Hiking in the
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About the Authors Return to Hiking in the Smokies |
2016
Trail and Campsite Closings Updated List of Trail
Closures (as of December 25, 2016): Park officials have
announced the temporary closure of
Lake View Drive past Noland Creek Bridge to vehicular traffic
beginning Monday, December 19 in order to accommodate needed bridge
repair work. Drivers on Lake View Drive will be able to drive to and park in
the Noland Creek Trailhead/Parking area, just before the bridge. Hikers and
horseback riders will be allowed to walk across the bridge to access the Lakeshore
Trail Trailhead which is approximately .8 miles from Noland Creek Bridge. The
road is expected to reopen on Saturday, December 24. The fire in the Smokies
near Chimney Top trail (known as the Chimney 2 fire) has caused several roads
and trails to be closed until further notice. The fire is almost contained, and several days of
good rain have helped the firefighters.
Updates of closures can be found on www.nps.gov/grsm.
Cherokee Orchard Road, Roaring Fork Motor Road, and Elkmont
Road are closed. Little River Road, Newfound Gap Road, the Gatlinburg Bypass, and the Gatlinburg Spur
reopened on December 9, 2016. The fire grew to approximately 1750 acres in
size due to extreme, sustained winds over 20 mph. The Park has reopened
all Visitor Centers in the Smokies. Backcountry areas are still
unsafe for travel and the following trails and backcountry campsites are
closed until further notice. Chimney
Tops Trail, Road Prong Trail, Bull Head Trail, Cove Mountain Trail, Sugarland Mountain Trail from Mt. Collins Shelter to
Little River Road, Rough Creek Trail, and Cove Hardwood Nature Trail,
and the Sugarlands Horse Concessions Trails. There are bear warnings for Grapeyard
Ridge Trail and Ramsey Cascade Trail. Alum Cave
trail has undergone major repairs in the last year, but is finally reopened. Ramsey
Cascade Trail is closed due to a damaged foot log over Ramsey Prong. A tree
has fallen across the path, and the creek is too deep and swift to attempt a
crossing without the footlog. Foothills Parkway (unfinished section) - the entire
unfinished section between Walland and Wears Valley
is now closed to all public use until 2017 due to construction. Fontana Dam
is closed to vehicle traffic for maintenance and repairs. Hikers can park at
the Fontana Dam Visitor Center and walk across a marked route to access the
park trailheads, including that for the AT, the Lakeshore Trail and the
Benton Mackaye Trail. • Scott Mountain is closed due to storm damage, from campsite 6
to Schoolhouse Gap (campsite 6 open, accessible from Cades Cove area). It is
unclear at this time if the Park Service will repair and reopen this section
of trail, or leave it closed permanently. • Gunter Fork opened, but caution urged due to landslides. The following trails have had footlogs
washed out, and in times of high water, the crossings might be very difficult
and/or dangerous: Enloe Creek Rabbit Creek at Abrams Campground Boogerman/Caldwell
Fork Trails – there is no plan at present to replace these bridges Tom Branch Road is closed. Cataloochee Creek road is closed from the group campground to
the Palmer House. Parsons Branch Road is closed following a washout near Sam’s
Gap, and blockage by many downed trees. Standing dead pines along the road
need to be removed, and is prolonging the road closure. The road is closed to vehicular traffic, but will
be open to hikers and horseback riders who should assess the risk for travel
as they would in any area of the backcountry. Due to the nature of wide
corridor, bicyclists are allowed to use the road during the closure. Dogs on
a 6-foot leash will also be allowed.
Campsite 11
is closed. |
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