Trails And Backcountry Campsites Reopen After Bear Attack In June
The Hazel Creek area hiking trails and backcountry campsites have been reopened by the park service weeks after a bear attack occurred. The park service after monitoring for bear activity have decided it is safe to reopen
the area to hikers and campers. Signs still warn of the dangers of bear activities. Visitors should take precautions while in the Great Smoky Mountains. The areas reopened are Hazel Creek Trail, Jenkins Ridge Trail, Bone Valley Trail, Cold Spring Gap Trail, Derrick Knob Shelter, and backcountry campsites 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, and 88.
Black Bear in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The teen that was attacked on June 6 is recovering at home in Ohio after spending several days in the hospital. Two days later in the same area a bear was captured, tranquilized and euthanized but DNA test later showed it did not match bear hair samples from the bear that attacked the boy. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent stated how unusual a bear attack was in the park.
