The Clingmans Dome Road will close Dec. 1 for the season as the park begins operating under its winter schedule. When the road reopens in spring, visitors will find the road repaved and new restrooms.
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is also scheduled to close in December for repaving; the exact date has not been announced.
For further road closures in the National Park, you may visit their web site.
Archive for the ‘Great Smoky Mountain National Park’ Category
Clingmans Dome Road to Close for Season
Monday, November 30th, 2009Tremont’s Annual Fall Hike
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont’s fall hike to Rich Mountain will be held this Saturday at 9AM. The 7.5 mile hike is considered moderately difficult and will climb 1766 feet up the side of Rich Mountain with views of Cades Cove. On the way down hikers will stop at the John Oliver Cabin for exploring.
Cost is $15 per hiker and one should bring food and water along for the hike. To register for the hike call 865-448-6709 or email to: mail@gsmit.org.
The hike is one of many organized yearly by the Legacy of Tremont, a group of volunteers who help bring public awareness and support to Tremont. The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a nonprofit organization providing experiences through residential educational programs.
Fall Foliage in Cades Cove
Thursday, October 29th, 2009The fall color is currently at its peek in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains but will not last long. Yesterday a park volunteer stated that this was the most vibrant colors he could remember; as he concurred with the comments I made on Tuesday evening here on the blog about this years fall colors.
Traffic is currently heavy on the loop road but well worth the time. Even the drive just getting to Cades Cove is colorful whether one travels the Little River Road from Gatlinburg, Wears Valley Rd. from Pigeon Forge, or Hwy 321 from Maryville.
Taken from the Loop Rd in Cades Cove on 10/28/2009
Taken just outside the entrance to Cades Cove on 10/28/2009
This Weeks Fall Foliage Update
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Today’s photos from the Campbell Overlook show the Great Smoky Mountains at peak color in the lower elevations even though these pictures were taken with overcast skies in between rain showers. With the rain expected to move out of the area overnight and with little wind to take the leaves down, the colors should be excellent through the weekend.
When a person sees something everyday, it becomes the norm and many times it is overlooked or taken for granted. Having lived in this area the last eleven years, I can not remember seeing the vivid yellows, oranges and reds we are currently seeing. For many years the park service has said that we need rain through out the year to produce the vibrant colors, and this year has been very wet.
If one has not had the opportunity to view the fall colors in this region, this is an exceptional year to take the time and visit. With the upcoming weekend being one of the slower of the fall season, The Resort at Governors Crossing has great rates for a fall foliage getaway.
Fall Foliage at Campbell Overlook 10/27/09
Fall Foliage at Campbell Overlook 10/27/09
Fall Foliage from the Gatlinburg bypass 10/27/09
Fall Foliage from Cades Cove
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009Having spent part of the day yesterday in Cades Cove, we decided to add this photo showing the autumn color change in the Great Smoky Mountains. This westward facing photo was taken in the vicinity of the Carter Shields cabin. It seems like one can almost see a change in the color of the leaves on a daily basis now.
Fall Foliage Cades Cove 10/21/2009
This Weeks Fall Foliage
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009This weeks photo from the Campbell Overlook in the Smokies shows color change beginning in the lower elevations and many more reds appearing on higher slopes. With last Saturdays snow in the upper mountains and Sunday nights heavy frost in the valley in Sevier County, color change should come very quickly now.
Campbell Overlook 10/20/2009
“Friends of the Smokies” Needs Your Help
Saturday, October 17th, 2009The “Friends of the Smokies” requests your help in securing grant money that will aid in saving 19 historic buildings in the Elkmont area. An on-line poll, called Save Our Sites, is being sponsored by Tourism Cares. Participants can vote for their favorite among the seven sites listed.
The Tourism Cares organization seeks to preserve natural and historic areas that are tourist destinations. The amount the grant is unknown and will be determined by donations given to the effort on the Save Our Sites web site.
Voting is free; you are not required to make a donation. Cast your vote to help Elkmont and The Great Smoky Mountains.
Fall Foliage Update
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009We have an updated photo from the Campbell Overlook south of Gatlinburg. Some color change is starting to appear in the lower elevations. The second photo is taken from Newfound Gap from the overlook at the parking area.
Fall Foliage at Campbell Overlook 10/13/2009
Fall Foliage at Newfound Gap 10/13/2009
Fall Foliage in the Smokies
Thursday, October 8th, 2009We are beginning to see color changes of some of the leaves in the Great Smoky Mountains. The following photo is from the Campbell Overlook just south of Gatlinburg, about 12 miles from Newfound Gap. In this wide angel shot taken 10/7/09 you can see some reds and oranges in the upper elevations on some of the ridges.
Fall Foliage at Campbell Overlook 10/7/2009
Weather permitting we will post a photo from the same location next week.
Harvest Festival Time in the Smokies
Thursday, October 1st, 2009October is one of the most colorful times to visit the Great Smoky Mountains with all the areas harvest festivals and of course the changing colors of the leaves. Many local businesses have decorated their properties in traditional fall colors so we thought we would include a couple photos.
The leaves show very little color change at this time, but the cooler temperatures should speed the change along. I went up to the Carlos Campbell Overlook which is about a mile south of the Sugarland’s Visitor Center yesterday and the color change was about nil. This is about 12 miles from Newfound Gap and the higher elevations, which should be about 5 or 6 days ahead as far as color change.
We will begin next week posting a weekly photo from near the Campbell Overlook so everyone can gauge the color of the fall foliage. The photo will be taken from the same location each week.
Harvest Fest
Colorful fall display by Dollywood
