Cades Cove already has car-free mornings -- but with an upcoming decision, it might have a full car-free day every week.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to comment through Friday, March 27, on the issue.
Currently, the road is closed to vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10 a.m. from May through September. Due to growing use and congestion, the park is proposing a pilot study for the 2020 season.
The study would evaluate changing this vehicle-free period to a weekly, full day closure on Wednesdays from May through September.
The park said it began collecting data on visitor use during vehicle-free time periods in 1995. Over the last 25 years, use has continued to increase with up to 1,100 people a day cycling or walking along the roadway during the 3-hour closure time period.
The park said this increased use presents several challenges, including congestion, lack of parking, and disruption in campground and picnic area operations. If use was spread out throughout the day, the park said traffic and parking would be more manageable. Cyclists would also have more hours of daylight to use the road.
The park invites the public to comment on the proposed change using the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website and following the link titled “Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Days” at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/grsm.
If approved by the National Park Service, temporary implementation will begin in May 2020.
