Summer 2016 BILL LEA PHOTO BILL LEA PHOTO
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The Official Newspaper of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer 2016 BILL LEA PHOTO BILL LEA PHOTO RHODODENDRON Catawba (or purple) rho- dodendron blooms at the park’s higher elevations Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a cross between a nature trail and a during June. Rosebay (white) road—a scenic, steep, narrow, winding, but paved primitive roadway. rhododendron blooms at the Backroads and Byways lower and mid-elevations 180-foot-tall Mingo Falls is a 5-mile drive from downtown Cherokee. of the Great Smokies throughout the summer. In Waterfall Watching uring the peak summer Follow it for 11 miles to Wolf all, ten species of “rhodo” Dseason, many of the Laurel Gap, then turn onto ver 80 inches of annu- roundtrip hike to Mouse national park’s main roads the Heintooga Ridge Road. are native to the Great Oal rainfall drench the Creek Falls (18-C) starts at the such as Cades Cove Loop After nine gorgeous miles, it summits of the Great Smoky Big Creek Trailhead located and Newfound Gap will becomes the gravel Balsam Smoky Mountains. Mountains before plummet- 3.4 miles from Interstate 40. become busy and congested. Mountain Road for 13 miles ing more than a vertical mile • Mingo Falls (15-G) is Fortunately, this 800 square before reverting to a paved to the valleys below. This just outside the national park mile park offers a variety of road back to Cherokee. combination of climate and near the town of Cherokee. backroads and off-the-beaten- From downtown Gat- geography make the Smokies Follow Big Cove Road 5 miles path routes for those who long linburg, visitors can drive a a premier place for watching from downtown. The short to escape the crowds. 10-mile loop along Cherokee waterfalls. trail to the falls is very steep. Please see the map on Orchard Road & Roaring Fork Of the park’s 40 or so ma- • Hen Wallow Falls (16- pages 8-9 for more infor- Motor Nature Trail (11-D). jor waterfalls, three are visible B) is located along Gabes mation on roads and des- Just turn onto Historic Nature from a road: Meigs Falls and Mountain Trail which starts tinations. Trail—Airport Road at traffic The Sinks along Little River near Cosby Campground. The Heintooga Ridge & Balsam light #8 on the main parkway Road and Place of a Thousand moderate hike is 4.2 miles Mountain roads (16-F). Motor- and follow it into the nation- Drips on Roaring Fork Motor roundtrip. ists can make a scenic 45-mile al park. The entire road is Nature Trail. Most of the oth- • Cataract Falls (10-D) loop from downtown Cher- paved, but steep, narrow, and ers require rountrip hikes of is an easy 0.4 mile roundtrip okee and take in mile-high winding. Highlights include between two and eight miles. hike that starts from Sugar- vistas as well as wildflow- wildlife, old-growth forests, Please see the map on pages lands Visitor Center. er-rich forests and crystal clear historic buildings, and three 8-9 for more information. • The strenusous 8-mile mountain streams. trails to waterfalls. • Three Waterfalls Loop rountrip hike to Ramsey One-half mile north of The Foothills Parkway West (12-I) starts from Deep Creek Cascades (14-C) begins in the Cherokee on U.S. 441, the (3-E) near Townsend offers Free, fun ranger-guided Trailhead near Bryson City Greenbrier area of the park Blue Ridge Parkway begins its loads of mountain views and programs: pages 10-15 and packs three waterfalls outside Gatlinburg. Allow at 469-mile journey to Shenando- a 0.5 mile hike to Look Rock into a 2.4 mile moderate hike. least six hours to complete ah National Park in Virginia. observation tower. • The moderate 4-mile this hike. smokies trip planner to order maps and guides: www.SmokiesInformation.org accommodations pets in the park LeConte Lodge (accessible by Pets are allowed in frontcoun- BILL LEA PHOTO trail only) provides the only try campgrounds and beside lodging in the park. Call (865) roads as long as they are 429-5704. restrained at all times. Pets For information on lodg- are not allowed on park trails, smokies guide ing outside the park: except for the Gatlinburg Bryson City 1-800-867-9246 and Oconaluftee River trails. Smokies Guide is produced Cherokee 1-828-788-0034 Dogs on these trails must be Fontana 1-800-849-2258 leashed. four times per year by Great Gatlinburg 1-800-588-1817 Smoky Mountains Asso- Maggie Valley 1-800-624-4431 opportunities ciation and Great Smoky Pigeon Forge 1-855-716-6199 SUMMER CAMps AT TREMONT: Mountains National Park. Sevierville 1-888-889-7415 gsmit.org; (865) 448-6709. Publication dates are roughly Townsend 1-800-525-6834 Educational programs from as follows: the SMOKY MOUNTAIN FIELD SCHOOL: smfs.utk.edu; (865) SPRING: March 15 974-0150. Join GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS SUMMER: June 1 ASSOCIATION at SmokiesInfor- AUTUMN: September 1 mation.org; 1-888-898-9102 WINTER: December 1 Nine campgrounds will be open in the national park this year. Support the park with MARY ANN KRESSIG PHOTO MARY FRIENDS camping in the the national park : friendsofthesmokies. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR org; 1-800-845-5665. Steve Kemp The National Park Service The list below shows special events NPS COORDINATOR maintains developed camp- number of sites, elevations, grounds at nine locations in fees, approximate 2016 opera- Stephanie Sutton June 18 the park. There are no show- tion dates, and maximum RV Womens Work at Oconaluftee EDITORIAL BOARD ers or hookups other than lengths. Dates are subject to Mountain Farm Museum Joy Absher circuits for special medical change. Visit www.nps.gov/ Lynda Doucette uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, grsm for current information. September 9-11 and Smokemont. ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, Kristine Johnson Music of the Mountains Campsites at Elkmont, elev. 1,125’, $14, open May 27- Mike Maslona Bicycle and pedestrian morning Sugarlands Visitor Center Smokemont, Cataloochee, Oct. 10, 12’ trailers Molly Moore on Cades Cove Loop Road. Cosby, and Cades Cove BALSAM MOUNTAIN 46 September 17 Laurel Rematore may be reserved. For reser- sites, elev. 5,310’, $14, open bicycling Mountain Life Festival Contributors vations call 1-877-444-6777 May 27-Oct. 10, 30’ RVs Most park roads are too Mountain Farm Museum Lisa Horstman, Karen Key or contact www.recreation. BIG CREEK 12 sites, elev. narrow and heavily traveled gov. Sites may be reserved 1,700’, $14, open April 8-Oct. by automobiles for safe or picnic areas © 2016 Great Smoky up to six months in advance. 31, tents only enjoyable bicycling. However, Reservations are required at CADES COVE 159 sites, elev. Mountains Association Cades Cove Loop Road is Please see pages 8-9 for loca- Cataloochee Campground. 1,807’, $17-$20, open year- an exception. This 11-mile, tions of picnic areas. All have Other park campgrounds are round, 35’-40’ RVs one-way, paved road pro- charcoal grills for cooking. GSMA first-come, first-served. CATALOOCHEE 27 sites, vides bicyclists with excellent Look Rock picnic area will not P.O. Box 130 Site occupancy is limited elev. 2,610’, $20, open opportunities for viewing open this year. Gatlinburg, TN 37738 to six people and two vehicles March 25-Oct. 31, reserva- wildlife and historic sites. (a trailer = 1 vehicle). The tions required, 31’ RVs Helmets are required for visitor centers maximum stay is 14 days. COSBY 157 sites, elev. 2,459’, persons age 16 and under and Summer hours of operation Special camping sites for $14, April 8-Oct. 31, 25’ RVs are strongly recommended for for park visitor centers are; large groups are available sea- DEEP CREEK 92 sites, elev. all bicyclists. Oconaluftee & Sugarlands, sonally at Big Creek, Cades 1,800’, $17, open April 8-Oct. From May 11-Sept. 21, 8-7:30. Cades Cove, 9-7:30. Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, 31, 26’ RVs on Wednesday and Satur- Clingmans Dome, 10-6. Deep Creek, Elkmont, and ELKMONT 220 sites, elev. day mornings from sunrise Smokemont. Group sites must 2,150’, $17-$23, open March to 10:00 a.m., only bicycles other services printed on recycled paper be reserved. Call 1-877-444- 11-Nov. 27, 32’-35’ RVs and pedestrians are allowed 6777 or contact www.recre- LOOK ROCK Closed on Cades Cove Loop Road. There are no gas stations, ation.gov. Group sites may SMOKEMONT 142 sites, elev. Bicycles may be rented at the showers, or restaurants in the be reserved up to one year in 2,198’, $17-$20, open year- Cades Cove Campground national park. Mt. LeConte advance. round, 35’-40’ RVs store. Lodge is the only lodging. 2 v smokies guide, Summer 2016 park information for additional information, visit www.nps.gov/grsm Gatlinburg, TN elev. 1,462’ Mt. Le Conte elev. 6,593’ AVG. HIGH LOW PRECIP. AVG. HIGH LOW PRECIP. DRIVING Jan. 49° 27° 4.0” 36° 18° 6.7” DISTANCES & Feb. 53° 28° 4.1” 37° 19° 5.6” ESTIMATED PHOTO JIM MOWBRAY March 62° 35° 5.5” 44° 25° 7.0” TIMES April 71° 42° 4.5” 52° 31° 6.7” May 77° 50° 5.7” 58° 39° 8.0” June 82° 58° 5.8” 64° 47° 8.7” Cherokee, NC to: July 85° 62° 6.3” 67° 50° 9.0” Gatlinburg: 34 miles (1 hour) Aug. 84° 61° 5.3” 67° 49° 7.6” Cades Cove: 57 miles (2 hours) Sept. 79° 55° 4.7” 62° 44° 7.2” Newfound Gap: 18 miles Oct. 70° 43° 2.9” 55° 35° 4.7” (½ hour) Nov.