Tag Archives: GSMNP

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced its second busiest year ever in 2022 with 12,937,633 visits. Last year’s visitation was more than 1.5 million above the park’s ten-year average, and more than the visitation of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—On March 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the ‘Park it Forward’ program which requires visitors to buy and display a valid parking tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes.    “We owe a huge thanks to our park neighbors, communities, partners, and visitors …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Much of the maintenance on one side of the Spur Tunnel is complete, allowing contractors to begin work on the other side. Depending on weather conditions and arrival of supplies, the single-lane closure will switch to the opposite lane sometime between March 1 and March 3.   The day …

Fishing (Photo Submitted) Applications are open for the John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp for middle-school-age girls and boys, scheduled June 19-24 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The camp, sponsored by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited (TU) and supported by proceeds from TU’s Tennessee Conservation License Plate, is based …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.— Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Fire Management Zone staff plan to burn approximately 925 acres of fields in the Cades Cove area. Weather permitting, burn operations will occur between Monday, February 13 and Friday, March 3.   Deer, turkeys, ground-nesting birds, and other species …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—On March 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the ‘Park it Forward’ program which requires visitors to buy and display a valid parking tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes. To make the transition as smooth as possible, the park will offer early sales …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials recently selected staff park ranger Joshua Johnson to serve as the park’s Lands Specialist to provide dedicated oversight of lands entrusted to the National Park Service. Parklands encompass 522,426 acres, including the 68-mile Foothills Parkway corridor between Chilhowee Lake and Cosby. In total, …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials welcomed three new members to the Park Management Team this year. Barbara Hatcher stepped in as the new Chief of Facility Management, Jamie Cupples joined as the new Chief of Administration and Business Services, and Emily Davis will serve as the park’s public …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Water level receded in the Little River overnight making it possible for National Park Service rangers to recover the body of 61-year-old Carl Keaney of Knoxville, TN.  On Friday, December 16, Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch received a call that Keaney disappeared underwater while kayaking above The Sinks …

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a geotechnical crew will implement a temporary closure of Laurel Falls Trail Monday, December 12 and Tuesday, December 13 to accommodate survey work. The trail will be closed to all use.  The geotechnical crew is following up on work done in November. …