April 1, 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 SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.
Roads and Facilities
| FACILITY | Current Committed 2019 Season | Current Forecast Opening Date |
| Abrams Creek Campground | 5/23 – 10/9 | April 26 |
| Appalachian Clubhouse | 4/1 – 10/31 | April 1 Final |
| Anthony Creek Horse Camp | 5/23 – 11/12 | April 19 |
| Balsam Mtn Campground | 5/17 – 10/9 | May 17 Final |
| Big Creek Campground | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Big Creek Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Big Creek Horse Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Big Creek Picnic Area | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| 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 |
C1-12 and 26-61 are open C 13-25 and 62-76 4/19 B loop 4/19 |
| Cades Cove Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/31 | April 19 |
| Cades Cove Picnic Area | Year round | Open |
| Cataloochee Campground | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Cataloochee Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Cataloochee Horse Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Chimneys Picnic Area | 5/23 – 11/26 | April 19 |
| Collins Creek Picnic Pavilion | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Cosby Campground | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Cosby Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Cosby Picnic Pavilion | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Deep Creek Campground | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Deep Creek Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Deep Creek Picnic Pavilion | 5/23 - 10/29 | April 19 |
| Elkmont Campground | LOOPS A-F: 3/08 – 11/25 LOOPS G-N: 5/23 – 10/31 |
LOOPS A-F: March 8 Final LOOPS G-N: May 23 Final |
| Elkmont Group Camp | 5/23-10/31 | April 26 |
| Firefly Event | TBA | TBA |
| Greenbrier Picnic Pavilion | 3/29-10/31 | March 29 Final |
| Heintooga Picnic Area | 5/25 - 10/9 | May 17 Final |
| Look Rock Campground | Closed | Closed |
| Look Rock Picnic Area | Closed | Closed |
| Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Pavilion | 5/23 – 10/28 | April 19 |
| Round Bottom Horse Camp | 5/23 – 10/28 | April 19 |
| Spence Cabin | 4/1 – 10/31 | April 01 Final |
| Smokemont Campground | A/B: Year round C-F: 5/23 – 10/31 |
A/B: Open C-F: April 19 |
| Smokemont Group Camp | 5/23 – 10/31 | A/B: Year round C-F: April 19 |
| Tow String Horse Camp | 5/23 – 10/29 | April 19 |
| Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion | 3/29 – 10/28 | March 29 Final |
| ROADS | Current Committed 2019 Season | Current Forecast... |
| Balsam Mtn Heintooga Rd | 5/17 – 10/30 | May 17 Final |
| Clingmans Dome | 3/30 – 11/30 | March 30 Final |
| Forge Creek Rd | 5/23 – 12/31 | April 19 |
| Little Greenbrier Access Road | 5/23 – 11/26 | April 19 |
| Parsons Branch Road | CLOSED – hazard trees | CLOSED |
| Rich Mtn Road | 5/23 – 11/13 | April 19 |
| Roaring Fork Mtn | 5/23 – 11/27 | April 19 |
| Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road | 5/23 – 10/30 (Round Bottom HC closes 10/29 at noon) |
April 19 |
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.
- Parsons Branch
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Blue Ridge Parkway - for information about parkway closures, please call (828) 298-0398 or visit the parkway's website at https://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm.
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.
- No bear closures 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.
- No bear warning at this time
Other Backcountry Closures and Warnings
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Scott Mountain Trail is closed from campsite #6 to Schoolhouse Gap. Campsite #6 is open.
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Backcountry Campsite #11 is closed.
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