Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Update (Nov. 21): The Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened several roads and campgrounds Tuesday evening after winds died down and some much-needed rain helped reduce the fire threat.
Most of the major roads, including Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, Cades Cove Loop Road, Cherokee Orchard Road and Foothills Parkway West, are open again in the park. The Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds are also open.
The GSMNP said Newfound Gap Road is expected to reopen around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday once it finishes assessing for downed trees and debris. Other roads are expected to reopen later Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Visitors should be aware that hazards may exist, including wet roads, fog and the potential for snowfall and freezing temperatures at higher elevations. Hikers should use caution on trails and look out for downed trees and limbs. Trail crews will assess trails tomorrow for hazards," the GSMNP said.
Despite the rain, drought conditions will persist across the area. For that reason, a burn ban remains in effect in the park, which prohibits any campfires and charcoal use.
Original Story:
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closing several major roads in the park Monday due to the elevated fire danger across the mountains.
Several East Tennessee counties in the plateau, foothills and mountains are expected to see gusty winds starting this evening and peaking overnight. The combination of those high winds with the historically dry conditions we've seen the past few months will create dangerous fire conditions similar to the conditions on the night of the 2016 Sevier County wildfires.
The park is not taking chances, so it said it is closing off access to most of the park beginning Monday afternoon.
“Employee and visitor safety is our only priority,” said GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We understand these closures are an inconvenience, but we are trying to eliminate as much risk as possible during this dangerous weather event.”
The Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds went into effect immediately Monday. The park said it will notify campers directly about the closure.
Park rangers will start closing roads by the early afternoon Monday. It is encouraging visitors currently in the park to leave as soon as possible.
Main roads such as Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to Smokemont Campground will close at 1 p.m.
The GSMNP said the following roads have closed or will close later Monday afternoon:
- Clingmans Dome Road
- Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley
- Little River Road between the Townsend Wye to Sugarlands Visitor Center
- Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road
- Cataloochee Road
- Lakeview Drive
The Gatlinburg Bypass, Foothills Parkway West from Look Rock to Highway 129, and other park roads will remain open as long as safely possible. Rangers said the Spur from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg will remain open as long as it's safe for vehicles to drive on it.
"Winds will grow stronger this afternoon and overnight with sustained winds at 40 mph and hurricane-force gusts. A red flag warning is in effect for the Smokies, which means very low humidities and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. A burn ban is currently in place in the park, which prohibits all campfires and charcoal use until further notice," The GSMNP said. "Visitors should exercise extreme caution, check the park website for alerts and heed warnings from the National Weather Service and local emergency managers when making travel plans. Hikers should avoid hiking during the high wind warning."
LeConte Lodge in the Smokies said it will honor reservations for guests already on the trail. Once there, guests will be asked to shelter in place with lodge staff until the fire danger passes later on Tuesday.
The lodge said it will be closed to new guests on Tuesday and said it is contacting anyone affected by the safety closure.
"The NPS will only assess roads and trails when it is deemed safe to do so, which might not be until Tuesday afternoon or evening," the lodge said. "Rain is expected to transition to snow sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The lodge officially closes for the winter on Wednesday."
Sevier County Electric System said it cut power to some parts of the GSMNP Monday out of precaution in order to prevent downed electrical wires from sparking up fires. That area included Elkmont and Metcalf Bottoms.
"As forecasted, the wind is coming across the mountains and dropping in, that'll be the first place it'll hit. So we picked those and it's the, it impacts the least amount of people," Allen Robbins, CEO of SCES said.
The CEO said more populated areas like Townsend and Gatlinburg have put other safety precautions in place.
Cocke County Schools and Anakeesta in Gatlinburg also announced closures. CCS is closed Tuesday and will be on Thanksgiving break until next week, and Anakeesta will close at 5 p.m. Monday out of caution due to high winds.
