Update: the Laurel Creek Road is now open, however, park officials have now closed the Cades Cove Loop Road, as well as the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Wear Cove Road also remains closed. It's best to call the park hotline at 865-436-1200 for the latest closures.
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A strong storm that passed through the Smoky Mountains overnight knocked over several trees, resulting in a couple of road closings.
Laurel Creek Road, between Townsend and Cades Cove, and Wears Cove Road between Wears Valley and the Metcalf Bottoms area, are both closed to all traffic right now.
It's possible both could open early this morning, however, there is a high wind warning for the Smokies that could complicate or delay clean-up efforts. According to the Weather Service:
A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.
* WINDS: STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FOOTHILLS. WIND GUSTS UP TO 80 OR 90 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN A FEW AREAS OF THE FOOTHILLS.
To stay on top of the current weather and forecasts for the Smokies, please click here.
For the latest road closures in the park, click here, or call (865) 436-1200.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Articles and information on hiking, outdoor adventures and the Great Smoky Mountains. For hiking trail information in the Smokies, please visit HikingintheSmokys.com
cades cove /
Laurel Creek Road /
Metcalf Bottoms /
Townsend /
Wears Cove Road /
Wears Valley
Storm damages closes roads in Smokies
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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2 comments
We got a nice camping trip in at Cades Cove over the weekend in our little popup. The crowds were gone (too cold for them) and we enjoyed a laid back couple of days and nights. The loop road was particularly sweet early Sunday morning. I put up a little blog on Hometown Hiker with a few pics.
Chuck - I didn't know you had a blog! Good stuff!
Here's a link:
http://hometownhiker.blogspot.com/
Is that true about Workingman's Dead - that the cover photo was taken in Asheville? Believe it or not I was just listening to this a few days ago - one of my all time favorites!
I also saw that you rode the Katy Trail. Is any of that paved, or doable for a road bike? Have you ever been up to the Ohio-to-Erie trail. The goal is to build a paved trail from Cincy to Cleveland. They're more than 2/3 there.
Jeff
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