Cades Cove Car Ban

Cades Cove car ban is under way.

Cades Cove car ban is under way.

Cades Cove Car Ban began May 2019. Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to motor vehicles from sunrise until 10:00 a.m. on both Wednesday and Saturday mornings to allow bicyclists, runners, and walkers time to enjoy the cove without having to worry about heavy traffic. This special experience on the 11-mile paved loop road will last until late September.

During the season, bicycles can be rented at the Cades Cove Campground Store. For

pricing info, give them a call at 865.448.9034. Of course, you can bring your own bikes and helmets to enjoy the scenic ride through this historic landscape. Be mindful that Tennessee law requires cyclists under the age of 16 to wear a helmet. HeySmokies and the GSMNP recommend anyone of any age wear protective head gear…just sayin’!

You won’t find any mountain biking trails within the interior of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are only 3 trails in the National Park that allow bicycles:

  • Gatlinburg Trail

    Begins at Sugarlands Visitor Center and travels 1.9 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Gatlinburg along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.

  • Oconaluftee River Trail

    Begins at Oconaluftee Visitor Center and travels 1.5 miles one-way toward the outskirts of Cherokee along the Oconaluftee River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail.

  • Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails

    From the Deep Creek Campground, cyclists can access both Deep Creek and Indian Creek Trails. Bicycles areProng of the Little Pigeon River. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail. allowed on both trails until the point where the old roadbed ends and the hiking trails begin. Pets are not allowed on this trail.

  • Bicycles are allowed on most roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so drivers need to be alert of cyclists when driving through the park. Due to the narrow, steep, curvy conditions of park roads the HeySmokies cycling team recommends avoiding biking park roads in the interest of the safety of all park visitors.

Bonus Biking Tip! – Tsali Recreation Area has over 40 miles of mountain bike trails with varying degrees of difficulty. Tsali is located on the Southern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the southern shore of Fontana Lake near Bryson City, North Carolina.

For more information on bicycling in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and adjacent National Forests, please visit NPS.gov.

Catawba Brewery White Zombie 5K

Catawba Brewery White Zombie 5K. Asheville’s Catawba Brewing Company sponsors White Zombie 5k. The first-ever White Zombie 5k on will be run Saturday, June 1, 2019. Deadline for registration is May 29. The run, which begins at 9 am, caps off the last day of Asheville Beer Week. Participants are invited to run or walk from Catawba’s South Slope tasting room through downtown Asheville while dodging zombies in several “Outbreak Zones” along the way.

Racers are encouraged to dress as zombies or other Catawba characters such as Farmer Ted, Evening Joe or the Hopnesss Monster. A beer token is included with registration for those zombie/racers who are 21 years and older. All participants will receive a ZOMBIE race bib. Dogs and strollers are allowed but must start at the back of the pack.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female overall finishers, the top male and female in the Masters Division (40 and older) and the top male and female in the Grandmasters Division (50 and older.)

Catawba will donate 3.5 meals per registration to MANNA FoodBank.  Kara Irani, director of marketing and communications for MANNA said the donation makes a difference. “The funds from the Zombie 5k will really make a life-saving difference to the people across Western North Carolina who will have a full plate because of the race participants.”

Billy Pyatt, co-owner of Catawba Brewing Co, explained that the company’s mission is comprised of six pillars and “give back and make our region a better place is one we hold near and dear to our heart,” Pyatt said.

Registration, which cost $40, closes today. For information or to register, call 828-338-8380 or visit WhiteZombie5K.

Smoky Mountain Strawberry Moon

Smoky Mountain Strawberry Moon will be viewable Monday, June 17, 2019. The name Strawberry Moon was universally used by the Algonquin native Americans for generations. In Europe this moon is referred to as the Rose Moon.

Native Americans gave this name to June’s full moon to mark the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries. Strawberries were a seasonal food source for the Algonquin as well as their neighbors to the South, the Cherokee. White settlers kept the name in the vernacular. The cultivation of strawberries has become a multi-million dollar industry that is enjoyed by thousands of people world wide. Could you imagine if they were only available during a few weeks of June?

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Smoky Mountain Stargazing Event

Smoky Mountain Stargazing Event. Star gazing is always a Smoky Mountains special event. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting a stargazing event on Friday, May 31 at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in North Carolina. The event is on Purchase Knob 5,000 feet above beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The learning center provides one of the clearest views of the sky from the Haywood County region of the park.

The Astronomy Club of Asheville will lead an exploration of the night sky with a 260 degree unobstructed view of the sky. Visitors can expect to see many celestial wonders including star clusters, binary star systems, and other galaxies.

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North America’s Longest Footbridge

North America’s Longest Footbridge. Gatlinburg Sky Bridge Opens May 17, 2019. When you travel to Gatlinburg you will have no trouble finding the sky bridge towering above the city. The bridge is over 1,800 feet above sea level on the crest of Crockett Mountain and can be accessed by the iconic and historic Gatlinburgskylift downtown.

The five foot wide bridge is not for the faint of heart. Those that dare to take this challenge will be rewarded with amazing views of beautiful Mount LeConte and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The bridge is 700 feet long and showcases a glass bottom section at the highest point. Hold on tight!

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