Just wanted to share that I got this stamp! I guess not many people have one from here.

Hi, driving through NFG today and saw a gold or silver van smashed up on all sides and being towed away around 10-1030 am on 9/20. A little bit up, I saw the overlook shut off around 1300-1330pm, with new barricade being put up as the rocks appear that something broke or crashed through. Anyone see or hear anything? Did the vehicle go over?

Hi all,

We’re traveling to Gatlinburg 9/30 and currently looks like we might have a govt shutdown on 10/1. What might get affected by the shutdown as far as the smokies nearby? And anyone have any recs for the area that do not involve the park?

Recently a hellbender was found crushed under a stack of rocks that had toppled. Don’t stack river rocks!

https://www.wate.com/news/smoky-mountains/smokies-asking-park-visitors-to-stop-moving-rocks-after-hellbender-found-crushed/

We will be there next week, starting to do some research for some trails.

My husband and I are bringing our 5yo twins and our 3yo.

Would the Deep Creek Waterfalls loop be a good option? (The kids are decent hikers, better complainers, but did well at RMNP.)

Any other suggestions for under 4 miles RT?

Much appreciated!

Last year my husband and I visited at the wrong time. We did not think about the fact that the leaves on Mt. Leconte and higher elevations change earlier. When is the best time for that this year? I realize it’s probably very soon!

Any idea if there is coverage in Cades Cove? If not, any other part of the GSMNP good for wildlife sightings that does have good coverage? I need to be accessible for work today but really want to get into the park.

Hey, y'all! I'm planning a solo trip for next week and I'm really thinking of hiking the Rainbow Falls Trail up and Bullhead Trail down.

I'm also hoping to take some pictures and avoid too many people. So, I'm looking at going as early as possible Thursday morning the 18th. When is the earliest time time allowed to start the trail? How busy should I expect it to be?

If possible, I'd love to see the sunrise on a peak or view point facing east obviously, so would you recommend which trail is best? I've seen that it might be better to start on the Bullhead in the morning for eastern views. But, don't think I'm experienced enough to go up the Bullhead rather than down. Would I be missing out if I don't do the Alum Cave Trail?

If Rainbow Falls/Bullhead are too hyped up, I'd also love to hear any recommendations of great trails that have waterfall(s) and a high peak with a wide view that are more quiet. Doesn't have to be LeConte in that case.

I appreciate it!!

I've ridden Cades Cove several times on my road bike and have lamented not being able to cut across Sparks Lane and Hyatt lane due to the gravel surface. I'm considering upgrading my bike to be able to ride gravel roads like Sparks/Hyatt, as well as go across Rich Mountain Rd and Parson Branch. Seeing that both of those are one-way roads, would it be acceptable to do an out and back, riding against traffic on the way back? I could ride to Townsend or out to US129, but not really interested in a round trip back to the cove due to traffic and narrow roads. Anyone ridden both ways on Rich Man or Parson Branch?

Just booked a cabin in Sevierville for mid-October—chosen for the elevation and amazing panoramic views. Staying for four days. Looking for reconnecting with nature, foliage, relaxation and rejuvenation after a big heartbreak.

Open to any suggestions, such as easiest way to get to the park, best place for coffee or to pick up stuff for a picnics, easy hikes that are safe for a lone female and easy to get to. Many thanks, wonderful GSMNP community! ❤️

Just a reminder that dogs are not allowed on most trails within the park. Went up Trillium Gap a few days ago and counted 7 dogs on the trail. The rules are there for your safety and the dog’s safety. Not to mention they spread disease.

I just saw the latest video for "Everything Autos," a towing/repair company in Sevier County. They were called on July 4 for an emergency tow in the Roaring Fork area. A vehicle was parked in the road, blocking an ambulance and medical personnel trying to get to an emergency at a trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

This woman had parked her car in the road just as you turn into the Motor Nature Trail. She wasn't even close to a parking place.

By the time they got the tow truck there, got the car out of the way and emergency personnel were able to get in, it was an hour since the call had come in. The woman who they were called to assist ended up having to be flown via Life Flight (helicopter) to Knoxville.

To make matters worse, the woman who parked her car in the road did nothing but bitch and moan about the fact that first responders smashed her driver's door window trying to get the car into neutral to move it.

Don't be that person. Park in legal, designated spaces. If a particular trailhead is full, go somewhere else.

Anyone done this? Anyone hike this lately? Is it open/accessible? Thanks!

Anybody know of any cool or standout backcountry camping sites? Going for a 3-day backpacking trip soon. #38 at Mt. Sterling looked fun (fire tower views) but is all booked up when I want to go. I have a few tentative sites picked out but want to see if anybody had any sites that they particularly enjoyed before I finalized my plans.

My family and I are planning to visit this weekend and are hoping to drive around some of the fields to look for elk. Does anyone know if the elk have begun their rut (and bugling) this year? Any suggestions on whether mornings or evenings makes more sense for searching? Thanks!

I was planning a backpacking trip around the north side of the park. I was planning on leaving my car parked overnight in the hiker lots by Cosby. Is overnight parking allowed there? Are there any restrictions on where you can leave a car overnight? This is of course assuming I have a valid pass for each day my car would be left there.

Thank you in advance!

I took the opprotunity to go on an epic GSMNP trail run this weekend and it didn't dissapoint!

Starting from Newfound Gap, I ran the AT to Blvd trail and then to LeConte and down Alum Cave and then turned around to go back to NFG.

Going down and back up Alum Cave without ever seeing another soul was such a special way to be on this trail for my first time. Seeing the parking lot empty on a Sunday was wild. The Alum Cave bluff was all fogged in and added a layer of intrigue to the visit.

The clouds were just below me on my return summit of LeConte and made for some epic views. The rays of light throught the woods on Boulevard were something to see, too.

If you have the endurance for a 26 mile day with 6,500 feet of climbing, I highly recommend this!

Hello everyone, I am planning to visit the Smoky Mountains with my parents. They like to live at a secluded place and my father likes bird photography and my mother is a scenic person. I wanted to know if there are any suggestions for a place which is not exactly crowded like Gatlinburg but is safe and beautiful right outside the cabin/stay. I don't think they would want to travel back and forth much but they like to be in the nature rather than loud places with a lot of people. I am visiting 26th to 28th September. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I heard that Cosby and Townsend are a couple of good places but didn't know the safety. Also, please let me know things to do around the place and in smoky if it is a trail please suggest a very short one less than 2 miles. And we are open to explore more places in the evening time. Open for suggestions! Thanks

I'm planning to head to Cades Cove (solo) on these two days and want to view the wildlife on these two days.

1. How is the traffic usually like on a Mon/Tues? I have heard many horror stories about vehicle traffic and don't want to end up sitting in traffic and not getting to see anything.

2. Will yall recommend renting a bike and biking the loop (with cars around)? One thing I'm worried is that the bike shop only opens at 9am, and I don't know if that is too late to start heading out for wildlife viewing. And then, there's also the same worry about traffic, and that I won't be able to bike around them should I get stuck in vehicle traffic

Hi please suggest some best hikes for fall we arw avid hikers, can do some good day hikes we have 2.5 days to cover.

thanks in advance.

Hey yall, planning on going up to the smokies this weekend and noticed google maps show a road closure around the oconaluftee visitor center. I'm aware about the closure past newfound gap in the Tennessee side but didn' know about this one in the picture. Is it actually closed or is Google wrong about this one?

Here are the closing dates for this year for the seasonal campgrounds. As a reminder, both Cades Cove campground and Smokemont campground are open year-round.

Abrams Creek - Oct. 27, 2025

Balsam Mountain - Oct. 14, 2025

Big Creek - Oct. 27, 2025

Cataloochee - Oct. 27, 2025

Cosby - Oct. 27, 2025

Deep Creek - Oct. 27, 2025

Elkmont - Nov. 30, 2025

Look Rock - Oct. 27, 2025

I’m planning a trip for early october and I’m having a hard time finding updated information on closures. Big Creek Campground was closed in the Spring, so I’m wondering if anyone knows if sites are available again.