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

    Great Smoky Mountains

    National Park NC,TN

Seasonal Facility Schedule

Campgrounds
Cades Cove and Smokemont campgrounds remain open year-round. The park's eight other campgrounds and five horse camps close seasonally. Backcountry (backpacking) campsites are open year-round.
• Family Campground schedule
• Group Campground schedule
• Horse Camp schedule

Picnic Areas
Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier and Metcalf Bottoms picnic areas are open year-round. The park's remaining picnic areas close seasonally. Picnic Area schedule

Roads
Primary roads such as Little River Road, Newfound Gap Road (US-441), and Cades Cove Loop Road remain open year-round, weather permitting. Secondary roads close seasonally.
• Seasonal Road schedule
• Temporary Road and Facilities Closures (usually weather or construction related)

Visitor Centers
Visitor Centers in the park are open year-round, except Christmas Day. Daily operating hours for visitor centers

  • Road and Facility Closures Road and Facility Closures

    Some roads and facilities are closed seasonally or may close temporarily in inclement weather. Read More

  • Download Park Maps Download Park Maps

    Maps of trails and campgrounds as well as general park maps are available. Read More

Did You Know?

An experimental program to reintroduce elk to the park was begun in 2001.

An experimental program to reintroduce elk to the park was begun in 2001. Elk once roamed the Smokies, but were eliminated from the region in the mid 1800s by over-hunting and loss of habitat. Other animals successfully reintroduced to the park include river otters and barn owls.