July 25, 2018
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.
Updates on the Chimney Tops Fire
Please visit the following sites or call 865-407-0025:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5112/
Roads and Facilities
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.
- Newfound Gap Road, Laurel Creek Road, Townsend Entrance Road, Tremont Road - Single lane closures and traffic delays for paving project weekdays March 12-June 16, 2018 and again August 16-September 20, 2018.
- Parsons Branch
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Foothills Parkway (unfinished section) - the entire unfinished section between Walland and Wears Valley is now closed to all public use until 2018 due to construction.
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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.
- Campsites: #9, #10, #21, #23, #24, #36, #37, and #113
- Spence Field, Derrick Knob, and Russell Field Shelters
Bear Warnings - areas where bears are active. Please read What Do I Do If I See A Bear? for important safety information about bears.
- Mollies Ridge Shelter
- Rainbow Falls and Laurel Falls Trails
- Appalachian Trail Trailhead at Fontana Dam
Other Backcountry Closures and Warnings
- The following trails are closed due to fire damage until further notice: Sugarland Mountain Trail from Mt Collins Shelter to the junction with Huskey Gap Trail and Bull Head Trail.
- Rainbow Falls Trail is closed April 16 through November 15 from Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly for trail rehabilitation. The trail will be fully open each week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and on federal holidays.
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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