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Late Summer 2018

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Late Summer 2018 SMOKIESThe official newspaper of Great Smoky Mountains GUIDE National Park • Late Summer 2018 In this issue Smokies trip planner • 2 Great sights to see • 4 National Park news • 5 All the stars in the sky • 6 Cherokee clothing • 7 Summer driving tours map • 8 Foothills Parkway opens • 10 Ranger programs • 11 How to help the Smokies • 14 Park etiquette • 15 Visitor information • 16 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a fairly common permanent resident of the park. The species occurs mostly above 3,000 feet during the summer months. Image by Warren Lynn The Year of the Bird A considerable diversity of habitat, topography and climatic conditions make the Smokies a prime spot for birdwatching! R a f s designated by National climate change along the Appalachian n ie g h SPECIES MNEMONICS er C A Geographic, the National Audubon Trail and a 60-mile radius around the S h u nc san ra Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology trail, which includes our entire park. Sa n B chs, Educatio and dozens of other organizations— It’s easy to get started. Just go to Learn to find these birds including the National Park Service— atseasons.usanpn.org, create an account, by their call! Words with a Ranger 2018 is the Year of the Bird. Visitors to and start logging your findings to join Phenology is the study of seasonal our park of every age can help birds by thousands who are helping us learn more Black-throated Blue Warbler changes that we see in plants and becoming involved in a citizen science about the park and its species every day. Setophaga caerulescens animals—like the arrival of migrant project called AT Seasons. AT Seasons is your opportunity to “i am so laz-eeeee” birds such as warblers in April, the AT Seasons brings together different help track the unfolding of important blooming of flowers such as Lady parks and organizations that are actively life cycle events each year in our park Slipper Orchids in May and the mat- monitoring seasonal changes in plants and along the Appalachian Trail, linking Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens ing rituals of synchronous fireflies and animals (known as phenology) your observations with others from “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee” in June. along the Appalachian Trail, which Georgia to Maine. By observing and We are learning that climate goes through Great Smoky Mountains reporting seasonal changes of plants and changes in our park can affect phe- National Park. Using online tools, animals you can help build the founda- Black-capped Chickadee nological timing for both resident observers can become citizen scientists tion to understanding and protecting the Poecile atricapillus and migratory species. and contribute to a comprehensive scenic natural beauty of the trail corridor. “fee-bee” or “chk-a-dee-dee-dee” Birds are among the most... dataset with the goal of understanding Learn more about the AT Seasons Words with a Ranger continued on page 5 the relationship between phenology and project at atseasons.usanpn.org. SMOKIES TRIP PLANNER Maps and guides: SmokiesInformation.org Additional information: nps.gov/grsm Camping in the national park 877.444.6777 or contact recreation.gov. may be purchased in and around mypigeonforge.com The National Park Service maintains Group sites may be reserved up to a year the park. (Please see page 5 for • Sevierville 888.766.5948 or developed campgrounds at nine loca- in advance. more information.) visitsevierville.com tions in the park. Only Cades Cove and The list below shows number of • Townsend 800.525.6834 or Smokemont are open in winter. There campground sites, elevations, camping Bicycling smokymountains.org are no showers or hookups other than fees and maximum RV lengths. Most park roads are too narrow and circuits for special medical uses at Cades For current dates of operation, visit heavily traveled by automobiles for safe Pets in the park Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont. nps.gov/grsm. or enjoyable bicycling. However, Cades Pets are allowed in front-country camp- Campsites at Abrams Creek, Balsam • Abrams Creek 16 sites, elev. 1,125', Cove Loop Road is an exception. This grounds and beside roads as long as they Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove, opens April 27, $17.50, 12' trailers 11-mile, one-way, paved road provides are restrained at all times. Pets are not Cataloochee, Elkmont and Smokemont • Balsam Mountain 42 sites, elev. 5,310', bicyclists with excellent opportunities allowed on park trails, except for the may be reserved. For reservations call opens May 18, $17.50, 30' RVs for wildlife viewing and touring Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River trails. 877.444.6777 or contact recreation.gov. • Big Creek 12 sites, elev. 1,700', opens historic homesites. Dogs on these trails must be leashed. Sites may be reserved up to 6 months March 30, $17.50, tents only From May 9 to Sept. 26, on in advance. Reservations are required at • Cades Cove 159 sites, elev. 1,807', Wednesday and Saturday mornings from Special events Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big open year-round, $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs sunrise until 10 a.m., only bicycles and June 16 Womens’ Work: Mountain Creek and Cataloochee campgrounds. • Cataloochee 27 sites, elev. 2,610', pedestrians are allowed on Cades Cove Farm Museum Site occupancy is limited to 6 people opens March 23, $25, 31' RVs Loop Road. Bicycles may be rented at September 15 Mountain Life Festival: and two vehicles (a trailer = 1 vehicle). • Cosby 157 sites, elev. 2,459', opens the Cades Cove Campground store. Mountain Farm Museum The maximum stay is 14 days. March 23, $17.50, 25' RVs Helmets are required by law for December 8 Festival of Christmas Past: Special camping sites for large groups • Deep Creek 92 sites, elev. 1,800', persons age 16 and under. However, Sugarlands Visitor Center are available seasonally at Big Creek, opens March 30, $21, 26' RVs helmets are strongly recommended for December 15 Holiday Homecoming: Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep • Elkmont 220 sites, elev. 2,150', opens all bicyclists. Oconaluftee Visitor Center Creek, Elkmont and Smokemont. March 9, $21-$27, 32'-35' RVs Bicycles are permitted on park roads May 8-12, 2019 Wilderness Wildlife Group sites must be reserved. Call • Smokemont 142 sites, elev. 2,198’, but prohibited on trails except Gatlin- Week: parkwide open year-round, burg, Oconaluftee River and lower $21-$25, 35’-40’ Deep Creek/Indian Creek. For rent RVs. The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence • Look Rock closed Accommodations Cabin at Elkmont can be rented for in 2018 • LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail daytime events starting April 1 each year. To prevent the only) provides the only lodging in the Contact recreation.gov. spread of destruc- park. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com tive insect pests, For information on lodging outside Visitor centers the NPS has the park: Summer hours of operation are: banned outside • Bryson City 800.867.9246 or Oconaluftee and Sugarlands: 8-7; 8-6 in firewood from greatsmokies.com September. Cades Cove: 9-7; 9-6:30 in entering the park • Cherokee 828.788.0034 or September. Clingmans Dome 10-6:30; unless it is USDA- cherokeesmokies.com 10-6 in September. or state-certified • Fontana 800.849.2258 or heat-treated wood. fontanavillage.com Picnic areas Campers may • Gatlinburg 800.588.1817 or Picnic areas open year-round are: Cades gather dead and gatlinburg.com Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier and down wood in the • Maggie Valley 800.624.4431 or Metcalf Bottoms. All other picnic areas Cyclists enjoying Cades Cove when this one-way loop road closes park for campfires. maggievalley.org (except Heintooga) open on March 30 to vehicles Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. Image by Bill Lea Certified wood • Pigeon Forge 800.251.9100 or or earlier. Heintooga opens May 26. SMOKIES GUIDE Smokies Guide is produced five times per year by SUMMER: June 1 Editor Lead Designer Editorial Board Laurel Rematore Contributing © 2018 Great Great Smoky Mountains Association and Great LATE SUMMER: Frances Figart Karen Key Katie Corrigan Susan Sachs Designers Smoky Mountains Smoky Mountains National Park. Publication dates mid-August Lynda Doucette Paul Super Lisa Horstman Association are roughly as follows: AUTUMN: Sept. 15 Lead Writer NPS Coordinator Kristine Johnson Stephanie Sutton Joey Heath P.O. Box 130 SPRING: March 15 WINTER: Dec. 1 Steve Kemp Nigel Fields Julianne Geleynse E Printed on recycled paper Emma DuFort Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Smokies Guide Summer 2018 • 2 Park weather Fishing Summer hikers should be especially • Spring - March has Fishing is permitted year-round in aware of abrupt weather changes and the most changeable the park, and a Tennessee or North the danger of hypothermia—the weather; snow can fall Carolina fishing license is required. lowering of body temperature. The on any day, especially Either state license is valid throughout combination of rain, cold and wind at the higher elevations. the park and no trout stamp is required. (especially at the higher elevations) is Backpackers are often Fishing with bait is prohibited in extremely dangerous. caught off guard when the park. A special permit is required To prevent hypothermia, carry a sunny day in the 70s for the Cherokee Reservation and reliable rain gear at all times. Layer °F is followed by a wet, Gatlinburg. Licenses are available in clothing that provides warmth when bitterly cold one. By nearby towns. wet (not cotton). Be prepared for mid- to late April, the A free fishing map with a complete sudden and drastic weather changes. weather is milder. list of all park fishing regulations is avail- Stay dry. • Summer - By able at visitor centers. mid-June, heat, haze and humidity are the Camping in the backcountry norm.
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