Current Road, Facility, Trail & Backcountry Updates

 

For updated road and weather information, please call [phone]. 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 Twitter or create a Twitter 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

• Single-lane closures on the Spur from Monday, September 25, through Thursday, September 28, to allow staff to safely mow and remove litter. The Spur, which connects Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, will remain open but drivers should expect delays. The single-lane closures will be in effect from approximately 7 am to 4 pm each day.
• Lakeview Drive closed from August 14 to November 14 for reconstruction funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. During the construction, the road will be closed to all public access, including foot traffic, bicycles, horses, and vehicles. Cemeteries along Lakeview Drive will be open on Sunday, October 8, for anyone planning a Decoration Day or cemetery visit.
• Mingus Mill is temporarily closed until further notice for preservation and rehabilitation work.
• Ramsey Prong Road is closed Monday through Thursday (excluding federal holidays) to allow for trail rehabilitation work on Ramsey Cascades Trail.
• Blue Ridge Parkway—for information about parkway closures, please call [phone] 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:

• Seasonal Road Closures
• Seasonal Facility Closures

 

Trail and Backcountry Closures, Warnings & Cautions

For current backcountry trail and campsite information, please call [phone].

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: Baskins Creek Trail, Twin Creeks Trail
• Shelters: LeConte Shelter
• Campsites: #9, #57

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: Trillium Gap Trail and Grotto Falls, Alum Cave Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail
• Shelters: LeConte Lodge
• Campsites: None at this time

Other Trail and Backcountry Closures and Warnings

• From August 14 to November 14, hikers and visitors cannot access the Noland Creek Trail, Lakeshore Trail, Goldmine Loop Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, Lakeview Drive Tunnel, or the Tunnel Bypass Trail from Lakeview Drive while it is closed for reconstruction. During the road closure, backcountry campsites 65 and 67 are closed.
• Ramsey Cascades Trail is closed Monday through Thursday for trail rehabilitation following flood damage. The trail is open Friday through Sunday each week, and on federal holidays.
• 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.