Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials remind park visitors that access to Cades Cove will be delayed on Sunday, November 5 until 10:30 a.m. for the Cades Cove Loop Lope. The event has been planned to minimize disturbance to visitors for this once-a-year opportunity for pre-registered participants to run a choice of a 10-mile or 3.1-mile loop course.
The park granted approval for the park’s...
Articles and information on hiking, outdoor adventures and the Great Smoky Mountains. For hiking trail information in the Smokies, please visit HikingintheSmokys.com
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National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
As part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience and ensure America’s national parks are protected in perpetuity, the National Park Service (NPS) is considering increases to fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours would generate badly needed revenue for improvements to the aging...
Several storm related closures are still in effect along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Parkway officials are asking for cooperation in particular at the closure from Milepost 402.7 to Milepost 408.4, where a significant washout was discovered along the road shoulder at the Little Pisgah Ridge Tunnel (Milepost 407). Park engineers are assessing the site for any additional undercutting of the road and needed...
North Caroline state officials announced last week the award of $2.1 million in grants through the federal Recreational Trails Program for 25 trails projects across the state. For fiscal year 2018, the program received 53 grant applications totaling $4.4 million in requests.
The matching grants, recommended by the North Carolina Trails Committee and approved by Secretary Susi H. Hamilton of the...
Amazing Interview With Man Who Survived a Grizzly Bear Attack - Twice
Thursday, October 12, 2017
This is a truly an amazing story. Todd Orr, an all-around outdoorsman from Bozeman, Montana, sat down with Jason Matzinger to discuss the sow grizzly bear that attacked him twice last fall. This guy was so incredibly calm and collected that he had the wherewithal to walk the three miles back to the trailhead by himself, and then shoot a short video of himself to show the damage done by the bear. That...
Before venturing into the Canadian Rockies this past September (see blog posts from the past two weeks), we stopped in Glacier National Park for a few days of hiking. Other than Yellowstone, it may have been the highest concentration of wildlife we've ever seen in only a few days. In addition to the amazing scenery atop Grinnell Glacier Overlook, the highlight of our trip was the white wolf we saw...
Scenic drives are not the only way to appreciate the mountains of Western North Carolina from a vehicle. Sales of Friends of the Smokies specialty plates for the first half of 2017 exceeded $230,000, a 6% increase over the previous year’s sales. Since the inception of the program, more than 21,000 plates in all 100 North Carolina counties have raised over $4.3 million for the North Carolina Smokies.
Jo...
Great Smoky Mountain National Park officials posted this on their Facebook page earlier this afternoon:
NWS has issued a high wind warning in effect from 4:00 p.m. today through 4:00 a.m. tomorrow for sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts over 58 mph. The park is also under a flash flood watch in effect from 8:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m. with between 4 to 8 inches of rain possible.
Heavy winds and...
Great Smoky Mountain National Park officials advise that the effects of Tropical Storm Nate may impact Great Smoky Mountains National Park as early as Saturday afternoon. Preliminary estimations from the National Weather Service suggest that the storm may pass the park Saturday afternoon, overnight into Sunday and on into Monday.
Current rainfall predictions range from 4-10 inches. Early wind estimates...
Cherokee National Forest Warns of High Wind and Rain Over Next Dew Days
Friday, October 6, 2017
USDA Forest Service officials say that Tropical Storm Nate may impact the Cherokee National Forest after it makes landfall. Depending on the intensity of the storm and which path it takes, high winds and considerable rain are probable.
Excessive rain and high wind have the potential to create high water, flash floods, falling trees, mudslides, and severe damage to roads. Much of the Cherokee National...
The U.S. Forest Service is closing a portion of the Tellico Ranger District in Cherokee National Forest to public entry. The closure will remain in effect while the U.S. Navy is conducting an investigation of the October 1 crash of an aircraft from the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi. Click here for a map of the closure area.
The temporary closure order applies to the following areas:
1....
Our Canadian Rockies series continues with our hike to Sentinel Pass:
The hike to Sentinel Pass begins from Moraine Lake, which sits at the foot of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Both the lake and the valley were featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty dollar bill between 1969 and 1979. At the foot of the lake is a large pile of boulders and rocks, leftovers from the glaciers that retreated...
Our Canadian Rockies series continues with our hike to Parkers Ridge:
This outstanding hike, which begins from the Icefields Parkway just south of the Icefield Center, ascends Parkers Ridge where you’ll enjoy dramatic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier. The glacier forms the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River. Once at the top you’ll have the option of continuing your hike by heading either...
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials will open the Chimney Tops Trail to a newly developed observation point starting Friday, October 6, 2017. The entire trail has been closed to the public since the Chimney Tops 2 Fire event occurred in late November 2016.
“We are excited to complete the work on the Chimney Tops Trail in time for the fall color season in Great Smoky Mountains National...
Our Canadian Rockies series continues with our hike to Wenkchemna Pass:
The hike to Wenkchemna Pass begins from Moraine Lake, which sits at the foot of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Both the lake and the valley were featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty dollar bill between 1969 and 1979. At the foot of the lake is a large pile of boulders and rocks, leftovers from the glaciers that...
Our Canadian Rockies series continues with our hike to Helen Lake and Dolomite Pass:
This outstanding hike leads to a spectacular alpine meadow filled with wildflowers after the snowmelt, before visiting two lakes and a mountain pass that offers stunning panoramic views. The hike begins with a climb up the south-facing slopes of the Bow Valley, which eventually offers views of Crowfoot Glacier across...
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