Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Reopening after Bridge Repairs

Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced today that it would reopen Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail at noon on Friday, May 1, 2015. One of the most popular attractions in the national park, the one way loop road has remained closed since November 1, 2014 while crews from Bluegrass Contracting Corporation, of Lexington, Ky., repaired eight bridges along the 5.5-mile route. The bridges were last rehabbed thirty-five years ago.

Not only will motorists once again be able to visit the log cabins, gristmills and historic buildings along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, hikers will be able to access the Baskins Creek, Grapeyard Ridge and Trillium Gap trailheads.

Motorists can get to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail from the Parkway in Gatlinburg by turning onto Historic Nature Trail Rd. (light 8) and traveling to the Cherokee Orchard entrance of the national park. The Roaring Fork begins just beyond the trailhead for Rainbow Falls.

Photo: NPS