The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: Big South Fork NRRA and Obed WSR Closes All Campgrounds through April 1

In response to guidance from the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Park Service (NPS) announced additional modifications to operations at Big South Fork NRRA and Obed WSR in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

All park campgrounds will be closed effective Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00 PM, through April 1. Reservations made through www.recreation.gov will be cancelled.

The trails of Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area and Obed WIld & Scenic River remain open. Park employees remain at work, and will be patrolling the park, assisting visitors, and enforcing all regulations. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces clean, safe and healthy.

The health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Big South Fork and Obed is the park’s number one priority. The NPS is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor COVID-19 and will notify the public via updates on the park website and social media channels when full operations resume.

For more information on the NPS response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, please visit the NPS Public Health Update webpage https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm