Great Smoky Mountains National Park Initiates Corona Virus Health Guidelines

Great Smoky Mountains Initiates Corona Virus Health Guidelines. Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 all national park campgrounds, picnic areas, pavilions and restrooms will be closed to the public. The closure of the facilities will continue until Thursday, April 30, 2020. At this time there is no definitive position on if backcountry campsites will close also. This is a  continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As conditions change in America and the Smoky Mountain region, the park will continue to implement operational changes that help ensure the health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, partners, and local communities.

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Great Smoky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers Close

Great Smoky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers Close March 17, 2020. The closures are in response to efforts to inhibit the spread of the COVID – 19 (Corona) virus. The closures include the Sugarlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove Visitors Centers until further notice.

Great Smoky National Park officials are heeding guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. The facilities are being shuttered to ensure the safety of park staff and visitors.

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Park Recruits Trail Volunteers

Park Recruits Trail Volunteers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 500,000 square miles and boasts 848 miles of maintained hiking trails. Volunteers are being recruited to “adopt a trail.” Participants will be asked to hike a single designated trail a minimum of four times a year and submit a report on their findings.

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Volunteers needed for Great Smoky Mountain ‘Adopt-a-Plot’ Program

Volunteers needed for Great Smoky Mountain ‘Adopt-a-Plot’ Program. National park rangers are seeking volunteers to monitor designated plots throughout the park. Participants will track phenology,  or nature’s calendar. No experience is required but individuals with an interest in science and nature should thrive. Volunteers will collect important research data such as plant flowering dates and tree canopy foliage changes.

Volunteers will participate in a 3-hour training workshop that covers topics like tree identification techniques, stages of tree change throughout the year, fruit and flower identification, and phenology data collection protocols. Volunteers are required to attend one of the training sessions  held at either Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC on Saturday, February 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN on Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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5 Awesome Winter Things To Do In The Smoky Mountains

5 Awesome Winter Things To Do In The Smoky Mountains! We love winter in the Smoky Mountains. The crowds thin out and the traffic slows down. Clear days are plentiful and the views of the mountains are often clear as a bell. Here are 5 of our favorite winter things to do in the Smoky Mountains.

Take a hike! Even the busiest trails slow down in winter time!  The Chimneys are a short drive from Sugarlands Visitor Center and offer fantastic views of Tennessee. This trail is quite steep but always a HeySmokies favorite! Do you enjoy a peaceful waterfall? Have you ever hiked to one that is frozen solid? You can do it in the Smoky Mountains! One of our favorites is Grotto Falls off of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg.

Ober Gatlinburg is the spot for all kinds of winter fun! The intermediate ranked slopes of ski mountain are perfect for skiing and snowboarding. If you need practice the “bunny” slope is the perfect spot for beginners. A more extreme experience awaits the adventurous on the freestyle terrain area. Jumping and flipping are all part of the fun for the daring. Tubing and ice skating round out the day with something for everyone.

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community offers craftsmanship like you have never seen before! Over 120 artisans and master craftsmen create art daily through various mediums. No matter what your taste you can find it here! Various sculpters, photographers, woodworkers, quilters, potters and more produce masterpieces each day!

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