wedding Permits Developed
Park officials have developed new guidelines for managing weddings and wedding related activities in the national park to avoid conflicts between wedding parties and the general public and to reduce potential impacts to park resources.
September 07, 2006
Local School Wins 2006 Take Pride In America National Award
Pi Beta Phi Elementary School was selected as a recipient of the 2006 Take Pride in America National Award in the school program category for volunteer service projects performed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in their community of Gatlinburg.
August 15, 2006
Newfound Gap Road Repaving
An 18-month project to repave 10 miles of the park’s Newfound Gap Road (US-441) began on March 1, 2006.
July 19, 2006
Donation Supports Student Interns
Students from four North Carolina high schools have been selected to work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer thanks to a 3-year, $162,200 grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to Friends of the Smokies.
March 28, 2006
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Environmental Assessment Approved
In August 2005 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park prepared and distributed for public input an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) management strategies for reducing the insect’s impact on forest resources.
March 21, 2006
Park Opens Streams to Brook Trout Fishing
For the first time in over 30 years anglers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be allowed to catch and keep brook trout under new experimental Park fishing regulations that take affect April 15, 2006
