SMOKIESThe official newspaper of Great Smoky GUIDE Mountains National Park • Spring 2020 In this issue Smokies Trip Planner • 2 Return of Fireflies • 4 National Park News • 5 Safety in the Mountains • 6 Spring Driving Map • 8 Jr. Ranger Corner • 10 How to Help the Smokies • 11 Bears Emerge • 12 Park Etiquette • 14 Visitor Information • 16 The Blue Ridge two-lined salamander’s (Eurycea wilderae) larvae are aquatic, living in streams and under rocks. Image courtesy of John P. Clare Moving Rocks Harms Aquatic Wildlife! Biodiversity thrives beneath the surface of Smokies streams pring is finally here! And as tempera- or removal of these rocks disrupts breeding tures and humidity rise, visitors are behavior and can completely destroy the J S u r li e tempted to dip their toes—and more—in nest and eggs of both salamanders and fish.” a g n n n a the cool waters of the park’s 2,900 miles of People visit the Smokies to escape the e R G k el ar clear mountain streams. modern world—yet rock cairns, dams, and ey n P nse, Educatio The Smokies’ streams are fed by tens of channels are evidence of human distur- thousands of rain-fed springs, constantly bance, changing the park’s wilderness char- Words with a Ranger trickling water from crevices in the ancient acter that now draws 12.5 million visitors My childhood was spent playing and mountain range. Residing beneath the each year. HOW CAN YOU fishing in the lakes and rivers of the surface is everything from native brook “When rocks are moved, the water ENCOURAGE OTHERS Midwest. With more than 2,000 miles trout to 11 species of crayfish to 15 species temperature, flow, and dissolved oxygen TO PREVENT of streams flowing from the moun- of salamanders. These creatures currently are altered, completely changing the MOVING ROCKS? tains to the valleys of Great Smoky face a huge threat—from some of the visi- habitat and disrupting the aquatic life,” Share positive messaging Mountains National Park, it’s easy to tors who come to enjoy the park! Geleynse said. “Some species of aquatic on how to protect aquatic life feel at home here. “This time of year, people begin to stack insects are immobile and die once As an education park ranger, part of rocks and create ‘cairns,’ channels, and rock removed from the stream.” through your social media my job is to educate park visitors about dams in the park’s streams and creeks,” said Moving rocks poses a great threat in outlets. Parents and children the cultural and natural resources in the Park Ranger Julianne Geleynse. “Many particular to aquatic wildlife like eastern can encourage each other park and how to protect them. With salamander and fish species lay their eggs hellbenders, endangered Smoky Madtoms, to respect park streams and more than 12 million visitors annually, under rocks of various sizes. The movement and Citico Darters. leave no trace. the resources can sometimes be dam- OUR PARK GreatSmoky GreatSmokyNPS aged, often unintentionally. GreatSmokyNPS Words with a Ranger continued on page 5 ON SOCIAL MEDIA MountainsNPS and SmokiesRoadsNPS SMOKIES TRIP PLANNER Maps and guides: SmokiesInformation.org Additional information: nps.gov/grsm Camping in the national park The list below shows number of sites, Bicycles are permitted on park roads For rent The National Park Service maintains elevations, opening dates, nightly fees, but prohibited on trails except Gatlin- The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence developed campgrounds at nine loca- and maximum RV lengths. For more burg, Oconaluftee River, and lower Cabin at Elkmont can be rented for tions in the park. Only Cades Cove and information, visit nps.gov/grsm. Deep Creek/Indian Creek. daytime events starting April 1. Contact Smokemont are open in winter. There recreation.gov. are no showers or hookups other than • Abrams Creek 16 sites, elev. 1,125', Accommodations circuits for special medical uses at Cades opens April 24, $17.50, 12' trailers • LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail Visitor centers Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. • Balsam Mountain 42 sites, elev. 5,310', only) provides the only lodging in the Spring hours of operation are Campsite reservations are required at opens May 15, $17.50, 30' RVs park. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com Oconaluftee and Sugarlands: 8-5 in Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big • Big Creek 12 sites, elev. 1,700', opens March; 8-6 in April and May. Cades Creek, and Cataloochee campgrounds. April 3, $17.50, tents only For information on lodging outside Cove: 9-6 in March; 9-6:30 in April; Reservations also may be made at Cades • Cades Cove 159 sites, elev. 1,807', the park: 9-7 in May. Clingmans Dome (opens Cove, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont. opens March 6 after tunnel repairs this • Bryson City 800.867.9246 or March 30): 10-6. Sites may be reserved up to six months winter, $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs greatsmokies.com in advance. Make your reservation at • Cataloochee 27 sites, elev. 2,610', • Cherokee 828.788.0034 or Picnic areas recreation.gov or call 877.444.6777. opens June 11, $25, 31' RVs cherokeesmokies.com Picnic areas open year-round are: Site occupancy is limited to six • Cosby 157 sites, elev. 2,459', opens • Fontana 800.849.2258 or Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, people and two vehicles (a trailer = one April 3, $17.50, 25' RVs fontanavillage.com and Metcalf Bottoms. Chimneys Picnic vehicle). The maximum stay is 14 days. • Deep Creek 92 sites, elev. 1,800', • Gatlinburg 800.588.1817 or Area opens March 13. Picnic areas Special camping sites for large groups opens May 21, $21, 26' RVs gatlinburg.com opening April 3 include Big Creek, are available seasonally at Big Creek, • Elkmont 220 sites, elev. 2,150', open, • Maggie Valley 800.624.4431 or Collins Creek, and Cosby. Look Rock Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep $21-$27, 32'-35' RVs maggievalley.org Picnic Area opens May 1 and Heintooga Creek, Elkmont, and Smokemont. • Smokemont 142 sites, elev. 2,198', • Pigeon Forge 800.251.9100 or Picnic Area opens May 15. Please see Group sites must be reserved and may be open year-round, $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs. mypigeonforge.com the map on page 16 for locations. Picnic secured up to a year in advance. • Look Rock closed in 2020 • Sevierville 888.766.5948 or pavilions may be reserved for $12.50- visitsevierville.com $80 at recreation.gov. Firewood • Townsend 800.525.6834 or To prevent the spread of destructive smokymountains.org Other services insect pests, the NPS has banned outside There are no gas stations, showers, or firewood from entering the park unless it Pets in the park restaurants in the national park. is USDA- or state-certified heat-treated Pets are allowed in front-country camp- wood. Campers may gather dead and grounds and beside roads as long as they Park weather down wood for campfires. Certified are restrained at all times. Pets are not • Spring - March has the most wood may be purchased in and around allowed on park trails, except for the changeable weather; snow can fall the park. Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River Trails. on any day, especially at the higher Dogs on these trails must be leashed. elevations. Backpackers are often caught Bicycling off guard when a sunny day in the Most park roads are too narrow and Special events 70s°F is followed by a wet, bitterly cold MOVING ROCKS heavily traveled by automobiles for safe or April 22–25, 2020 Spring Wildflower one. By mid- to late April, the weather enjoyable bicycling. Pilgrimage: parkwide is milder. HARMS Helmets are required by law for May 5–9, 2020 Wilderness Wildlife persons age 16 and under. However, Week: parkwide • Summer - By mid-June, heat, haze and AQUATIC LIFE. helmets are strongly recommended for June 20, 2020 Women’s Work humidity are the norm. Most precipita- all bicyclists. Mountain Farm Museum tion occurs as afternoon thundershowers. SMOKIES GUIDE Smokies Guide is produced five times per year by Publication dates are Autumn: mid-Sept. Writers Design Assistants Planning Committee Stephanie Sutton Great Smoky Mountains Association and Great roughly as follows: Winter: mid-Dec. Valerie Polk Lisa Horstman PT Lathrop © 2020 Great E Printed on Smoky Mountains National Park. Spring: mid-March Aaron Searcy Emma DuFort Lisa Nagurny Editor Smoky Mountains recycled paper Summer: early June Becky Nichols Frances Figart Lead Designer NPS Coordinator Association nps.gov/grsm Late Summer: Bill Stiver Karen Key Susan Sachs P.O. Box 130 mid-August SmokiesInformation.org Paul Super Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Smokies Guide Spring 2020 • 2 • Autumn - In mid-September, a pattern snowy with highs in the 20s. At A free fishing map with a complete wet (not cotton). Be prepared for of warm, sunny days and crisp, clear the low elevations, snows of 1" or list of all park fishing regulations is avail- sudden weather changes, especially at nights often begins. However, cool, rainy more occur 3-5 times per year. At able at visitor centers. the higher elevations. Stay dry. days also occur. Snow may fall at the Newfound Gap, 69" fall on average. higher elevations in November. Lows of -20°F are possible at the Camping in the backcountry Road Closures higher elevations. Springtime camping can be an exciting Many secondary and higher elevation • Winter - Days during this fickle adventure for persons properly equipped roads are closed in winter and open season can be sunny and 65°F or and informed. To facilitate this activity, later into spring. Please refer to the map the National Park Service maintains on pages 8 and 9 for opening dates for Fishing more than 800 miles of trails and more Clingmans Dome and other seasonally Fishing is than 100 backcountry campsites and closed roads.