Where to go. What to See. Things to Do.
The fall foliage show for 2013 is over in the Great Smoky Mountains but here is a video that shows what Cades Cove looks like in the autumn. It’s not as good as being there but it shows you what you missed. Courtesy of Delia Hills from youtube
An elk and a photographer go head to head in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains. The young bull elk walked up to where the photographer was sitting talking pictures and started head butting with the photographer. It lasted several minutes. The man was not injured. A witness in a nearby car rode up and was able to get the photographer safely way from the elk. Courtesy of ABC News
Here’s a deer family in the fields along the Cades Cove Loop Road. A ride through Cades Cove always brings surprises with glimpses of deer, wild turkey, and bear quite common if you plan it right and go in the early mornings or late afternoon at dusk.
The fire in Burke County NC in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area of the Pisgah National Forest in western NC continues to spread. The fire is near Table Rock Mountain and covers almost 100 acres now. About 60 firefighters are fighting the wildfire the U.S. Forest Service reports. Crews are not able to transport heavy machinery into the wilderness due to the terrain so the firefighters are using hand tools to dig trenches to try to control the wildfire. How the fire started is still being investigated, but the US Forest Service believe the fire started in the picnic area at Table…
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Now that colder weather is here in the Great Smoky Mountains the Great Smoky Mountains National Park service has announced its winter operating schedule. Although the GSMNP is open everyday and year round some secondary roads, campgrounds, and some facilities do close in the winter. Operating hours for some visitor services will be cut back for the winter season. The visitor centers Sugarlands in Gatlinburg, TN and Oconaluftee in Cherokee, NC will be open daily from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. through December 1. Cades Cove Visitor Center located near the half way point on Cades Cove Loop Road will be open daily…
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Tonight 11/9/13 in Cades Cove starting at 5:30 PM there will be a 2 1/2 hour stargazing program by the GSMNP and the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society. They will have several telescopes for use and experienced astronomers there to assist. If the skies are clear and with the darkness of the ares it should make for great viewing of the night sky’s stars, planets, and constellations. If Saturday night’s weather is cloudy or raining the program will be cancelled. Call 865-448-4104 to make sure the program is taking place. For more info go to the website http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parknews/stargazing-rescheduled.htm
The impact of the 16 day partial government shutdown in October had a devastating impact on Great Smoky Mountains Association. GSMA Director Terry Maddox said “GSMA lost more than $550,000 in revenue at our park stores.” During the partial government shutdown the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was closed to visitors during one of the busiest times of the year for the park.
The Park Service of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is planning a controlled burn in Cades Cove on Monday, November 4, 2013 if the weather cooperates. They plan to burn about 400 acres. The burn is necessary periodiclly to prevent the open fields from returning to forest land with tree and brush regrowth. Cades Cove Loop Road will remain open to traffic but visitors may experience brief delays and temporary closures. Expect to see fire and smoke during the burn operation, slow down in the work zones but do not stop. In smoky areas roll up the windows and…
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Fall foliage 2013 latest update: The highest elevations above 4500 feet are past peak. The mid elevations of 3000-4500 feet are at peak now The lower elevations will peak in the next few days (first week of November) This weekend and next week may be the last of the peak and near peak fall foliage show for the Great Smoky Mountains. Go to Fall Foliage 2013 for more details.
Fall foliage 2013 latest update: Colder temperatures will speed up the leaf color changing process. The highest elevations above 4500 feet are past peak. The mid elevations of 3000-4500 feet are just beautiful now. The color will be spreading to the lower elevations with peak in the next week to 10 days. Go to Fall Foliage 2013 for more details.
