I’m just looking to stay somewhere that I could drive not too far and find a trail that you can get kinda “lost” in. I don’t want to actually get lost tho lol

From the National Park:

"Beginning in December, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin a five-month-long rehabilitation project. 

"The work, focusing on the improvement of Cosby Road, aims to add a variety of new features. These features include: 

• Paving the picnic area and trailhead parking lots
• Adding new handicapped parking
• New road signs
• Replacement of the Rock Creek Culvert

"The work is set to begin on Dec. 9 and will last until April, according to the park. The entrance to Cosby Road will be closed during that time."

• Travelling with a 55yr old who is pretty unfit
• Looking for easy hikes
• Non-Americans, so suspect we'll be pretty easily impressed
• Staying near Pigeon Forge

Hike 1: Laurel Falls

Hike 2: Little River Trail or Grotto Falls

Will we need proper hiking boots for these hikes or are they pretty chill? Will there be snow on the trails/roads to these trailheads?

UPDATED AS OF 12:15 P.M. EST

U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee IS NOW OPEN.

UPDATED AS OF 2:30 P.M. EST

The following roads are closed due to snow:

U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee
Upper Tremont Road
Old North Carolina 284

​

I'm planning a trip to Fontana Lake area for some backcountry camping and am looking at backcountry camping in spot #86. I have canoes and kayaks and want to know where would be the best launch spot to make the trip there. TIA.

The following roads are closed as of 6:00 p.m. EST due to the winter weather advisory:

Laurel Creek Road
Cades Cove Loop Road
Foothills Parkway West (new section)
Upper Tremont Road

Conditions on these roads will be evaluated Friday morning (11/22).

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (11/22).

Anyone know of any existing routes that connect several balds in the park? I know I can piece them together myself but just curious if anything has been established. Thanks!

I've been to Newfound Gap previously and have never noticed this before. Anyone know, or even better, anyone have pictures?

https://preview.redd.it/i3woqhpisb1e1.png?width=1894&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d70f36a35aa79473b14474aa01e79a6a52fbafd

From the national park:

""Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed Sunday, Nov. 10, until approximately 11 a.m. for the Friends of the Smokies annual Loop Lope footrace.

"Vehicles without event registration passes will not be permitted past the Townsend Wye until the road reopens."

I am heading down to the area next week. I'll be staying in Gatlinburg and have three full days, maybe a half-day, to check out the area. I'm a fair weather hiker, but can deal with light rain. The main goal of this trip is to hike Gregory Bald the first full day day, which now has very little to no rain chance. Day two has a decent chance of rain, maybe all day. Day three is lower, early rain.

For day two, I'd like to checkout the Knoxville city area. This would be a regional road trip, sightseeing day, with some walking/light hiking throughout the day. I'm open to checking out some outdoor, scenic local parks. I don't mind driving a few hours if I can check out a new area. I know Frozen Head State Park and House Mtn. State Natural Areas are close to Knoxville. Also Seven Islands State Birding Park might be worth a stop. I've driven up to the top of Sharp's Ridge on a prior trip. That park has great views and I'd like to find something similar. Also like waterfront areas, so anything along the river or any nearby lakes would be of interest.

For the last full day, I want to focus back on the park and hiking. I'm thinking Andrew's Bald as I've never done that hike. I might actually park a few miles away and use the Appalachian Trail to hike to Kuwohi Dome area, then continue onto Andrew's Bald from there. I believe Kuwohi Road is open till 11/30. I've also never done Rainbow Falls, so that is another option.

Any suggestions or opinions?

I love animals and would really love to see a bear! What would be the best time to visit cades cove to maximize my chances of seeing a bear? We will either do Saturday or Sunday. Thanks in advance!

Me and my dad decided to go on a roadtrip this fall and the smoky mountain National park was on my list for a long time. So we decided to drive down to the park this weekend. Any hike recommendations that are friendly for older adults ( my Oldman can walk but not long distances). I'd like to add that we are driving from Ohio (Cincinnati) if that makes any difference. If I don't manage to get a camping spot, are there any hotels/motels nearby? TIA!

Heading up to Smokemont campground in GSMNP this weekend from Charleston. Where are the best places/trails in the park to see some fall color and waterfalls? Most likely will stay on the NC side of the park, but we’re open to heading towards Gatlinburg as well.

I've never been to GSMNP but have spent time in the mountains in the North East. In photos online, they look pretty similar. For anyone who's familiar with both environments care to weigh in?

I'm thinking about this from the perspective of hiking, camping, views, terrain, wildlife/nature composition.

Thanks.

Considering a late-season summit. I’ve gone up Alum in the summer before - the ledges don’t bother me but if there’s ice I want to be smart.

Will the spiral Yaktrax I already own be enough, or should I get actual spikes instead? TIA

Hello everyone! I am an experienced hiker from the Northeast who is planning to drive down to GSM in two weeks for a little backpacking trip to Sterling Mountain. The one thing I am having an issue figuring out is how I will be able to get to the parking area(Big Creek Ranger Station Parking). I was able to find a way around the I40 closures but the very end of Route 32 and the Big Creek entrance road are closed. Is the solution to park at the Northern End GSM Appalachian trailhead parking area and add a 1.5-mile road walk to our trip? Thank you for any advice you can give!

https://preview.redd.it/magvjbmkuixd1.png?width=392&format=png&auto=webp&s=12de11aeae083ef5d3de3c3e89ee44f0ec87213d

I had a gallbladder removal surgery 3 weeks ago and I can walk without issue but I will likely get winded on moderate to hard hikes and feel tired more easily. We will be visiting GSMNP next weekend (11/1) and would like to do some hikes at lower elevation (given it’s past peak at higher) and more on the easy side. For example, Laurel Falls trail is easy in general (for me) and there was still color when I visited last year past peak. Any suggestions? We are staying around Sevierville. Thank you in advance!

Hey! I’m planning a trip to the park this weekend (11/01-11/03). Can anyone tell me what the leaves are looking like now and if they’ll still be nice during my trip? I’ve heard some areas are already at peak.

Looking forward to our first visit to GSMNP! Arriving tomorrow for 4 nights, primary interests are hiking and photography. We are reasonably fit and have some moderately challenging hikes picked out, one of which is hopefully Alum Cave - just there and back, no further. However we are looking to confirm that the trail up to that point doesn't require getting very close to any drop offs? We'd prefer a berth of at least 6-8 feet from the edge. :) I believe it's past Alum Cave that the trail skirts the edge and has cables, but looking to confirm.

Right now, I have landed on

Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail and Mount Buckley via Kuwohi Bypass Trail

Drives — as I driving from DC, I’d first like to cover Blue Ridge Parkway. Once I’m at GSMNP, I’m thinking of driving through Hwy 141 Newfound Gap Rd.

What else? I am mainly looking for drives that have a lot of fall foliage through the forest

(moderates can you please approve)

The colors of the park are looking amazing right now! Was able to get alot of photos right before the leaves fall

I'm assuming since this is using the old name that this is a piece of gorilla graffiti? It was on one of the benches half way up to the observation tower but when our friends went up the next day they couldn't find it.

From the National Park:

"With many major driving routes near Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) impacted by Hurricane Helene, the national park is still seeing an influx in commercial vehicles trying to navigate its steep, curvy roads. Commercial vehicles are prohibited on US 441/Newfound Gap Road and in all of GSMNP for everyone’s safety.

"Since the storm, the park has turned around over 1,000 commercial vehicles trying to enter the park and responded to multiple incidents involving large commercial trucks. Violators will be subject to a citation as well as a fine of up to $5,000. Highway 441/Newfound Gap Road is a two-lane road with steep, continuous grades and tight curves. There are no truck lanes, runaway truck ramps or places for a large commercial vehicle to slow down and pull over.

"For detours, please check DriveNC.gov and SmartWay.TN.gov."

Also, is there another camp ground that would be better this weekend?

Went there last week & I'm kind of shocked I didn't read anything negative about it beforehand, outside of the warnings that traffic can get backed up. Figured I'd share for anyone else researching a visit.

• The scenic views are few & not anything you can't get elsewhere in the park.

-The drive was a crawl, which would be fine if there were things to look at, but there weren't.

• The only wildlife we saw were deer. That didn't stop the 5 cars in front of us stopping to take pictures though.

• The historical buildings are all over the park. The ones in Cades Cove weren't anything special to look at & just felt like repeats.

• While the drive to Cades Cove was nice, the lack of payoff in getting there was a disappointment. It was a little long though.

The only real positive was the Abrams Falls hike, which ended up being one of the more enjoyable ones we did in the park.

If you want the Cades Cove experience, but better & at a fraction of the time commitment, I'd just recommend doing the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.