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Fall And Winter Travel In The National Park

Posted by Leif Palmer in Seasons Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a year-round destination, offering 800 square miles of unspoiled mountain and valley terrain, more than 800 miles of hiking trails and dozens of historic sites that tell the story of our region's history. And while the park is a sight to behold when it's in full spring and summer bloom, fall and winter paint the area with their own striking colors, from the brilliant hues of autumn to the stark, bare beauty of winter.

However, those interested in driving, hiking or camping in the national park this time of year may need to do a little extra planning before setting out on that next adventure. While weather conditions in the lowlands might be more seasonable, that can be misleading, as the climate is distinctly different in the higher elevations, some of which near 5,000 feet above sea level. It's not unusual to have a warm, pleasant day in the valley while it's snowing on top of Mt. LeConte.

Snow covered mountains in East Tennessee.

So to help you avoid a vacation-ruining ordeal, we've got some helpful advice that might keep you out of a jam the next time you stay in one of our Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.

One of the main routes often affected is U.S. 441, which runs from Gatlinburg, across the national park, into Cherokee, North Carolina. Also known as Newfound Gap Rd., this highway winds its way from the foothills, up to the crest of the Smokies on the Tennessee-North Carolina border and then back down toward Cherokee. This road is frequently closed to traffic in winter because of weather conditions that make driving too treacherous to attempt.

Your best resource for finding out what's going on with closures and alerts in the national park is to visit their website, specifically: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm. This will give you the latest information that can help you plan your outing while avoiding unnecessary or hazardous travel. You can also call the park service at 865-436-1200 and then dial extension 631 for road information or 630 for a weather forecast.

Also, some roads and hiking trails are routinely closed for the winter, regardless of current weather conditions. Primary routes like U.S. 441, Little River Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road are open year 'round, weather permitting. For a complete list of secondary roads that are subject to seasonal closings, visit https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/seasonalroads.htm. Many of these roads are now closed until next spring.

If you're staying in one of our cabins during your visit, you can enter the park via Line Springs Rd. in Wears Valley, which takes you to the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. The nearby road is one of the main routes through the park and takes you west toward Cades Cove or east toward Elmont and the Sugarlands Visitor Center just south of Gatlinburg.

Leif Palmer - Smokies blogger

About Leif Palmer

Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.

 

This content posted by Smokies Travel Guide. Visit our home page, smokiestravelguide.com for more information on the Smoky Mountain area.

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