Tag Archives: smoky mountains

During the week of October 19, Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to provide input on how the park can improve visitor experiences and alleviate congestion at some of its busiest destinations. The public can participate through virtual interactive workshops, online forms, or direct mail. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with our local communities and visitors from ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking information to help identify the party responsible for vandalizing the Foothills Parkway West Entrance Sign near the Highway 321 intersection in Walland, Tennessee between September 18, 2020 and September 19, 2020 with a black bear skin. On Saturday September 19, 2020 at 7:45 a.m., visitors reported seeing a black bear skin with head ...

Park officials say a man drowned in the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while trying to rescue a younger family member. Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress call just before 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2020 behind the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee, N.C. Witnesses said that 32-year-old Bulmaro Morales, of Dudley, N.C., heroically ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that some campgrounds, visitor centers, and additional roads will be accessible to visitors as part of the current phase in the park’s plan to restore public access across the park. Beginning on Monday, June 8, the following areas will be accessible:  Cades Cove and Smokemont CampgroundsAnthony Creek Horse CampSugarlands, Oconaluftee, Cades Cove, and ...

Park officials were joined by Second Lady Karen Pence and Deputy Secretary of the Interior Katherine MacGregor at Clingmans Dome to talk about the mental health benefits of being outdoors and announced the next phase in the park’s plan to restore public access to more roads and picnic areas.  Mrs. Pence is the Lead Ambassador for PREVENTS, an interagency task ...

The popular Synchronous Firefly Viewing at Elkmont in Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inability to safely hold the event while maintaining social distancing. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have canceled the synchronous firefly viewing event in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to experience SmokiEEEs @ Home during National Park Week. This new website at https://smokieees.org/ features videos and activities that connect students of all ages to the park from their homes by highlighting the three ‘E’s in SmokiEEEs: Explore, Entertain, and Escape. “During this time of uncertainty when the park is closed ...

The Tennessee Army National Guard used a hoist to rescue the pilot of a small plane that crashed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Friday morning. Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers responded to a report of a small plane crash approximately 6 miles west of Clingmans Dome at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2020. The single ...

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced that all 56 Tennessee state parks and state-owned natural areas are closed to the public. The closure will last at least through April 14 in support of Gov. Bill Lee’s Executive order requiring all citizens to stay at home. This is a complete closure of facilities and access to all Tennessee State ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and Spur, will remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All access to the park, including trails and roads, were originally closed on March 24 through April 6, in alignment with efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 across the region. The ...