Tag Archives: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

GATLINBURG, Tenn.— Rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park responded to three bear‑related incidents at Ramsey Cascades Trail this past weekend, including two encounters in which a bear approached visitors and took two backpacks, and a third in which a bear displayed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are …

New report shows visitor spending impacts  GATLINBURG, Tenn.—A new National Park Service report shows that approximately 12.2 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2024 spent more than $2 billion in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of more than $2.8 billion.  “People come to the Smokies to do many …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.— Newfound Gap Road is getting an upgrade! Starting July 14, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will kick off a rehabilitation of a 7-mile stretch of Newfound Gap Road on the North Carolina side of the park.   The roadwork will include repaving the roadway from milepost 20.90 to …

Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to visitors Jan. 20-24 GATLINBURG, Tenn.— Great Smoky Mountains National Park will remove hazard trees in Cades Cove on Jan. 20-Jan. 24. This includes removing brush from the side of the road to keep vegetation from hitting passing vehicles and removing all hazard …

Laurel Falls – Photo Credit: Smokies Life GATLINBURG, Tenn.— The National Park Service (NPS) will begin a major rehabilitation on Laurel Falls Trail, one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail will close for 18 months starting Jan. 6, 2025, as crews make improvements …

Trail now open to visitors seven days a week Josh Shapiro, Trails Forever supervisor, cuts the ribbon for Ramsey Cascades Trail – NPS Gatlinburg, TN – In collaboration with Friends of the Smokies, the National Park Service (NPS) has a completed a three-year restoration of the Ramsey Cascades Trail in Great Smoky …

The park is open; Balsam Mountain, Big Creek and Cataloochee Valley areas remain closed  GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The National Park Service continues to assess conditions and address damage following the impacts from Hurricane Helene in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park experienced substantial damage particularly in North Carolina, including Balsam Mountain, Big Creek …

U.S. Board of Geographic Names Approves Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Name Change Request   GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted today in favor of the formal request submitted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to change the name of Clingmans Dome (FID #1326387) to Kuwohi. Kuwohi, is the …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park received a report of a small wildland fire near Hannah Mountain, south of Abrams Creek, the evening of Aug. 26. The Flint Gap Fire is estimated to be about 10 acres as of Aug. 27 at noon. No structures are threatened at this time. …

UPDATED 5/17/24: GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Park rangers found 62-year-old Timothy Cook safe on May 17 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.   The park would like to thank those who participated in the search and rescue efforts to locate Cook and those that provided information to the Tip Line.  GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Park rangers are searching …