Update – Thursday, October 17 – Now that the Government Shutdown has come to an end, GSMNP is once again open and things should start getting back to normal quickly!
Update – Wednesday, October 16 – As of 8 am today, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is once again open until at least Sunday 10/20. The State of Tennessee, along with Sevier County are teaming up to cover the costs to operate the GSMNP while the Federal Government remains in shutdown.
Update – Tuesday, October 15 – With the State of Tennessee footing most of the bill, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park could be re-opened as soon as Wednesday, 10/16.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently closed due to the government shutdown. It’s very unfortunate, but important to know for those visiting Gatlinburg, TN and planning to spend some time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hopefully this will all be over very soon.
As of October 9, 2013, the only thing that is open is Highway 441, commonly referred to as Newfound Gap Road, that goes through the national park from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC 30 miles to the south. It is a very scenic drive and still a great way to experience at least some of the beauty that the national park has to offer while the rest of GSMNP is on shut down.
Most pullouts along this scenic route are still open — except for the Trail heads for Alum Cave, Chimneys, and Deep Creek.
Again, popular areas in the national park are all currently closed. These areas include:
- Cades Cove
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Clingman’s Dome
- Sugarlands Visitor Center
- Chimney Tops
- Grotto Falls
- Laurel Falls
- All Picnic Areas
- All Trails
- All Campgrounds
- All Vistors Centers
- All Roads other than US 441
- And much, much more.
Hopefully our government can get it together and our country’s beautiful National Parks will be open again very soon!
Also Closed is the Foothills Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is open, except for the stretch between Mile 393 to 389, which is closed due to a road condition problem. This area can easily be bypassed at Hendersonville Road to Interstate 40 or by using US 74A to Interstate 40 and then to NC route 191. Repairs are currently being worked on for this section, even with the shutdown in place.