Latest GSM Guide Posts

Chimney Tops Trail Reopens After Restoration Completed

December 14, 2014

Chimney Tops Trails Restoration Completed and Reopened on Friday After three years of hard labor Chimney Tops Trail has been reopened to public access every day of the week. Restoration to the trail has finally been completed to the popular hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. The trail was in need of many repairs to make the trail safer for hikers. The restoration included placing or replacing rock stairs, building retainer walls, improving drainage ditches, making or replacing log steps, removing old trees and placing crushed rock or gravel along parts of the trail. Those involved in the three-year restoration…
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What is Harmon Den on I-40 Near NC/TN State Line?

December 11, 2014

Have You Ever Seen the Road Sign Harmon Den on I-40 in Great Smoky Mountains? Have you ever been traveling on I-40 in the Great Smoky Mountains near the  North Carolina and Tennessee state line and seen the  sign Harmon Den? Did you  wonder  what it is?  If you take Exit 7 on I-40 and follow the signs you will discover it is a large horse campground with about 14 miles of designated  horse trails and facilities.  Harmon Den Horse Campground is located in North Carolina and is part of the Nation Forests in North Carolina. The horse campground is within the Pisgah…
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Alum Cave Trail for Restoration in 2015

December 10, 2014

Popular Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte to Get Restoration and Weekday Closings in 2015 Alum Cave Trail will be closed during the week starting in May of 2015 for restoration. The National park Service is going to begin restoration on the popular 5 mile trail that is on Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park off US 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee. The park service will close Alum Cave Trail on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 7:00am till 5:30pm starting on May 4, 2015 (until November 19, 2015). The trail will not be closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays….
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New Manager For LeConte Lodge in 2015

December 1, 2014

Remote LeConte Lodge on Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gets New Manager for 2015 When LeConte Lodge opens next year in the spring it will be with new management! Chris and Allyson Virden have managed the lodge for 12 years but  when the lodge closed for the season a few days ago they will move on to a new way of life. The new manager for LeConte Lodge will be a former lodge crew member Ruthie Puckett from Alabama. LeConte Lodge  sits at the top of Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee at an…
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Winter Storm Warning and Snow in the Forecast-Ski Resorts to Open

November 26, 2014

Winter Storm Warning for the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and Ski Resorts Opening More snow is expected in the Great Smoky Mountains Wednesday and Thursday. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect tonight and Wednesday. Just a few inches for  Wednesday,  but 3-6 inches is predicted for Thanksgiving Day. Travel may be hazardous on Thanksgiving Day in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Accumulating snow in elevations over 3500 feet is possible. Several snow ski resorts and snow tubing parks will be open this weekend. Beech Mountain and Cataloochee will be open this weekend….
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rescue of Hiker on Mt. LeConte

November 24, 2014

Park Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rescue Hiker Sunday Another Great Smoky Mountains National Park rescue was successful by rangers this past weekend. A man had to be rescued Sunday in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A 56-year-old man hiking on a trail on Mt. LeConte had to be rescued by rangers after breaking his leg reports say. This took place this past Sunday on 11/23/2014. There was an ice warning for hikers this past weekend due to cold temperatures in the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is common for hiking trails in…
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Closures for Winter Season

November 23, 2014

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Closures for Winter Season Well it’s winter in the Great Smoky Mountains and with that come road closures. The Park Service has issued the Great Smoky Mountains National Park road closures for  the winter season. The Sunday after Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 2014 Clingmans Dome Road will close to motor vehicles for the winter season the park service announced.  Also a reminder that Newfound Gap Road (US 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains between Gatlinburg and Cherokee is subject to closures due to winter weather during the winter months. Parts of US441 in the…
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A Dollywood Christmas Going On Now!

November 13, 2014

A Dollywood Christmas is fun for all. Dollywood is a magical time at Christmas for everybody. Dollywood is dressed up for the festive holiday celebration with millions of Christmas trees, twinkling lights, wreaths, garland, bows, greenery, and ponsettieas. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival is November  8 through Jan. 3, 2015. It’s not Christmas till you got to Dollywood and enjoy a Smoky Mountain Christmas! Music, food, lights, and shows to delight and get yo in the joyful holiday spirit. Meet Rudolph and His Friends, watch the synchronized light show of Carol of the Trees, see Christmas in the Smokies with the 12…
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All Park Roads Closed Due to Hazardous Conditions

November 1, 2014

Great Smoky Mountains National Park roads closed due to winter weather and hazardous conditions. The National Park Service is reporting that all park roads are closed due to the winter weather making roads hazardous. Mt. LeConte so far has had 17″ of snow and its still snowing. Newfound Gap has had 10″ of snow, lower elevations have had almost 6″. The heavy wet snow is causing trees limbs to break and trees to come down because leaves still on the trees are heavy with snow. There are reports of downed trees and visibility is poor. Travel in the Great Smoky…
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Winter Weather Warning!

October 30, 2014

The Great Smoky Mountains is under a Winter Weather Warning for this weekend. If you are headed to the GSMNP this weekend to view the fall foliage you will get an extra surprise – snow! The highest elevations some weather forecaster are reporting may get 6-8 inches of snow for this first weekend in November! Make sure you are prepared before you head to the mountains! Fall foliage and snow will make for some beautiful pictures. Unusual combo for the Great Smoky Mountains!

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