Current Road, Facility, Trail & Backcountry Updates

 

For updated road and weather information, please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, press 1, then press 1 for road information or 2 for a weather forecast. Weather-related road and facility closures may change throughout the day.

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Login to X (formerly known as Twitter) or create an account to follow current road status updates at SmokiesRoadsNPS. Updates are available for Newfound Gap Road (US-441), Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road.

For current information about temporary closures, alerts, or warnings related to roads, facilities, trails, or the backcountry areas, please use the "ON THIS PAGE" navigation bar below.

 
 

Road & Facility Delays or Closures

Temporary Closures and Construction Projects

  • Prescribed burns planned for Cataloochee Valley this week. Motorists along Cataloochee Entrance Road and Cataloochee Creek Road should reduce speed, turn on headlights, and stay alert when smoke is visible. Be aware of park rangers, firefighters, and equipment along the roadway. The roads may close temporarily during operations for firefighter and visitor safety.
  • Fontana Dam is closed to vehicle access through March 2024. Pedestrians can still walk across.
  • Mingus Mill is temporarily closed until further notice for preservation and rehabilitation work.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway—for information about parkway closures, please call (828) 298-0398 or visit the parkway's website.

Seasonal Closures

For information about seasonal closures, including Clingmans Dome, Rich Mountain Road, Parson Branch Road, and others during the winter months, please see:

 

Trail and Backcountry Closures, Warnings & Cautions

For current backcountry trail and campsite information, please call (865) 436-1297.

Bear Closures—areas that are closed due to bear activity

Please read What Do I Do If I See a Bear? for important safety information about bears.

  • Trails: None at this time
  • Shelters: None at this time
  • Campsites: None at this time

Bear Warnings—areas where bears are active

Please read What Do I Do If I See a Bear? for important safety information about bears.

  • Trails: None at this time
  • Shelters: None at this time
  • Campsites: None at this time

Other Trail and Backcountry Closures and Warnings

  • Lead Cove Trail is closed to horse traffic due to trail damage.
  • Bullhead Trail is open but has many downed trees making the trail very difficult.
  • Lower Mount Cammerer Trail is open to hikers but is closed to equestrian traffic until trail repairs are completed.
  • Campsite #87 is closed until further notice due to wildfire damage.
  • Scott Mountain Trail is closed from campsite #6 to Schoolhouse Gap. Campsite #6 is open.

Trail Cautions

Please note that the park's backcountry is managed as a natural area where the forces of nature determine trail conditions. The following list includes some conditions that the park is currently aware of. However, hikers may encounter trail conditions not listed below that require caution. Be prepared for swollen streams, bridge washouts, downed trees, and trail erosion when hiking in the park's backcountry.

  • Rabbit Creek Trail—the bridge where the trail crosses Abrams Creek is out. This is a wide crossing that may be deep during high water events.
  • Boogerman/Caldwell Fork trails—several water crossings exist on the Caldwell Fork Trail. Hikers need to be prepared to ford the streams.
  • Boat shuttles to and from Hazel Creek when lake levels are low are from the Ollie Cove Trailhead on the Hazel Creek embankment. Ask the shuttle service about this when making a reservation to be dropped or picked up. This is due to a bridge that is out of service on Hazel Creek and adds about 1/2 mile to the hike. Trail signs are in place to direct you from the Hazel Creek Trail and Lakeshore Trail intersection to Ollie Cove Trail that is one mile east on Lakeshore Trail from Hazel Creek.
 

Cave & Mine Shaft Closure

Entry into all caves and mine shafts is prohibited due to concerns about the spread of white nose syndrome among bats.

Last updated: March 14, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Phone:

(865)436-1200

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