SMOKIES GUIDE RANGER-LED WALKS & TALKS—PLEASE SEE PAGE 6 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK * SPRING 2009 z 50 •0 5X 1 r RED-EYED VIREO AfidOimCMfilS' Of TKtJSOOQOOO. GifT TOTHE flttfAT a/AOJCy /AOC-tiTAINi flATIONAt PARK, m /AfTAOttY 0* i-AOOA .SPiiMAH Zoattttlltt. **»«* * ISM Happy days! Park boosters in Knoxville, TN gather to celebrate the an­ Vireos migrate north to the nouncement of a $5 million donation from the Laura Spelman Rocke­ feller Foundation to purchase land for the new national park (1926). Smokies in spring from Central America, South America, and Parks 75th Anniversary Florida. The Red-eyed arrives Celebration Begins! White trillium and fringed phacelia bloom along Roaring Fork. in mid-April and stays here on he establishment of contributions or grants from TGreat Smoky Mountains the states of North Carolina Wildflower Auto Tours its breeding grounds until early National Park was no small and Tennessee. accomplishment and the On June 15,1934, the citi­ lthough the most intimate at traffic light #8 and follow October. It is a denizen of the park's 75th anniversary is no zens' wish was granted and the Away to experience the Smok­ Historic Nature Trail into the small celebration. Smokies officially became ies' wondrous diversity of wild- park. Roaring Fork is a woodlands, spending much of The grassroots movement America's 22nd national park. flowers is to walk a trail, several paved, but narrow (no mo- to create Great Smoky Moun­ Today this park protects park roads do provide good torhomes or trailers), one­ its time high in the dense fo­ tains National Park in the over 800 square miles of moun­ wildflower viewing from your way loop road. Wildflowers 1920s and '30s was truly a tains and rivers and preserves a car. Listed below are some of the include spring-beauty, yel­ liage of the forest canopy. labor of love. Much of the safe haven for more than 15,000 best. All are shown on the map low trillium, hepatica, large- painstaking work was ac­ different species of plants and on the back page. flowered trillium, Solomon's complished by citizens in animals. Over nine million vis­ LATE MARCH TO EARLY MAY seal, and violets. Knoxville, TN and Asheville, its are tallied each year, more Little River Road—This paved, MID-TO LATE MAY NC who longed to see their than any other national park. winding, and scenic 17 mile Clingmans Dome Road mountains protected and These visitors contribute over route runs between Sugarlands (opens April 1)—This seven- local economies energized by $700 million to local economies Visitor Center and the Townsend mile paved road runs a "crown jewel" national annually (please see page 12). "Y" (near the Townsend en­ through the Smoky Moun­ park in their back yard. The major in-park special trance to the park). Plants in tain high country from New­ Unlike Yellowstone, which events will be held June 13-15 bloom include fringed phacelia, found Gap to near the was mostly delineated from and on September 2,2009. In columbine, bloodroot, fire pink, summit of Clingmans Dome. existing public lands, the addition, local communities red bud, flowering dogwood, Plants in bloom include ser- Smokies had to be purchased will celebrate with more than wild geranium, yellow trillium, viceberry, fire cherry, silver- tract by tract from big timber 100 events of their own. For in­ and white trillium. bell, witch-hobble, fringed companies and small farm­ formation, please see pages 7- Roaring Fork Motor Nature phacelia, bluets, trout-lily, ers. Most of the money to do 10 and visit: Trail—From Gatlinburg, TN, thyme-leaved bluets, and so had to come from private www.GreatSmokies75th.org turn off the parkway (U.S. 441) spring-beauty. trip planner For additional information, visit www.nps.gov/grsm 2 accommodations bicycling 55 x Le Conte Lodge (accessible Cades Cove Loop Road will by foot trail only) provides be closed to motor vehicles the only lodging in the park. for the benefit of foot and bi­ Call (865) 429-5704. cycle traffic at the following For information on lodg­ times: from sunrise until smokies guide ing outside the park: 10:00 a.m. every Saturday Bryson City 1-800-867-9246 and Wednesday morning Cherokee 1-800-438-1601 from May 6-September 23. Smokies Guide is produced four Fontana 1-800-849-2258 Bicycles may be rented for times per year by Great Smoky Gatlinburg 1-800-267-7088 $4-$6 per hour from the Mountains Assoication. Publica­ Maggie VaUey 1-800-624-4431 Cades Cove store (located tion dates are Pigeon Forge 1-800-251-9100 near Cades Cove Camp­ approximately: Sevierville 1-888-766-5948 ground). Spring hours are SPRING: March 21 Townsend 1-800-525-6834 9-5 (7-5 on Wednesday and Saturday bicycle days, see SUMMER: June 1 other services AUTUMN: September 1 5 x z. WINTER: December 1 There are no gas stations in Q y. The Park Service operates 10 campgrounds in the Smokies. the park. Fuel is available in y. the neighboring communities CONTRIBUTING EDITOR z camping in the national park of Cherokee, Gatlinburg, and Steve Kemp Townsend. i\ NPS COORDINATOR The National Park Service The list below shows There are no restaurants in $ i Cathleen Cook maintains developed camp­ number of sites, elevations, the park. Limited food serv­ grounds at 10 locations in the fees per night, 2009 schedule, EDITORIAL BOARD ice is available at the Cades park. There are no showers or and maximum RV lengths. Karen Ballentine Cove Campground store. Le hookups at any park camp­ ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, Conte Lodge is offering Coralie Bloom ground. elev. 1,125', $14, open March lunches and snacks to day Kent Cave During summer and fall, 13-Oct. 31,12" RVs hikers. Lunch reservations Lynda Doucette sites at Elkmont, Smoke- BALSAM MOUNTAIN 46 may be required. Visit Cades Cove bicycle morning. mont, Cosby, and Cades Cove sites, elev. 5,310', $14, open Kristine Johnson lecontelodge.com for infor­ above). Last rentals 2:30 p.m. may be reserved. For reserva­ May 8-Oct. 12,30' RVs Terry Maddox mation. Over a dozen bicyclists in tions call 1-877-444-6777 or BIG CREEK 12 sites, elev. Mike Maslona Limited groceries are also the park were injured seri­ contact www.recreation.gov. 1,700', $14, open March 13- available at the Cades Cove ously enough last year to re­ Reservations are accepted Oct. 31, tents only Campground store. quire medical attention. CONTRIBUTORS only for May 15-Oct. 31. Sites CADES COVE 159 sites, elev. Helmets are required by law Lisa Horstman, Karen Key. may be reserved up to six 1,807', $17-$20, open year- picnic areas for persons age 16 and under months in advance. All other round, 35'-40' RVs and are strongly recom­ campgrounds are first-come, CATALOOCHEE 27 sites, Locations of picnic areas are © 2009 GSMA mended for all riders. first-serve. elev. 2,610', $17, open March shown on page 16. Look Format by Lee Riddell Bicycles are permitted on No more than six people 13-Oct. 31,31' RVs Rock and Heintooga do not park roads but prohibited on may occupy a campsite. Two COSBY 165 sites, elev. 2,459', open until May 8. All sites in­ all trails except Gatlinburg, GSMA tents or one RV and one tent $14, open March 13-Oct. 31, clude a picnic table and fire Oconaluftee River, and lower 115 Park Headquarters Road allowed per site. The maxi­ 25' RVs grate. Pavilions are available Deep Creek. mum stay is 7 or 14 days. DEEP CREEK 92 sites, elev. by reservation (1-877-444- Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Mountain biking is popu­ Special camping sites for 1,800', $17, open April 1-Oct. 6777). smokiesinformation.org lar on national forest and na­ large groups are available at 31,26' RVs tional recreation area lands Big Creek, Cades Cove, Cat- ELKMONT 220 sites, elev. pets in the park outside Great Smoky Moun­ aloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, 2,150', $17-$23, open March tains National Park. For in­ Elkmont, and Smokemont. 13-Nov. 30,32'-35' RVs Pets are allowed in front- formation on mountain Group sites must be reserved LOOK ROCK 68 sites, elev. country campgrounds as biking in these areas, contact: in advance. Call 1-877-444- 2,600', $14, open May 8-Oct. long as they are restrained at printed on recycled paper Big South Fork Nat'l River & 6777 or contact www.recre- 31, all size RVs allowed all times. Pets are not al­ Rec. Area (931) 879-4890 ation.gov. Sites may be SMOKEMONT 142 sites, elev. lowed on park trails, except Nantahala & Pisgah Nat'l reserved up to one year in ad­ 2,198', $17-$20, open year- for the Gatlinburg and Forests (828) 257-4200. vance. round, 35'-40' RVs Oconaluftee River trails. 2 *•• smokies guide, SPRING 2009 park information Over 150 different trails wend through the Great Smoky Mountains Gatlinburg, TN, elev. 1,462' Clingmans Dome, elev. 6,643' nature's calendar of special events AwiHiGM Low PRECW. Wc. HIGH* Low* Para" SPRING WILDFLOWERS Jan. 51° 28° 4.8" 35° 19° 7.0" The peak of spring wild- 35 8.2" Feb. 54» 29° 4.8": HP ° 18° flower blooming usually oc­ March 61" 34° 5.3" 39° 24° 8.2" curs in mid-April, although April 71° 42° 4.5" 49° 34° 6.5" late March and early April May 79° 50° 4.5" 57° 43° 6.0" feature good showings of spring-beauty, hepatica, and June 86° 58° 5.2" 63° 49° 6.9" other flowers.