Smoky Mountain Visitors Centers Open MLK Weekend

Smoky Mountain visitors centers open for MLK holiday weekend

Smoky Mountain visitors centers open for MLK holiday weekend

Smoky Mountain Visitors Centers Open MLK Weekend. Friends of the Smokies will temporarily fund the reopening of Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, N.C., Friday through Monday, Jan. 18-21, 2019.

Visitation to the park usually increases during these dates due to the Martin Luther King, Jr.  holiday. Both visitor centers will be open Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Following the closure Monday evening, the two visitor centers will again close until federal funding is restored and the park fully reopens.

“We are proud to commit funding for the visitor centers and restrooms to reopen during the holiday weekend in order for rangers to provide a safe and enjoyable visitor experience,” Friends of the Smokies Executive Director Tim Chandler said. “Any opportunity to work with our partners to preserve and protect America’s most-visited national park is a welcome one, and Friends of the Smokies stands at the ready to provide further support.”

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Some Great Smoky Mountain National Park Facilities Open Despite Government Shutdown

Smoky Mountain Park Closure update.

Smoky Mountain Park Closure update.

Some Great Smoky Mountain National Park Facilities Open Despite Government Shutdown. Beginning Sunday January 13, 2019 some basic services to visitors will reopen using revenue generated by recreational fees. Limited visitor services including  restrooms and campgrounds will be available for park visitors.

The use of Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement Act funds will bring maintenance crews back to work to maintaining roads. Crews will reopen and maintain restrooms at Cades Cove campground, Smokemont Campground and the Deep Creek picnic area. Crews will also be dispatched to clear and reopen Litlle River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend Wye. The Section of road has been closed for over two weeks due to reported downed trees and a rock slide. The restrooms at Newfound Gap and Cades Cove will remain open after emergency funds provided by Friends of the Smokies are depleted. The Great Smoky Mountain Association is also donating services to reopen the Cable Mill Visitor Center in Cades Cove. Thanks to a preexisting contract prior to the shutdown the dumpsters will continue to emptied. Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitors Centers will remain closed.

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Smoky Mountain Park Facilities Close With Government Shutdown

"Visitors are going to be on their own until the shutdown ends," Laurel Rematore, Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), CEO.

“Visitors are going to be on their own until the shutdown ends,” Laurel Rematore, Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), CEO.

Smoky Mountain Park Facilities Close With Government Shutdown.

“Visitors are going to be on their own until the shutdown ends,” said Laurel Rematore, Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), CEO. “We are encouraging people visiting the park to prepare for a lack of public use facilities such as restrooms, trash pickup and visitor center staffing.“

GSMA (a nonprofit partner of the Smokies) had been providing short term funding to the park which ended January 1st. The association provided a $51,000.00 donation which kept 15 rangers on the job and the Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove visitors centers open through the holidays.

"Sorry folks park facilities are closed!" National Lampoon's Vacation.

“Sorry folks park facilities are closed!” National Lampoon’s Vacation.

One park visitor told HeySmokies, “It feels like that moment in the Chevy Chase comedy favorite “Vacation” where the  entire family has driven across county in the family truckster to Wally World only to find the park closed. This time it is no joke though.”

 

 

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Great Smoky Mountains Foothills Parkway Opens

Great Smoky Mountains Foothills Parkway

Great Smoky Mountains Foothills Parkway.

Great Smoky Mountains Foothills Parkway Opens. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announce the long-awaited section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley, TN will finally open Saturday, November 10, 2018. The 16-mile roadway will be drivable for the first time since construction began in 1966. The route will include the 1.65-mile section known as the ‘Missing Link’ which is now connected by a series of nine bridges.

“We are grateful to the visionaries in the 1930s who conceived the idea of a parkway and to the countless people who have tirelessly worked since then to complete this spectacular section,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We can’t wait for people to experience the unparalleled views offered along this new Smokies destination.”

The completion of the roadway was made possible thanks to a decades-long partnership among the State of Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration, and the National Park Service (NPS) at a total cost of $178 million. Funding for the final paving was provided through a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) VIII grant secured by the Tennessee Department of Transportation along with $15 million from the State of Tennessee and $7 million through the NPS Federal Lands Transportation Program.

The Foothills Parkway now consists of two finished sections at either end of the 72-mile corridor. The western section now extends 33 continuous miles from Chilhowee to Wears Valley, offering a new recreational experience for motorists and cyclists. The eastern section, completed in 1968, extends 6 miles from Cosby to Interstate 40 presenting breathtaking views of Mt. Cammerer.

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Abrams Falls Trail

Abrams Falls is a fantastic hike! photo credit - gsmnp

Abrams Falls is a fantastic hike! Photo credit – gsmnp

Abrams Falls Trail has it all! The 20-foot Abrams Falls is an amazing natural wonder and a rewarding rewarding hike! The five-mile round-trip Abrams Fall Trail, located in Cades Cove, is classified as a moderate to difficult trek due to several ascending and descending ridges along the way. Those accustomed to a bit more challenging hikes will be rewarded when they reach the imposing 20-foot waterfall.

The trailhead is accessed at the back of a grassy field about half way around the Cades Cove Loop road and begins at a wooden bridge. Bear right after the bridge to visit the historic Elijah Oliver Place. Like other cabins in the cove, the Oliver place is a perfectly preserved homestead, offering a glimpse of life for early cove settlers.

Back to the main trail, turn left and follow the well-marked path that runs parallel to beautiful Abrams Creek, and leads through a variety of natural growth that includes hemlocks, a pine-oak forest and massive growths of rhododendron (referred to as a “hell” of rhododendron by anyone who has ever hiked through them.)

The trail, which marks an elevation gain of 340 feet and is home to numerous scenic overlooks, has a total elevation change of about 1,800 feet with the combined ascents and descents. It also crosses three narrow log bridges. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on the trail.

Proper hiking gear is a must for any hike. Check out our great blog on “Hiking Essentials” to make sure you and your family are prepared for this hike or any other Smoky Mountain adventure.

Many visitors are tempted to swim in the enticing pool located at the base of the falls. Be Warned; the volume of water thundering over the cliffs of Abrams Falls creates dangerous undertows and strong currents. Climbing on or near the falls is also not a good idea. Rocks surrounding both the falls and the pool below are coated in mist and algae and are extremely slippery and sometimes unstable. Over the years, several people have fallen to their deaths, and many other suffered serious injuries from climbing on rocks near waterfalls. Backpacker Magazine has listed Abrams Falls Trail as one of the ten most dangerous hikes in America, citing numerous deaths that include drownings (a fatality occurred in 2006 when a “strong” swimmer disappeared near the base of the falls. He was pulled under and his body never resurfaced.) The article noted that a total of 29 water-related deaths have occurred on this trail since 1971.  According to a park spokesperson, Abrams Falls is an attractive destination that is easily reached by a 2.5-mile hike, but has strong currents and hidden hazards beneath the water that can trap unsuspecting swimmers. Lightning strikes and extreme weather changes have also proved deadly. When spending any time in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, caution is your friend. Check weather forecasts before heading out; stay on the trail; when encountering wildlife, keep a respectable distance; and never cross streams above waterfalls (people have been swept over the falls after losing their footing in little more than ankle-deep water). You should wear sturdy footwear, be prepared for sudden inclement weather and take drinking water and snacks. Keep a close watch on your children.  It takes about 3-4 hours for most people who hike this trail so if you begin in late afternoon, you could end up hiking back in the dark.

Directions: Enter the one-way Cades Cove loop and travel about five miles. Just beyond the Abrams Creek Crossing and stop #10, turn right onto a grave road that crosses between grassy fields. The Abrams Falls Trail Parking lot is located at the end of the road and the trailhead is just a few steps away.