GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park, City of Gatlinburg-Parks and Recreation, Great Smoky Mountains Association, and Sevier County School System are launching bilingual Storybook Trails across public parks on Friday, May 19, 2023. A Storybook Trail is a fun, educational outdoor activity that takes the pages from a children’s book and …
Read More »Greenbrier Road and Porters Creek Trail open
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Greenbrier Road, Porters Creek Trail, Brushy Mountain Trail, and campsites 31, 32, and 33 are now open to public use. Old Settlers Trail and Grapeyard Ridge Trail re-opened to public use earlier this month. Ramsey Cascades Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail …
Read More »Park rangers searching for missing man near Deep Creek
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are searching for a 69-year-old man in the Deep Creek area of the park. Gordon Kaye from Tampa, FL was last seen in the lower loop of Deep Creek Campground on Saturday, April 22. His family reported him missing yesterday, April 26. Kaye …
Read More »Synchronous firefly lottery and viewing dates announced
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual synchronous firefly viewing opportunity at Elkmont from Sunday, June 4 through Sunday, June 11. The public may apply for the limited viewing opportunity by entering a lottery for a vehicle reservation through www.recreation.gov. The lottery opens for reservation applications on …
Read More »Great Smoky Mountains National Park to participate in national fee-free days
A panoramic view looking north from the observation tower on Clingmans Dome one can see Blanket Mountain on the far left, Cove Mountain and Bluff Mountain near the center, and Sugarland Mountain and Mount Le Conte on the far right. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. GATLINBURG, Tenn.—To celebrate the first …
Read More »Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces early sales of ‘Park it Forward’ annual parking tags
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 …
Read More »Spur Tunnel construction to begin January 3
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Traffic on the northbound Spur will be reduced to one lane from January 3 through April 7, 2023, to allow for repairs to the Spur Tunnel. While the single-lane closures will cause temporary delays, the repairs are necessary to address water leaks and lighting improvements. For the safety …
Read More »Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Congratulates The City of Oak Ridge on Being Designated an American World War II Heritage City
Washington, DC – Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), reacted to the National Park Service (NPS) designating The City of Oak Ridge as one of 18 American World War II Heritage Cities across the United States. This designation is the result of nearly two years of Congressman Fleischmann’s work with the U.S. …
Read More »Single-lane closures planned on the Spur for tree removal
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Richmond Tree Experts will implement temporary, single-lane road closures along the Spur for tree removal Monday, November 28 through Thursday, December 1. The Spur, between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, will remain open, but motorists should expect delays. The single-lane closures will only …
Read More »Fire crews work to suppress 30-acre wildfire in western end of park
On Sunday, November 6, at 11:37 a.m., Blount County notified Great Smoky Mountains National Park that an approximately five-acre wildfire was reported along the western boundary of the park along Highway 129 near mile marker 4.5. National Park Service wildland firefighters responded to the site, which is located approximately two miles west …
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