Winter Smokies Info

www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org

PRESS RELEASE
October 26, 2010

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

SMOKIES WINTER SCHEDULE

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced its winter season facility closings schedule. As cooler weather approaches and visitation decreases, various facilities will close, including 7 of the 10 campgrounds, and operational hours for some visitor services will be

reduced.

VISITOR CENTERS

Through the month of November, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN, will open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, will serve visitors from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Cades Cove Visitor Center located half way around the Cades Cove Loop Road will be opened daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The visitor center hours for the following winter months are posted on the Park's website, www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hours.htm .

Snow Below Newfound Gap by Sam Hobbs

ROADS

Several of the secondary roads are scheduled to close as indicated:

Balsam Mountain/Heintooga Roads on November 1; Roundbottom/Straight Fork on

November 16; Parson Branch and Rich Mountain Roads on November 22; Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on December 1.

During the winter months, the Park's two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, will remain open throughout the year, except for temporary closures for extreme winter weather conditions.

The Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop Road, Cosby Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont, Forge Creek, Lakeview Drive, and Foothills Parkway (East and West) will open and close as road and weather conditions mandate.

For more information on winter weather road conditions, contact the Park at (865) 436-1200 (Then select option "2" and select "2" again to access road

info).

LODGING

Mt. LeConte Lodge will close for the season on November 23.

CAMPING

Two of the three major campgrounds will remain open all year. These year-round campgrounds are Cades Cove in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina. Starting November 1, they will be on a self-registration basis with a reduced number of available sites. Elkmont Campground in Tennessee

will remain open through the Thanksgiving weekend and will close on December 1. Balsam Mountain campground is already closed for the season. The six remaining self-registration campgrounds at Cosby, Cataloochee, Deep Creek, Big Creek, Look Rock and Abrams Creek, will close on November 1st.

CADES COVE CAMPGROUND STORE

Cades Cove Campground Store will close on December 22, but will reopen December 26-January 2 to serve visitors during the holiday period. The store will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Vending machines at the store will remain in service throughout the winter.

PICNICKING

Seven picnic areas will remain open through the winter: Chimney Tops, Cades Cove, Cosby, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, Big Creek, and Deep Creek. Picnic pavilions at Cosby, Greenbrier and Deep Creek will be open through the winter and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov/. Picnic pavilions that will close on November 1 include Twin Creeks, Collins Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms.

HORSEBACK STABLES

Smokemont Riding Stable is scheduled to close on November 2. Sugarlands Riding Stable and Smoky Mountain Riding Stable will close on November 29. Cades Cove Riding Stable will close on December 22, but will reopen December 26-January 2. The Cades Cove Stable will also be closed

on Thanksgiving Day. The closing dates are dependent on weather conditions.

HORSE CAMPS

All five horse camps--Round Bottom, Tow String, Cataloochee, Big Creek, and Anthony Creek--are scheduled to close on November 15.

-NPS-

Bob Miller

Management Assistant

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Since 1993, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has raised more than $31 million to help preserve, protect and provide for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Support the Smokies and enjoy valuable membership benefits while cherishing the feeling of protecting one of America's greatest natural treasures.

Thank YOU for being a Friend of the Smokies.