Great Smoky Mountains National Park is planning additional airlifts from Oct. 6-9 to remove materials from the demolished LeConte Lodge Recreation Building. The scheduled airlifts are expected to occur between 9 a.m. and noon each day. In the event of hazardous weather, the park may delay airlifts or extend the time beyond the scheduled flight window. The park continues to work around adverse weather conditions, prioritizing the safety of everyone involved.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in partnership with Friends of the Smokies, has completed a full reconstruction of the historic John Messer Barn in Greenbrier following extensive storm damage. Park leadership, Friends of the Smokies leadership and descendants of the Greenbrier community celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 28.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will complete essential maintenance along the Gatlinburg Spur starting Sept. 28. This work will enhance roadside vistas for visitors who drive on the Gatlinburg Spur. This will require temporary single-lane closures to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will temporarily close Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on Sept. 24 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to safely complete roadside mowing and other maintenance.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminds visitors to view wildlife safely as elk and black bear activity increases this fall. Autumn offers opportunities to witness elk during their annual breeding season, known as the rut, and to observe bears feeding on fall food sources. While these experiences can be amazing to witness, they also require caution, awareness and respect for wildlife.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is planning additional airlifts to from Sept. 14-18 to remove materials from the demolished LeConte Lodge Recreation Building.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close the section of Little River Road between the Townsend Wye and Elkmont for essential road maintenance on September 15 and 17.
Beginning Sept. 14 and continuing through the end of the month, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will conduct multiple projects on the Gatlinburg Spur that will require single-lane closures. Visitors driving between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge during the closures can expect traffic delays. For the safety of park personnel and other drivers, please drive with extra caution.
As autumn approaches, Great Smoky Mountains National Park looks forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy its world-renowned fall foliage. The changing leaves, cooler temperatures, wildlife viewing and special events bring in a high volume of visitors, congested traffic and limited parking. Check out the tips below to navigate the crowds and make the most of fall in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will temporarily close Kuwohi Road and the trail to Kuwohi Observation Tower the mornings of Thursday, September 10, and Tuesday, September 15, to facilitate special educational programs for students from Swain County and Qualla Boundary schools. The park will close the road and parking lot at 8 p.m. the night before each event and will reopen it by 2 p.m. each day.
After a multi-day search, Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was confirmed safe this afternoon in North Carolina outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to search for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak who was reported missing on the evening of Aug. 24. With support from partner agencies, search efforts remain active within the park boundary and have expanded beyond the park as the investigation continues.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with assistance from local agencies, continues to search for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, who was reported missing on the evening of Aug. 24.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with assistance from local agencies, continues to search for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, who was reported missing on the evening of Aug. 24. Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is from Illinois.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park with assistance from local agencies continues searching for Marcin Bachleda‑Blaszczak. Bachleda‑Blaszczak is described as having brown hair, blue eyes, standing 5’6” tall, and weighing approximately 170 lbs.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues planning for future improvements to the Oconaluftee River Trail. As part of this planning process the park is inviting public review of the Oconaluftee River Trail Floodplain Statement of Findings. The document will be available for review through September 7.
Beginning Aug. 24, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close Abrams Falls Trail from Monday through Thursday each week to replace aging footlog bridges and improve visitor safety. The work is expected to be completed by October 1. The trail will open to hikers Fridays through Sundays and on Labor Day (September 7) during construction.
As the demolition of the LeConte Lodge Recreation Building continues, the National Park Service's Contractor will conduct helicopter airlifts the mornings of Aug.10-15. The Contractor has made significant progress with most of the timber structure demolished and focusing now on the basement, stonewalls, and foundation. During this second set of airlifts, demolished materials will be flown off the mountain via helicopter.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will complete essential maintenance along the Gatlinburg Spur starting July 27. This work will enhance roadside vistas for visitors who drive on the Gatlinburg Spur. This will require temporary single-lane closures to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin demolition of the LeConte Lodge Recreation Building on July 14. The concessioner of LeConte Lodge will construct a new recreation building later this year.
On July 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a naturalization ceremony in partnership with the United States District Court of Eastern Tennessee and the Nashville Field Office of Department of Homeland Security.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday this July 4, Great Smoky Mountains National Park anticipates increased visitation for the holiday weekend. Anyone planning on celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in the Smokies should prepare for warm weather, increased traffic and busy parking lots. Plan ahead and follow these four tips for a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is pleased to welcome this year’s lineup of Artists-in-Residence, whose creativity and passion will help visitors experience the Smokies in new and inspiring ways. Each month from June through November, a new artist will join us and lead hands-on programs which invite visitors to explore the park through art shaped by its landscapes, history and natural wonders.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to attend “Celebrating Cosby: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” community programs at the Cosby Campground Amphitheater. These programs honor the rich cultural and natural history of the Cosby area through storytelling, dance, music and history talks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin a bi-annual inspection of bridges and tunnels on June 8. Visitors can expect single-lane closures at tunnels for the duration of the inspection to ensure the safety of workers and other drivers. To minimize impacts to park visitors, the single-lane road closures will start no earlier than 9 p.m.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close the section of Little River Road between the Townsend Wye and Elkmont for essential road maintenance on June 8 and 9.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park expects a high volume of visitors over Memorial Day weekend. Anyone planning a trip to the Smokies over the holiday weekend should expect crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will complete essential maintenance along the Spur starting May 11. This will require temporary single-lane closures to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is requesting tips from the public to aid in an ongoing investigation of 33 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) dumped on the Foothills Parkway.
Beginning April 30, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will transition its backcountry permit reservation system to Recreation.gov. This transition will improve reliability, security and customer support for backcountry users. Visitors with existing reservations do not need to do anything—the park will honor all permits issued before the switch.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host its annual synchronous firefly event at Elkmont from May 20-27. A lottery for vehicle reservations opens at 10 a.m. April 24 EDT and closes at 11:59 p.m. April 27 EDT.
Rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park responded to three bear‑related incidents at Ramsey Cascades Trail this past weekend, including two encounters in which a bear approached visitors and took two backpacks, and a third in which a bear displayed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are closed as rangers monitor bear activity.
Beginning May 4, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close Bullhead Trail from Monday through Thursday each week, excluding federal holidays, through November 19. During this time, the park will continue the rehabilitation of the Bullhead Trail in partnership with Friends of the Smokies.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Days every Wednesday from May 6 to Sept. 30. These designated days give pedestrians and cyclists an opportunity to experience the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road without motor vehicles.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin its 2026 season of adaptive programming this spring with ranger‑led experiences designed for visitors with limited mobility and their families.
The National Park Service is seeking public input on proposed improvements to the Oconaluftee River Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through this project, the park would improve connectivity with the gateway community of Cherokee, increase accessibility, repair riverbank erosion and enhance safety and the visitor experience. The NPS will accept comments through April 22.
The National Park Services urges visitors to plan ahead, prepare for changing conditions and know their personal limits while recreating in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park rangers have been responding to an increased number of emergencies and are reminding visitors that rescue is not a certainty.
Firefighters continue to actively suppress the Rabbit Creek and Fox Gap wildfires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Fox Gap Fire is estimated at 112 acres and is 30% contained. The Rabbit Creek Fire is approximately 48 acres and is 75% contained.
On Wednesday afternoon, Great Smoky Mountains National Park received a report of a wildfire in the Twentymile Area. Fire managers are currently working to estimate fire acreage. Additional firefighting resources have been ordered to support suppression efforts.
Firefighters continue to suppress the Rabbit Creek Fire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fire is 47.5 acres and is 25% contained. Crews continue to establish and reinforce fire line around the perimeter. No structures are threatened at this time.
Fire crews are actively suppressing the Rabbit Creek Fire near Rabbit Creek Trail and northwest of Backcountry Campsite 16 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park received a report of the fire on Sunday afternoon.
The National Park Service plans to burn approximately 180 acres in Wear Cove Gap (north of Metcalf Bottoms) and 243 acres in Lynn Hollow (near the Top of the World community) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Weather permitting, burn operations may begin as early as March 25 and may continue through March 31. These prescribed fires will help to safely reduce fuels, maintain resilient natural systems and protect communities along the park boundary.
As spring approaches, Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminds visitors of group size limits during the popular wildflower season at Whiteoak Sink. Individuals and small groups of eight or fewer people may access the Whiteoak Sink area throughout the wildflower season from April 1 through May 3.
The National Park Service welcomed Charles D. Sellars as the superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park during an Assumption of Responsibility ceremony held in the park on March 4. The ceremony marking the transition of leadership brought together National Park Service leadership, tribal leaders, park partners, community leaders and park employees.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking individuals to join the Elk Rover volunteer team for the wildlife upcoming season. Elk Rovers share information with visitors about safe viewing and help keep elk and visitors safe. Elk Rovers will be stationed at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, located near Cherokee, North Carolina.
Beginning on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close several access points to the park due to an incoming winter storm. These will remain in effect until staff can safely assess conditions.
The National Park Service is seeking tips from the public to aid in the ongoing investigation of an assault that occurred in the Deep Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The National Park Service (NPS) plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the western portion of Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on January 7 and 8, weather permitting. Fire managers intend to burn approximately 900 acres to restore native meadow habitats, reduce hazardous fuels, prevent the encroachment of woody vegetation and maintain the historic landscape of the cove.
Beginning in January, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin a multi-year project to improve safety and infrastructure on the Gatlinburg Spur, the scenic road connecting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow for the millions of visitors and local residents who travel this corridor each year.
Embrace the spirit of the season with two festive events at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this December. Visitors are invited to celebrate Appalachian holiday traditions and create new memories during the Festival of Christmas Past, Present and Future on Saturday, December 13, and the Holiday Homecoming on Saturday, December 20.
The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the Cataloochee Valley area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday, November 18, weather permitting. Fire managers intend to burn approximately 89 acres across six fields to reduce hazardous fuels, restore native meadow habitats and maintain the historic landscape of the valley.
The Gatlinburg Bypass in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now open following a significant landslide that temporarily closed the roadway over the weekend.
A new National Park Service report shows that approximately 12.2 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2024 spent more than $2 billion in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of more than $2.8 billion.
It’s beginning to feel like fall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Autumn is a beautiful—but busy—time in the Smokies. Visitors should plan ahead and be prepared for incredible fall colors, but also crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking throughout the park.
Park rangers are searching for a 21-year-old man in the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ryan Lakes was last seen Thursday, Sept. 18 in Nashville, TN. His vehicle was found in the park on Sept. 20.
The annual elk breeding season, known as the rut, is underway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The rut can be exciting to witness, but it can also be dangerous, as elk are especially unpredictable during this time. Park visitors should exercise extra caution and respect all wildlife regulations as they visit the park this season.
Where heritage meets hands-on history—experience the rich traditions of Appalachian Mountain life at the annual Mountain Life Festival, happening Sept. 20 at the Mountain Farm Museum, located just behind the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, NC.
The National Park Service (NPS) will fully reopen US 441/Newfound Gap Road on September 12 by 4 p.m., 18 days ahead of schedule, following extensive repair work after a road washout which occurred on August 1. Led in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the early reopening restores a vital corridor through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, improving access for our visitors and neighbors.
Kuwohi Road will be temporarily closed half-days on Sept. 9 and 16 to facilitate special educational programs for students from Swain County and Qualla Boundary schools. The park will close the road at midnight the night before each event and will re-open it by 2 p.m.
The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) continue to work quickly to repair the road washout on US 441/Newfound Gap Road. The FHWA has awarded the contract to Eclipse Companies, LLC, and the NPS and FHWA held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on Friday. The contractor will begin mobilizing equipment and supplies this week.
The National Park Service will complete essential maintenance along the northbound and southbound Spur starting August 25. This will require temporary single-lane closures to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
The National Park Service urges visitors to not feed or approach black bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park has seen an increase in incidents involving visitors feeding bears. Feeding wildlife is illegal and endangers you, other visitors and bears.
The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) continue to work towards emergency repairs for US441/Newfound Gap Road following the August 1 washout and landslide. The agencies plan to award a contract in August and expect that construction will be completed in early October.
US441/Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed until further notice due to road damage. Late on August 1, the park responded to reports of a landslide event on Newfound Gap Road between mile marker 12 and 13 on the Tennessee side of the park (south of Alum Cave trailhead). Heavy rainfall caused Walker Camp Prong to swell and undermine part of the roadway.
The National Park Service (NPS) reminds visitors to slow down and enjoy the views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over the next month, park rangers in cooperation with partner agencies will conduct increased traffic safety enforcement throughout the park. Through this effort, the NPS aims to combat excessive speeding and reduce motor vehicle collisions.
Newfound Gap Road is getting an upgrade! Starting July 14, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will kick off a rehabilitation of a 7-mile stretch of Newfound Gap Road on the North Carolina side of the park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking individuals to join the Elk Rover volunteer team for the upcoming 2025 season. Elk Rovers share information with visitors about safe wildlife viewing and help keep elk and visitors safe. Elk Rovers will be stationed at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, located near Cherokee, NC.
The National Park Service will close Abrams Falls Trail and trailhead parking lot in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from June 16 through June 18 to allow crews to complete trail maintenance. Visitors will not be able to access the falls from any trail during this closure.
The National Park Service will complete important maintenance along popular roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this June. This will require temporary partial closures of Little River Road and single-lane closures along the Spur to allow park staff to safely and efficiently complete this work.
Join us this summer and fall for a series of exciting, family-friendly programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, starting June 7. Visitors are invited to take a hike with a ranger, learn about mountain life, meet some of the creatures that call the Smokies' home, trek into the dark and much more.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer the first Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Day of the year on June 18. Vehicle-free days provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to experience the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road without motor vehicles.
