Officials with Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that road work on the Cades Cove Loop Road would be completed almost a month ahead of schedule. To celebrate the early finish the park will open April 24 to only pedestrians and bicyclists until noon then motorists will be allowed access that afternoon.
On Sunday April 25 the road will be open for the “Cades Cove Loop Lope” offering runners a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in either a 3.5 mile or the full 11 mile loop. Organized by the park and Friends of the Smokies, the event will require participants to register in advance for the run. Participation fees are high ($75 for the 3.5 and $100 for the 11 mile) but all money will be used to support park projects. We have provided a link for further information on this special event, go to the Friends of the Smokies web site.
Posts Tagged ‘Cades Cove’
Cades Cove Loop Road Repairs to be Completed Early
Friday, April 2nd, 2010Road Repairs Scheduled in National Park
Friday, February 26th, 2010The Great Smoky Mountain National Park will be closing certain roads this spring for much needed repairs. These repairs will affect some of the parks most popular areas.
The Cades Cove Loop Road near Townsend, is slated for repaving from March 1 through May 21. Due to the fact the road has not been repaved in over thirty years, it will need to be totally closed down as it will require total reconstruction.
Clingmans Dome Road, which normally opens April 1st, will be kept closed until around May 29th. Along with road repairs, new public facilities are being installed at the parking area at Clingmans Dome.
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also scheduled to be closed till May 29th. The popular 5 mile scenic loop is in Gatlinburg.
Weather conditions will play an important factor in getting these three projects completed on time. This winter and last fall have been extremely wet causing rock slides along certain roads and making for wet working conditions. We will report any announced delays in scheduled opening dates here on our blog and also on our Twitter page.
Tremont’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
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
Abrams Falls Trail Closed Again
Monday, June 22nd, 2009Due to a continued bear problem park rangers have closed the Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove for the second time this month. Park officials stated that they do not plan to reopen the very popular trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park until the black bear can be tracked or caught. The park service’s web site has updates on road and facilities closures.
Nuisance Bears in the Park
Saturday, June 13th, 2009This spring in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park there have been many instances of nuisance bear activity. The popular Abrams Falls Trail was closed for a day this past week due to two reports of a black bear becoming aggressive towards hikers.
Some shelters and backcountry campsites are currently closed and bear warning signs have been posted at many shelters and trails including the Abrams Falls Trail. The nuisance bears have been a particular concern in the popular Cades Cove area.
The Nation Park Service web site has a very interesting article on Black Bears that has safety guidelines if you encounter a bear. Visitors may wish to check at the parks visitor centers or ranger stations before hiking or camping for further information.
