Partial closure of Cades Cove this Thursday

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have rescheduled the hemlock tree spraying operation in Cades Cove for this Thursday, December 10. During that time, a partial closure of the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road will occur while Park forestry technicians finish treating the adelgid-infested hemlock trees. Previously, vegetation management crews had to suspend the second day of its scheduled operation due to bad weather.

The spraying operation will only impact the western end of the Loop Road. Motorists and cyclists will be able to enter the Loop as they normally would, but will have to detour across the Loop via Hyatt Lane (the second gravel crossroad) to exit Cades Cove. Hikers can continue through the closed portion. The detour will shorten the length of the trip to an 8-mile tour of Cades Cove. The Hyatt Lane bypass will eliminate access to the Cades Cove Visitor Center and Cable Mill area as well as the several trailheads located on the western end of Cades Cove: Abrams Falls, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek, and Wet Bottom Trails, and Gregory Ridge trailheads.

To check the status of the road closure, visitors can call the Park’s general information number at 865-436-1200.

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Jeff
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