LIZ DUPREE PHOTO RANGER-LED WALKS & TALKS—SEE PAGES 11-13 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF GREAT SMOKY MOUntAINS NATIonAL PARK e AUTUMN 2015 BILL LEA PHOTO DAVID LUTTRELL PHOTO LUTTRELL DAVID LOG CABINS Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a wonderland where families can explore the great outdoors and spend quality time together. Did you know the park’s Head Out to “Find Historic Preservation Crew Your Park” this Year protects the largest collec- tion of historic log buildings inety-nine years ago the forests, parkways, rivers, NNational Park Service urban parks, or those “crown in the East? This rich and The Great Smoky Mountains are world-renowned for their immense was created to defend Yellow- jewels” of the national park variety of plants and animals, including 100 species of native trees. stone and other sites against system like Grand Canyon, varied collection includes wildlife poachers and artifact Mesa Verde, Everglades, When Will Colors Peak? collectors who were hauling Arches, Yosemite, Olympic, homes, barns, spring houses, away pieces of our national and Gettysburg. levation profoundly most spectacular display as parks and monuments by the You might be surprised grist mills, a school, and Eaffects when fall col- it includes such colorful trees wagon load. how many ors change in Great Smoky as sugar maple, scarlet oak, Today the beautiful more. Some of the best Mountains National Park. At sweetgum, red maple, and same Service places are the higher elevations, where the hickories. Sunny days protects over preserved by places to explore them are the climate is similar to New and cool nights are generally 400 parks, sea- the NPS, even England’s, color displays start thought to bring out the best shores, historic in your own Cades Cove, Roarking Fork as early as mid-September fall colors. sites, battle- backyard. with the turning of yellow There are many good fields, trails, lakeshores, and Here are just a few of the sites Motor Nature Trail, and the birch, American beech, hob- drives to enjoy the fall color other national treasures in within 100 miles of the Smok- blebush, and pin cherry. peak. Little River and Laurel such a way as to “leave them ies: Mountain Farm Museum at From October 1-15, fall Creek roads between Sug- unimpaired for the enjoyment •Andrew Johnson Na- colors are at peak above 4,000 arlands Visitor Center and of future generations.” tional Historic Site Oconalufteee. feet. To enjoy them, drive the Cades Cove are noteworthy In preparation for the • Appalachian National Clingmans Dome Road, the late in the season. So are the 100th birthday of the National Scenic Trail Blue Ridge Parkway, Balsam Foothills Parkway segments Park Service, the agency is en- •Big South Fork National Mountain-Heintooga Ridge (East and West) and the Deep couraging everyone to “Find River and Recreation Area roads, or Newfound Gap Creek area. Keep in mind that Your Park.” Public lands • Blue Ridge Parkway Road. late October weekend traffic belong to everyone, and this • Carl Sandburg Home Fall colors usually peak at on Newfound Gap and Cades is the perfect opportunity to National Historic Site the mid and lower elevations Cove Loop roads will be ex- explore new places, wheth- • Obed Wild & Scenic between October 15 and No- tremely heavy, especially late er they are historic sites, River. vember 7. This is the park’s in the day. smokies trip planner to order maps, apps, 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 1-800-438-1601 Dogs on these trails must be Fontana 1-800-849-2258 leashed. five times per year by Great Gatlinburg 1-800-267-7088 Smoky Mountains Asso- Maggie Valley 1-800-624-4431 facility rentals ciation and Great Smoky Pigeon Forge 1-800-251-9100 Mountains National Park. Sevierville 1-888-766-5948 The historic Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin Publication dates are roughly Townsend 1-800-525-6834 at Elkmont are now accepting as follows: reservations for day-use rent- als. Picnic pavillions are also SPRING: March 15 available for $10-$20 per day SUMMER: June 7 at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep LATE SUMMER: August 10 Creek, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, and Twin Creeks. AUTUMN: September 20 To make a reservation, call Abrams Creek and Balsam Mountain campgrounds are open this year. ANN KRESSIG PHOTO MARY WINTER: December 1 1-877-444-6777 or visit www. camping in the national park recreation.gov. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS The National Park Service The list below shows Steve Kemp & Kent Cave special events maintains developed camp- number of sites, elevations, NPS COORDINATOR grounds at nine locations in fees, 2015 operation dates, September 19 Elizabeth Dupree the park. There are no show- and maximum RV lengths. Mountain Life Festival at EDITORIAL BOARD ers or hookups other than Visit www.nps.gov/grsm for Oconaluftee Visitor Center Karen Ballentine circuits for special medical additional information. November 6-8 & 11-15 Coralie Bloom uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, and Smokemont. elev. 1,125’, $14, open May 22- Sorghum Molasses Making at Lynda Doucette Bicycle and pedestrian only Campsites at Elkmont, Oct. 13, 12’ trailers Cades Cove Cable Mill area morning in Cades Cove Kristine Johnson Smokemont, Cataloochee, BALSAM MOUNTAIN 46 Terry Maddox Cosby, and Cades Cove sites, elev. 5,310’, $14, open bicycling December 12 may be reserved. For reser- May 22-Oct. 13, 30’ RVs Festival of Christmas Past at Mike Maslona Most park roads are too vations call 1-877-444-6777 BIG CREEK 12 sites, elev. Sugarlands Visitor Center Stephanie Sutton narrow and heavily traveled or contact www.recreation. 1,700’, $14, open April 10-Oct. by automobiles for safe or gov. Sites may be reserved 31, tents only picnic areas Contributors enjoyable bicycling. However, up to six months in advance. CADES COVE 159 sites, elev. Cades Cove Loop Road is LISA HORSTMAN, KAREN KEY Reservations are required at 1,807’, $17-$20, open year- Please see pages 8-9 for lo- an exception. This 11-mile, Cataloochee Campground. round, 35’-40’ RVs cations of picnic areas. All pic- one-way, paved road pro- Other park campgrounds are CATALOOCHEE 27 sites, nic areas have charcoal grills © 2015 Great Smoky vides bicyclists with excellent first-come, first-served. elev. 2,610’, $20, open for cooking. Mountains Association opportunities for viewing Site occupancy is limited April 3-Oct. 31, reservations wildlife and historic sites. visitor centers to six people and two vehicles required, 31’ RVs GSMA Helmets are required for (a trailer = 1 vehicle). The COSBY 157 sites, elev. 2,459’, persons age 16 and under and Park visitor centers offer P.O. Box 130 maximum stay is 14 days. $14, April 10-Oct. 31, 25’ RVs are strongly recommended for information, exhibits, and a Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Camping sites for large DEEP CREEK 92 sites, elev. all bicyclists. bookstore. Fall hours of oper- groups are available at Big 1,800’, $17, open April 10-Oct. From May 6-Sept. 23 on ation are: Creek, Cades Cove, Cata- 31, 26’ RVs Wednesday and Saturday Oconaluftee: 8-6:30 (Sept. & loochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, ELKMONT 220 sites, elev. mornings from sunrise to Oct.), 8-5 (Nov.) Elkmont, and Smokemont. 2,150’, $17-$23, open March 10:00 a.m., only bicycles and Sugarlands: 8-6:30 (Sept. & Group sites must be reserved. 13-Nov. 28, 32’-35’ RVs pedestrians are allowed on Oct.), 8-5 (Nov). Call 1-877-444-6777 or contact LOOK ROCK Closed printed on recycled paper Cades Cove Loop Road. Cades Cove: 9-6:30 (Sept & www.recreation.gov. Group SMOKEMONT 142 sites, elev. Bicycles may be rented at the Oct), 9-5:30 (Nov.) sites may be reserved up to 2,198’, $17-$20, open year- Cades Cove Campground Clingmans Dome 10-6:00 one year in advance. round, 35’-40’ RVs store. (Sept. & Oct.), 9:30-5 (Nov.) 2 v smokies guide, Autumn 2015 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. 60° 34° 3.4” 46° 27° 6.8” Clingmans Dome: Dec. 51° 28° 4.6” 38° 20° 6.4” 25 miles (¾ hour) The above temperature and precipitation averages are based on data for Cataloochee: 39 miles the last 20 years. Temperatures are in degrees fahrenheit. An annual av- (1½ hours) erage of over 84” (7 feet) of precipitation falls on the higher elevations Deep Creek: 14 miles (½ hour) of the Smokies.