Great Smoky Mountains National Park OPEN
UPDATED Thursday October 17, 2013 – With the government shutdown now over, the federal government has completely opened back up which means all of the national parks including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are open once again. This includes all hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, overlooks, etc. The opening takes place right at the peak of the fall colors at the highest elevations of the Smokies so it’s a perfect time to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains!
(Original article from October 1, 2013) – We have gotten a lot of questions asking if the Great Smoky Mountains National park is closed and we now have an official update as of October 1, 2013. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Public Affairs Office has released information regarding the park’s closure due to the government shutdown. All park visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, restrooms and facilities are closed during the shutdown. Additionally, all volunteer activities, ranger programs and special events are cancelled.
Roads that remain open through the park are the Highway 441 “spur”, which connects Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, the Gatlinburg bypass, which many people use to get around downtown Gatlinburg by going up the mountain. Also open is Newfound Gap Road which connects Gatlinburg to Cherokee,NC. All other roads within the park, including the Cades Cove loop, will be closed during the shutdown. The Cades Cove campground is also closed during the government shutdown.
Viewing Fall Foliage
If you want to get into the mountains to see the fall colors, one of the best routes to take coming from Pigeon Forge on Highway 441 is to get off on the Gatlinburg bypass just before you get into Gatlinburg. Follow that route up the mountain and you will come to a fantastic overlook on the left with picturesque views. Follow that road until it dead-ends back into 441. At that point you have the option of going into downtown Gatlinburg, or you can head up the mountain to Newfound Gap for a beautiful drive that as an incredible overlook at the top.
What is Open and Closed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
There have been a lot of questions as to exactly what is open and closed during the government shutdown of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The following information was provided by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch office for the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce.
What’s Open
- Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee
- The overlook at Newfound Gap including restroom facility
- Most of the scenic overlooks
- The Gatlinburg Bypass between the north side of Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- “The Spur” between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
- Great Smoky Mountains Association Visitor Centers outside the park as follows:
Gatlinburg Welcome Center
520 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TNTownsend Welcome Center
7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy
Townsend, TNSevier County Visitor Center
3099 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Kodak, TN
What’s Closed
(in the list below, “GSMNP” means Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
- All GSMNP hiking and horse trails
- All GSMNP roads except those mentioned above
- All GSMNP campgrounds
- All GSMNP picnic Areas
- Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Clingmans Dome, Cosby, Big Creek, Greenbrier, Balsam Mountain, The Mountain Farm Museum, etc.
- All GSMNP visitor centers
- All GSMNP restrooms (except Newfound Gap)
- Historic grist mills
- The Foothills Parkway East and West
- LeConte Lodge
- All GSMNP horse stables
- All GSMNP horse camps
- All GSMNP streams are closed to fishing
- Appalachian Trail shelters
Chief Ranger Clay Jordan said, “We ask that the public voluntarily respect the closure of the backcountry for everyone’s safety. With less staff on duty, we do not have the personnel on hand to sufficiently respond to emergency situations in the backcountry. We understand the desire of visitors to hike during this beautiful time of year and we are hopeful that the park will soon reopen.”
For more information about road closures, please call Great Smoky Mountains National Park office at 865-436-1200.
Smoky Mountains Closed – Updates
As the government comes to a resolution and resumes we will update this article with information regarding exactly what is opening up and when. Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter or like our facebook page to get updated as soon as new information is released.
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Judy Murphy
October 2, 2013 at 9:53 amI thought a lot of the workers in the state parks, such as Cades’ Cove were volunteers. Why can’t the store just be closed and the loop itself open?
SJS
October 4, 2013 at 12:18 pmBecause the Govt. Is no longer fot the people by the people. No one wants Obamacare Its been rammed down our throats. Its bad medicine! Middle n poor income folks will suffer. The rich get richer. Our parks belong to the people. They should be open n free. Not closed because of dimwits in Washington. We need to clean house and elect people with old fashion values and honesty. Thoe 2 traits are no longer the norm. Its a sad state affairs in America when its run by a few idiots with personal gain in mind
brittany
October 5, 2013 at 11:44 pmI agree 100% and because of this obamacare my husband may lose his insurance. right now his job pays full benefits and we are barely making it and now they want to make each employee pay full cost if this goes through. On top of it we are going to the Smokey’s in Nov. for my husband birthday and we were going for the trails and seenic adventures I hope by they everything is back up and running.
Bev
October 8, 2013 at 6:36 amWe are here now and although the main road to Cherokee is open and we were able to view the mountains places like Cades Cove and the lookout pathway are closed. Traveling down the mountains into NC a lot of the pull over areas are also closed. I don’t understand why an area to pull off the road needs to be barreled off…very disappointed.
Allene
October 8, 2013 at 10:11 amSooner or later, even the most die hard liberal will have to admit that Obama is NOT presidential material. He was, and is, ill equipped to handle the job. A president is elected to serve ALL the people, not just the ones who voted for him. He should consider the welfare of all citizens. Instead, he is petty and vindictive and does anything and everything he can to spite Republicans, Conservatives, and even independents who do not agree with him. In fact, since parks belong to the people, I’m not sure it is legal to do the things he is doing.
I’m still going to Gatlinburg and enjoy myself.
John
October 12, 2013 at 8:54 amLet’s not fool ourselves, Obama is in the Executive Branch, the Congressmen and Senators are in the Legislative Branch. If we want change we need new congressmen and senators that actual create laws and balanced budgets that help the people. I think both parties have us distracted to keep our eyes off them, we all know the money is getting spent supporting the congressmen and senators agenda. If we stay distracted by blaming all issues on the president, even though he truly is doing a poor job, then we will never vote them out. He holds the power of veto which is a huge power but the power of smart government is truly what we need.
Sam
October 15, 2013 at 11:12 amI totally agree. We need to vote all the senators and congressmen out.
LJL
October 8, 2013 at 1:52 pmI wonder what F. D. Roosevelt would think about his beloved National Park being shut down. A seemingly senseless act that only hurts our already poor economy.
Greg Douglas
October 8, 2013 at 3:10 pmSo much for “Public Parks”. Only the public isn’t allowed there – Obama knows best – like your doctor you can keep him – Not. No cancer care if you are 76. Everyone hates Obamacare – he doesn’t even want it himself. Vote more money for public park land so you can’t go there. I’ll be a “Republican next election”. They are at least trying to help. This is a sad day in the USA. I’ve been through several gov. shutdowns – this is the worst.
JPerry
October 9, 2013 at 12:13 pmObama is only interested in his own agenda. Cause as much pain as possible, divide everyone, and destroy this country from the inside. Everyone needs to flood the Dem. phones letting them know how angry we feel that they can open Washington monuments for illegal’s to protest, but lock citizens out of parks and monuments. Keep his favorite golf course open and the gym for Congress but close overlooks and the veterans memorial. Worst of all forgo death benefits for our Hero’s that have been sacrificed to keep this country safe.
melissa
October 10, 2013 at 11:41 amIts amazing to me that they bring more people in to pay to keep these places closed down than it would cost to let it be and stay open. It’s not about the money at all. Its about making people mad. How do you close down nature? Cades Cove is an old road with only a stop or two where people are working to sell things. The rest of it is a driving trail that is not manned. No reason to try to keep people out except for spite.
Mark H. Pittman
October 10, 2013 at 3:00 pmSo, how much does it cost to keep an overlook open as opposed to paying someone to place barrels to keep overlook closed? Only to pick-up once reopened. Amazing. Our government just doesn’t make sense anymore. Common sense anyway!!
Pat
October 15, 2013 at 10:54 amHoping to go to Gatlinburg next week! Wondering if it will be worth the drive! Any word on how crowded it is in town and in pigeon forge!!!!
Victoria
October 15, 2013 at 11:42 amState Parks ARE open. They are not affected by the shutdown of the FEDERAL government.