Greenbrier Open To Public. Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers announced the Greenbrier area of GSMNP reopened to all public use at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021. The area closed January 11, 2021 to replace the Ramsey Prong bridge and the Porters Creek culvert. Construction crews completed repairs before the scheduled date of May 15, 2021. All trails, roads, and facilities in Greenbrier are fully accessible to the public.
Rainbow Falls Trail Closed for Bridge Replacement.Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials will temporarily close Rainbow Falls Trail for two weeks to replace a foot-log bridge approximately two miles from the trailhead. The area will be closed weekly on Monday through Thursday from May 10, 2021 through May 20, 2021. The trail will be fully open each week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Great Smoky Mountain Synchronous Firefly Lottery will begin Friday, April, 30 2021 at 10:00 a.m. through Monday, May 3, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.. Those interested can participate in the lottery by visiting www.recreation.gov. The synchronous firefly event will begin Tuesday, June 1, 2021 and end Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
Smoky Mountain Interstate Wildlife Crossing project plans to facilitate safe passage for area wildlife. Insuring a better way for wildlife to traverse the Pigeon River Gorge is the goal of the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project designed to prevent close encounters of the fatal kind between animals and autos.
Cades Cove car ban. Smoky Mountains officials announce the extension of the pilot project in Cades Cove continuing vehicle-free access on the Cades Cove Loop Road on Wednesdays from May 5 through September 1, 2021. Park managers implemented this weekly, full-day opportunity in 2020 in an effort to improve the visitor experience. The project reduces congestion associated with vehicle-free mornings that were previously offered until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.