June 14, 2019
Weather-related road and facility closures may change throughout the day. For updated road and weather information please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast.
Follow current road status updates on Twitter at SmokiesRoadsNPS. Users can choose to receive text messages (text "follow smokiesroadsnps" to 40404), follow us directly on Twitter, or access from the internet using this link: https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps. Updates are available for Newfound Gap Road (US-441), Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road.
This webpage is updated 3-4 times a week. For the most current report, please call the number listed above or follow on Twitter.
Roads and Facilities
Notice: Due to the partial government shutdown this winter, delays in the spring opening of campgrounds, picnic pavilions, and cabins are anticipated. The reduced timeline for seasonal staff hiring and project planning has inherently shifted the scheduled opening dates to be delayed at some facilities. As such, the table below shows the dates we are currently able to commit to. Our current forecast opening dates are also shown. We are striving to open many facilities prior to this as seasonal staffing becomes available. As the park determines the ability to open some facilities earlier, the reservation window will be expanded. For the most up to date information about projected facility openings continue checking this page.
| FACILITY |
Current Committed 2019 Season |
| Abrams Creek Campground |
5/23 – 10/9 |
| Appalachian Clubhouse |
4/1 – 10/31 |
| Anthony Creek Horse Camp |
4/19 – 11/10 |
| Balsam Mtn Campground |
5/17 – 10/9 |
| Big Creek Campground |
4/19 – 10/29 |
| Big Creek Group Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Big Creek Horse Camp |
4/19– 10/27 |
| Big Creek Picnic Area |
4/19 – 10/29 |
| Cades Cove Campground |
C1-12 and 26-61 are open year round.
C 13-25 and 62-76 5/23/19
B loop 5/23/19 |
| Cades Cove Group Camp |
4/19 – 10/30 |
| Cades Cove Picnic Area |
Year round |
| Cataloochee Campground |
5/23 – 10/29 |
| Cataloochee Group Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Cataloochee Horse Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Chimneys Picnic Area |
4/19 – 11/27 |
| Collins Creek Picnic Pavilion |
4/19– 10/27 |
| Cosby Campground |
5/23 – 10/29 |
| Cosby Group Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Cosby Picnic Pavilion |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Deep Creek Campground |
5/23 – 10/29 |
| Deep Creek Group Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Deep Creek Picnic Pavilion |
year round (4/19 - 10/27 pavilion can be reserved) |
| Elkmont Campground |
LOOPS A-F: 3/08 – 11/25
LOOPS G-N: 5/23 – 10/31 |
| Elkmont Group Camp |
5/23-10/31 |
| Firefly Event |
TBA |
| Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion |
year round (3/29-10/31 pavilion can be reserved) |
| Heintooga Picnic Area |
5/17 - 10/9 |
| Look Rock Campground |
Closed |
| Look Rock Picnic Area |
Closed |
| Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Round Bottom Horse Camp |
5/23 – 10/28 |
| Spence Cabin |
4/1 – 10/31 |
| Smokemont Campground |
A/B: Year round
C-F: 5/23 – 10/31 |
| Smokemont Group Camp |
5/15 – 10/31 |
| Tow String Horse Camp |
4/19 – 10/27 |
| Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion |
3/29 – 10/27 |
| ROADS |
Current Committed 2019 Season |
| Balsam Mtn Heintooga Rd |
5/17 – 10/28 |
| Clingmans Dome |
3/30 – 11/30 |
| Forge Creek Rd |
4/19 – 12/31 |
| Little Greenbrier Access Road |
5/23 – 11/26 |
| Parsons Branch Road |
CLOSED – hazard trees |
| Rich Mtn Road |
4/19 – 11/11 |
| Roaring Fork Mtn |
5/01 – 11/25 |
| Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road |
4/19 – 10/27
(Round Bottom HC closes 10/29 at noon) |
Temporary Closures and Construction Projects
Follow road status at https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps or subscribe to receive text message updates by texting "follow smokiesroadsnps" to 40404.
Seasonal Closures
For information about seasonal closures, including Clingmans Dome, Rich Mountain Road, Parson Branch Road, and others during the winter months, please see:
Seasonal Road Closures
Seasonal Facility Closures
Backcountry Facilities
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.
Bear Warnings - areas where bears are active. Please read What Do I Do If I See A Bear? for important safety information about bears.
- Icewater Spring Shelter
- Mt. Le Conte Shelter
- Cosby Knob Shelter
- Campsite #90 & #113
- Chimney Tops Trail
Other Backcountry Closures and Warnings
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.
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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.
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Boogerman/Caldwell Fork trails - several water crossings exist on the Caldwell Fork Trail. Hikers need to be prepared to ford the streams.
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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 and Mine Shaft Closure
Entry into all caves and mine shafts is prohibited due to concerns about the spread of white nose syndrome among bats. more
