Smokies Prepares for Florence: Closing Roads and Facilities

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials continue preparations for Hurricane Florence and have announced road and facility closures beginning Saturday, September 15. Predictions from the National Weather Service call for strong, gusty winds and rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches moving into the park on Saturday evening, with Sunday morning seeing the worst of the storm. The higher rainfall totals are most likely for the North Carolina side of the park.  Due to the potential for hazardous conditions from downed trees, flooding, and landslides, the closures listed below will be put into effect out of concern for public safety.

These closures will make most park trailheads inaccessible.  Overnight backcountry use is not recommended beginning Saturday through Monday due to the potential threat of downed trees and flooded stream crossings causing rivers and trails to become hazardous.  All backcountry reservation holders are encouraged to change their itinerary or cancel their permit and receive a refund.  Refunds will be available to those who are unable to reschedule their trip for an alternative date.

The following park roads and facilities will remain open throughout the storm, conditions permitting: the Spur, Gatlinburg Bypass, Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg to Sugarlands, and Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Smokemont.  The Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers are scheduled to remain open 8 am to 7 pm each day. Park officials will continue to monitor the track of the storm closely and make changes to this schedule as necessary.

For up-to-date information about roads and trail closures, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm, follow the park on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS, or follow “SmokiesRoadsNPS” on Twitter.

Some “commuter routes” open until midnight; most other park roads and facilities to close by 8:00 p.m.

UPCOMING CLOSURES: Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 8 pm (unless noted)

Picnic Areas

• Cades Cove, Chimneys, Collins Creek, Deep Creek, Metcalf Bottoms, Twin Creeks

Front Country Campgrounds

• Cades Cove,Deep Creek, Elkmont, Smokemont

Horse Campgrounds

• Anthony Creek, Tow String

Roads

Tennessee

• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Cherokee Orchard to Twin Creeks Road
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
• Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove
• Foothills Parkway West, from Look Rock to Hwy 129
• Little River Road (Sugarlands to Metcalf Bottoms entrance) – midnight Saturday
• Little River Road (Metcalf Bottoms to Townsend Wye)
• Newfound Gap Road, from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Newfound Gap
• Wear Cove Gap Road – midnight Saturday
• Tremont Road (Upper) from Tremont Institute to Middle Prong Trailhead

North Carolina

• Clingmans Dome Road
• Lakeview Drive
• Newfound Gap Road, from Smokemont to Newfound Gap

Facilities/Concession Operations

• All Cades Cove facilities

Facilities and Roads Already Closed

Picnic Areas

• Big Creek, Cosby, Greenbrier, Heintooga/Balsam Mountain

Front Country Campgrounds

• Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cataloochee, and Cosby

Horse Campgrounds

• Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom

Roads

Tennessee

• Abrams Creek Road
• Balsam Mountain Road
• Cosby Access Road
• Foothills Parkway East
• Greenbrier Road
• Heintooga Ridge Road/Round Bottom Road/ Straight Fork Road
• Ramsey Cascade Road including Ramsey Cascade Trail

North Carolina

• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• NC Hwy 284
• Twentymile

Facilities/Concession Operations

• Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob
• Appalachian Clubhouse
• Le Conte Lodge
• Spence Cabin

 

Following the storm, roads, campgrounds and facilities will be reopened as quickly as possible once they are passable and safety assessments have been made.