Tag Archives: Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed Mt. LeConte Backcountry Shelter and trails to the popular Cliff Tops area due to bear activity until further notice. At this time, trails leading to the summit of Mt. LeConte remain open, but hikers are strongly encouraged to hike in tight groups of three or more and carry bear spray. Park wildlife ...

Join park staff and partners on Saturday June 6, 2015 to celebrate National Trails Day with a volunteer opportunity to participate in Appalachian Trail Work Day. The national park is once again working with the Friends of the Smokies, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Regional Office, and the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club to host this large volunteer event. This work day event has taken place in the park for the last 19 years ...

The annual Cosby in the Park festival will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the park’s Cosby campground. In its 16th year, Cosby in the Park is presented by the Cocke County Partnership, Great Smoky Mountains Association, and the park. The event celebrates the cultural heritage of the area, the talented local craftspeople and musicians, and highlights the ...

People with cats that roam outside may be able to help researchers with an important scientific research project on the least weasel. Wildlife biologists are studying the distribution and life history of the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) in the southeastern United States and are asking cat owners to report if their outdoor cat presents one as a gift. The least ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a 2-year trail restoration project will begin next week on Alum Cave Trail. The trail and associated parking areas will be closed May 4 through November 19, 2015, excluding federal holidays, on Monday mornings at 7 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly. Due to the construction process on the narrow ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is pleased to announce the selection of Dana Soehn as the Park’s 2014 “Employee of the Year.” This marks the 31th anniversary of an important partnership between the park and its neighboring communities, which recognizes the outstanding work of park employees in all disciplines. A public event will be held on Monday, May 4, at ...

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 ...

Clayton F. Jordan has been named the Smokies Deputy Superintendent. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash announced that Clayton F. Jordan has been selected as the next Deputy Superintendent. He replaces Patty Wissinger who passed away in June 2014. Clay is currently the Resource and Visitor Protection Division Chief where he has served since 2010. He also recently ...

As a part of 2015 National Park Week, April 18-26, local art students at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School have created watercolor paintings of their favorite parks, which will be on display at Sugarlands Visitor Center and Park Headquarters through May 1, 2015. Additionally, students have created posters to line the halls of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School highlighting their favorite parts of Great ...

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 10,099,276 visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2014 spent $806,719,900 in communities near the park. That spending supported 12,759 jobs in the local area. “After a record setting year in 2014, we are pleased Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to provide not only an incredible resource for visitors ...