Tag Archives: Smokies

Photo by Paul Driessche GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Great Smoky Mountains National Park warns visitors that approaching elk is dangerous and illegal. With the elk rut (mating season) underway, elk are particularly aggressive.  Recently, several visitors were injured after getting too close to elk. Over the weekend, one individual suffered an …

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.—The Flint Gap Fire is 46 acres as of the last estimate. Although the fire is presently 0% contained, only a few areas are actively burning within the perimeter. Once firefighter access and safety in this remote and steep terrain is addressed, a full suppression strategy will be executed. …

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. …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Great Smoky Mountains National Park roads crew have implemented a temporary one-lane closure of the northbound Spur to clear a rockslide near the tunnel. The lane closure starts north of Westgate Resorts Road.  The rockslide started yesterday afternoon following a brief rain shower. Crews from Blalock are assisting NPS …

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The National Park Service invites the public to attend “Celebrating Cosby: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” community programs every Friday from June 21–July 19 at the Cosby Campground Amphitheater. The programs honor the rich cultural and natural history of the Cosby area through storytelling, dance, music, and history talks.“The Great …

Partial Solar eclipse GATLINBURG, Tenn.—On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible across a swath of the United States stretching from Texas to Maine. Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies outside the path of totality but will experience an 86 to 87% obstruction of the sun during …

Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. Great Smoky Mountains National Park GATLINBURG, Tenn. —Last week, the National Park Service announced that 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022.At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 2023 visitation was 3% higher …

Most park roads are closed including Newfound Gap, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, Greenbrier, Cataloochee Entrance and Tom Branch. All park facilities, including visitor centers, are …

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed today due to current hazardous weather conditions. Most park roads are closed including Newfound Gap, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, …