Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced a decision to transition backcountry campsites 84 and 85, along the Hazel Creek Trail in North Carolina, from non-reservation campsites to reservation-only. This change takes effect on August 1, 2011. The decision was made as a result of repeated bear-human conflicts, which have necessitated lengthy closures of these two sites in the past couple of years.
Campsites 84 and 85 are currently available on a first-come first-served basis, which very often results in the sites being overcrowded. One consequence of overcrowding is lack of space on the food storage cables for everyone to properly store their food and other odorous items that tend to attract bears.
Park officials expect that limiting the number of people at these campsites to the actual capacity will help ensure all campers have access to the food storage cables. When food and odorous items are properly stored bears have less incentive to visit campsites, which means fewer opportunities for bear-human conflicts. Fewer bear-human conflicts will, in turn, reduce the likelihood of campsite closures and allow more visitors to enjoy use of these sites during the season.
The reservation requirement will not affect the current capacity which allows a maximum number of 6 campers per night at campsite 84 and 10 people and 6 horses per night at campsite 85.
To make a reservation, campers must call the Backcountry Reservation Office at 865/436-1231. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and reservations may be made up to one month in advance. In addition, campers must obtain an overnight backcountry camping permit, available at 16 backcountry permit stations throughout the Park.
For more information about proper food storage, backcountry regulations or trip planning, visit the Park’s website anytime at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping.htm or call the Park’s Backcountry Information Office at 865/436-1297. The office is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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backcountry campsites 84 and 85 /
bears /
Hazel Creek Trail
Backcountry Campsites 84 & 85 Changed to Reservation Only
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
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2 comments
Here's something I've wondered for quite some time.
We always call to make reservations for sites that require it.
Do other people make reservations?
I've been to sites that were awfully crowded.
Another reason I asked is that the reservation number is nearly impossible to get into. At times I've called every minute for 30 minutes and only get a busy signal. I know it's volunteer ran and the parks have no money for anything. But, if certain sites require reservation there's got to be a better way to reserve.
Lance,
No doubt there's quite a bit of "pirating" of campsites.
As to your 2nd point, I don't know why the NPS doesn't adopt an online reservation system - as they do with some frontcountry campgrounds.
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