• Approximately 1,500 black bears live in the national park.

    Great Smoky Mountains

    National Park NC,TN

Temporary Closure of Gunter Fork Trail

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Date: August 5, 2011
Contact: Public Affairs Office, (865) 436-1207

Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced that the Gunter Fork Trail between the Camel Gap Trail and the Balsam Mountain Trail is closed until further notice due to three landslides. The slides occurred during a heavy rain event on or about July 15.

The 4.1 mile Gunter Fork Trail lies in the east end of the National Park in Haywood County, NC. The Gunter Fork Trail is one route that takes users from the Walnut Bottoms area up to Balsam Mountain and Mt. Sterling, but is not one of the Park’s most heavily travelled trails. The Swallow Fork Trail provides alternative access to the same areas.
 
Managers have no estimate of when the Gunter Fork Trail may reopen. All or parts of five other Park trails west of Cades Cove in Blount County, TN are still closed for repairs. The trails: Rabbit Creek, Hatcher Mountain, Cooper Road, Beard Cane and Wet Bottom were heavily damaged by an F4 tornado on April 27. For the latest advice on hiking in the Smokies visitors are invited to stop at the park’s three visitor centers. Hiking information is also available by phone at (865) 436-1297.

Did You Know?

Barn at the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The barn at the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center is over 50 feet wide and 60 feet long. A modern 2,500 square foot home would fit in the upstairs loft of the barn and over 16,000 hand-split wooden shingles are required to roof it.