Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

 

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About the Authors

 

Liz Etnier

 

Mike Etnier

 

 

Return to Hiking in the Smokies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Trail and Campsite Closings

 

Cooper Creek Trail has been officially closed by the Park Service, and removed from the list of trails for the 900-miler club. It is recommended that hikers avoid this trail due to negative interactions with adjacent land owners.

 

If you have any edition prior to the 4th edition, updated (August 2020), you can combine Hike 5 in the Deep Creek area with Hike 14, starting and ending the loop with Mingus Mill Trail (16.4 miles total).

 

 

Updated List of Trail Closures (as of August 28, 2021):

 

The following trails will be closed for rehabilitation work from May 10 – November 10, 2021:

 

Abrams Falls – open Friday-Sunday; parking area also closed week days

Ogle Nature Trail

Oconaluftee River Trail

Fighting Creek Gap Nature Trail

 

The 3.3 mile section of Bradley Fork trail between Hughes Ridge and Cabin Flats trails will be closed Mon-Thurs for trail rehab work from August 16 – Oct 28. This section will be closed to all horse traffic until May 1, 2022 to allow for the proper recovery of the trail.

 

• Scott Mountain is still 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:

 

Rabbit Creek at Abrams Campground

Boogerman/Caldwell Fork Trails – there is no plan at present to replace these bridges

Porters Creek Trail

Deep Creek/Fork Ridge intersection

 

Bear warnings are in effect for  Laurel Falls and Little River trails.

 

Campsites 9, 57, 70, and 71 are closed due to bear activity.