National Park News

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced a decision to transition backcountry campsites 84 and 85, along the Hazel Creek Trail in North Carolina, from non-reservation campsites to reservation-only. This change takes effect on August 1, 2011.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced a decision to transition backcountry campsites 84 and 85, along the Hazel Creek Trail in North Carolina, from non-reservation campsites to reservation-only. This change takes effect on August 1, 2011.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting an acoustic old time jam session every third Saturday of the month starting July 16 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting an acoustic old time jam session every third Saturday of the month starting July 16 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A drowning victim was recovered from Great Smoky Mountains National Park today in a section of the Little River at the Townsend Wye, a popular day use area in Blount County.

A drowning victim was recovered from Great Smoky Mountains National Park today in a section of the Little River at the Townsend Wye, a popular day use area in Blount County.

Rangers have announced plans to conduct sobriety checkpoints and ramp up traffic patrols, in conjunction with a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The park has set a two-day open house at Elkmont to showcase the newly-restored Appalachian Clubhouse. The first day, Saturday, June 25, is set aside for the original residents of Elkmont and on Sunday, June 26, the general public is invited to attend.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering special programs for youth to participate in science activities this summer.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering special programs for youth to participate in science activities this summer.

Two areas will be closed temporarily this week to install new precast concrete public restrooms (vault toilets) at popular trailheads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Elkmont entrance road will be closed every night from 5:00 p.m. until midnight, June 4-12, except to registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground. The closure is to accommodate transportation service for visitors viewing synchronous fireflies.

On April 20th, three North Carolina men were convicted and sentenced in Federal Court in Bryson City, N.C., pursuant to two separate cases in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

On April 20th, three North Carolina men were convicted and sentenced in Federal Court in Bryson City, N.C., pursuant to two separate cases in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting for volunteers to assist a Trails Forever trail crew on reconstruction projects on the Forney Ridge Trail Friday-Monday from May 20th to October 16th.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting for volunteers to assist a Trails Forever trail crew on reconstruction projects on the Forney Ridge Trail Friday-Monday from May 20th to October 16th.

Rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are mounting a search for a Cary, North Carolina man who was reported missing on April 27. The Park is also asking that anybody who may have seen the subject, Christopher Lee Cessna, 45, in the last three weeks, whether in the Park or elsewhere, to contact the Park.

The annual “Cosby in the Park” festival to be held on Saturday, May 21, at the Park’s Cosby Campground. The event is free to the public and is scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the National Weather Service have determined that a severe EF 4 tornado swept across the northwestern corner of the Park last Wednesday causing extensive damage to seven park trails.

Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the National Weather Service have determined that a severe EF 4 tornado swept across the northwestern corner of the Park last Wednesday causing extensive damage to seven park trails.

Abrams Falls Trail and the Beard Cane Trail near Cades Cove are closed due to extensive damage from recent severe storms.

Abrams Falls Trail and the Beard Cane Trail near Cades Cove are closed due to extensive damage from recent severe storms.

The park’s newly-restored Appalachian Clubhouse is now available for public day-use rental.

The park’s newly-restored Appalachian Clubhouse is now available for public day-use rental.

A crowd of over 200 people joined the staff and partners of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Friday, April 15, in dedicating the Park’s new 100% partner-funded Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

A crowd of over 200 people joined the staff and partners of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Friday, April 15, in dedicating the Park’s new 100% partner-funded Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors can expect minor delays between now and May 23 while work is underway to repave the Gatlinburg Bypass and the 1.5 miles of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) just south of Gatlinburg, TN.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering high school students, recent graduates, and their families a chance to join scientists and educators in collecting scientific data during field activities in the national park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the one-day closure of the Laurel Falls Trail on Tuesday, April 19 for litter clean-up and graffiti removal.