SMOKIESThe official newspaper of Great Smoky MountainsGUIDE National Park • Winter 2019-20 In this issue Smokies Trip Planner • 2 Great Sights to See • 4 National Park News • 5 Jr. Ranger Corner • 7 Winter Driving Map • 8 Winter Wildlife Watching • 10 State of the Park • 12 How to Help the Smokies • 14 Park Etiquette • 15 Visitor Information • 16 Be sure to check the weather forecast and road conditions before traveling to the park. Image courtesy of NPS Winter in the Mountains Brings Beauty, Snow and Ice Exploring the park this season is a delight made possible by Smokies road crews S t t o n n e inter in the Great Smoky Moun- 8–9). Other roads, like Newfound Gap e m OUR PARK y ip Mu u tains may not bring the celebrated Road (U.S. 441), are subject to extended lfo r Eq W ON SOCIAL MEDIA O rd, Enginee blooms of spring wildflower season, the weather-related closures and require a great pe sor rator Supervi long, warm days and lazy summer nights deal of work to reopen. of June and July, or the famously brilliant Newfound Gap Road stretches 33 miles Words with a Ranger colors of fall, but it possesses an allure that across the mountains to an elevation of As the roads supervisor on the Ten- can be observed in quiet forests, frigid 5,046 feet and connects Gatlinburg, TN, nessee side of the park, one of the rushing streams, frosty fields, and snowy to Cherokee, NC. When heavy snow falls GreatSmokyMountainsNPS best parts of my job is going up the mountain landscapes. Visitors who seek or slick conditions develop, it is a team mountain to Newfound Gap when these destinations are rewarded with fewer effort of crews coming from each side of U.S. 441 is closed after a snow event crowds compared to other seasons and a the mountain and meeting at the top to and experiencing how peaceful and unique beauty only this time of year offers. get the road cleared across its mountainous quiet it is. That’s not to say that winter is a time path. GreatSmokyNPS During winter storms, visitors may of inactivity. In fact, the park’s roads crews “As roads crews in the nation’s most and SmokiesRoadsNPS be disappointed to find that some park may be busier than ever responding to visited national park,” said North District roads are closed. What the majority winter weather events that close roads and Roads Supervisor Stoney Mulford, “it’s of people don’t realize is that we don’t disrupt travel. Many secondary roads in the important that we support visitor enjoy- use salt within the park because it can park are winding, high-elevation roads or ment and safety by providing well main- damage the plants and streams that gravel backroads and therefore are closed tained and safe roadways for travel. GreatSmokyNPS Words with a Ranger continued on page 5 during the winter season (see map on pages Continued on page 6 Maps and guides: SmokiesInformation.org SMOKIES TRIP PLANNER Additional information: nps.gov/grsm CADES COVE Camping in the national park Group sites must be reserved and may be year-round, $21-$27, 32'-35' RVs CLOSED The National Park Service maintains secured up to a year in advance. • Smokemont 142 sites, elev. 2,198', developed campgrounds at nine loca- The list below shows number of open year-round, $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs January 2 at 8 p.m. — tions in the park. Due to work on the sites, elevations, expected opening dates, • Look Rock closed in 2020 February 29, 2020 Bote Mountain Tunnel and no access nightly fees and maximum RV lengths. to Cades Cove this winter (see page 6), Call 877.444.6777 or contact recreation. To prevent the spread of destruc- Cades Cove Campground will be closed. gov to make reservations. tive insect pests, the NPS has banned See page 6 Elkmont and Smokemont campgrounds outside firewood from entering the park for more information. are open. • Abrams Creek 16 sites, elev. 1,125', unless it is USDA- or state-certified There are no showers or hookups opens April 24, $17.50, 12' trailers heat-treated wood. Campers may gather other than circuits for special medical • Balsam Mountain 42 sites, elev. 5,310', dead and down wood in the park for uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont and opens May 15, $17.50, 30' RVs campfires. Special events Smokemont. Campsites may be reserved • Big Creek 12 sites, elev. 1,700', opens Certified wood may be purchased December 14 Festival of Christmas Past: up to six months in advance. Reservations April 3, $17.50, tents only in and around the park. Sugarlands Visitor Center are required at Abrams Creek, Balsam • Cades Cove 159 sites, elev. 1,807', December 21 Holiday Homecoming: Mountain, Big Creek and Cataloochee closed Dec. 30, 2019–March 5, 2020, Accommodations Oconaluftee Visitor Center campgrounds. $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs • LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail April 21-25, 2020 Spring Wildflower Site occupancy is limited to six • Cataloochee 27 sites, elev. 2,610', only) provides the only lodging in the Pilgrimage: parkwide people and two vehicles (a trailer = one opens June 11, $25, 31' RVs park. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com vehicle). The maximum stay is 14 days. • Cosby 157 sites, elev. 2,459', opens For information on lodging outside For rent Special camping sites for large groups April 2, $17.50, 25' RVs the park: The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence are available seasonally at Big Creek, • Deep Creek 92 sites, elev. 1,800', • Bryson City 800.867.9246 or Cabin at Elkmont can be rented for Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep opens May 21, $21, 26' RVs greatsmokies.com daytime events starting in April. Contact Creek, Elkmont and Smokemont. • Elkmont 220 sites, elev. 2,150', open • Cherokee 828.788.0034 or recreation.gov. cherokeesmokies.com • Fontana 800.849.2258 or Visitor centers fontanavillage.com Winter hours of operation are: Cades • Gatlinburg 800.588.1817 or Cove: 9-4:30 in Dec.; closed Jan. and gatlinburg.com Feb.; 9-6 in March. Oconaluftee: 8-4:30 • Maggie Valley 800.624.4431 or in Dec.-Feb.; 8-5 in March. Sugarlands: maggievalley.org 8-4:30 in Dec.-Feb.; 8-5 in March. • Pigeon Forge 800.251.9100 or mypigeonforge.com Picnic areas • Sevierville 888.766.5948 or Picnic areas open year-round are: visitsevierville.com Deep Creek, Greenbrier and Metcalf • Townsend 800.525.6834 or Bottoms. All others are expected to open smokymountains.org in spring. Cades Cove is closed due to work on Bote Mountain Tunnel (see Pets in the park page 6). Picnic areas have a table and Pets are allowed in front-country camp- raised grill (charcoal fires only). See the grounds and beside roads as long as they map on page 16 for locations. Picnic During winter, wildlife is more visible because deciduous trees have lost their leaves. Use are restrained at all times. Pets are not pavilions may be reserved for $12.50– the rule of thumb (illustrated on the next page) to view all wildlife, including this bobcat. allowed on park trails, except for the $80 at recreation.gov. Image by Bill Lea Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River trails. Dogs on these trails must be leashed. SMOKIES GUIDE Smokies Guide is produced five times per year by Publication dates are Autumn: mid-Sept. Writers Design Assistants Planning Committee Stephanie Sutton © 2019 Great Great Smoky Mountains Association and Great roughly as follows: Winter: mid-Dec. Valerie Polk Lisa Horstman Katie Corrigan Florie Takaki Smoky Mountains Smoky Mountains National Park. Spring: mid-March Aaron Searcy Emma DuFort Becky Nichols Association Editor Summer: early June Bill Stiver E Printed on P.O. Box 130 Frances Figart Lead Designer NPS Coordinator nps.gov/grsm Late Summer: Paul Super recycled paper Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Karen Key Susan Sachs mid-August SmokiesInformation.org Smokies Guide Winter 2019-20 • 2 packers are often Fishing Winter hikers should be especially CADES COVE RULE OF THUMB caught off guard Fishing is permitted year-round in aware of the danger of hypothermia— when a sunny day the park, and a Tennessee or the lowering of body temperature. The CLOSED FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING in the 70s°F is North Carolina fishing license is combination of rain, cold and wind followed by a wet, required. Either state license is valid is especially dangerous. At the park’s January 2 at 8 p.m. — bitterly cold one. throughout the park, and no trout higher elevations, hypothermia can be a February 29, 2020 By mid- to late stamp is required. threat even during summer. April, the weather Fishing with bait is prohibited in the To prevent hypothermia, carry is milder. park. A special permit is required reliable rain gear at all times. Layer See page 6 • Summer - By for the Cherokee Reservation and clothing that provides warmth when for more information. mid-June, heat, Gatlinburg. Licenses are available in wet (not cotton). Be prepared for haze and humidity nearby towns. sudden weather changes, especially at are the norm. A free fishing map with a complete the higher elevations. Stay dry. Most precipitation list of all park fishing regulations is avail- occurs as afternoon able at visitor centers. thundershowers. Driving distances and • Autumn - In Camping in the backcountry estimated times mid-September, a Winter camping can be an exciting pattern of warm, adventure for persons properly equipped Allow for longer driving times sunny days and and informed. To facilitate this activity, during poor weather. crisp, clear nights the National Park Service maintains often begins.