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Date: May 27, 2011
Contact: Nancy Gray, (865) 436-1208

A popular portion of the Abrams Falls Trail from Cades Cove to the waterfalls has been repaired and reopened today after an EF4 tornado extensively damaged it and 8 other trails in the northwestern portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in late April. Visitors are now able to access the trail from the Cades Cove trailhead and hike 2.5 miles to the waterfalls. The trails from the falls to Abrams Creek campground via Rabbit Creek, Hannah Mountain and Little Bottoms Trails remain closed.

Over 33 miles of trails were severely impacted from the tornado’s effects where thousands of trees were blown down and their roots upended tearing huge gaps in the trails. The Park has hired a number of local people and is receiving assistance from 23 trail workers from six western parks to help support Park efforts to clear and rehabilitate trails. There is no estimate when the repairs to the other trails will be completed at this time.

The trails that are officially closed are:

• Abrams Falls beyond the waterfall
• Ace Gap Trail
• Beard Cane Trail including Campsites 3 & 11
• Cooper Road Trail from junction at Beard Cane to Cades Cove Loop Road
• Hatcher Mountain Trail
• Little Bottoms Trail from Campsite 17 to Abrams Falls/Hannah Mountain Trails junction (Campsite 17 is open)
• Hannah Mountain Trail from Rabbit Creek Trail junction to Abrams Falls/Little Bottoms Trails junction (Campsite 16 is open)
• Rabbit Creek Trail, including Campsite 15
• Wet Bottom Trail