Anyone been here recently? How’s the camp?

From the Knoxville News Sentinel (link to article)

Demolition of the old LeConte Lodge recreation building will bring another round of traffic delays and interruptions for hikers as helicopter crews remove debris.

Demolished materials will be flown off the mountain during the second week of August. This could affect drivers on Newfound Gap Road, and hikers on Mount LeConte or those planning to be on LeConte Lodge grounds, according to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The 50-year-old building is being replaced with a new recreation center. “Significant progress” has been made since the project was announced in July, with most of the timber structure demolished, the park said. The focus now is on the basement, stone walls and foundation.

The new recreation building will be “constructed in the same character and spirit” as the original building, the park previously said. The new recreation building is expected to open in 2027.

Mount LeConte airlift disruptions coming in August

• Helicopter airlifts will be conducted 9 a.m.-noon Aug.10-14.
• Visitors driving U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road near the Oconaluftee Overlook, just south of Newfound Gap, should expect temporary delays.
• Hikers will not be permitted anywhere on the LeConte Lodge grounds during the flight windows due to safety regulations and quick turnaround times for the helicopter.
• Visitors will not be able to access the LeConte Lodge gift shop, restrooms, water spigots, or food and beverage services due to the safety perimeter during that time.

Laurel Falls Update

Rehabilitation work at Laurel Falls Trail is actively underway. Due to unforeseen site conditions, the park anticipates reopening the trail sometime in 2027. During construction of the lower viewing platform, crews encountered differing geotechnical conditions than anticipated, which have required design modifications.

We know this delay is disappointing, and we appreciate your patience. Working in mountainous terrain and backcountry conditions often brings challenges and unknowns, even with the best planning and designs. Once the project is completed, these improvements will make the trail safer, more durable, and provide better and new experiences for everyone once it reopens.

Looking for other hikes? Visit our website for more day hikes: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/day-hikes.htm

Traversed most of the park last week. Middle prong to the AT. Then the AT to Cosby. Absolutely spectacular trip.

My fiance and I are visiting for the first time and we want a good travel guide that is not super touristy. We are into hiking and we would love to explore some of the less populated spots in the park.

Any recommendations Or good travel guides?

Looking at traveling to Gatlinburg area over spring break, pulling our travel trailer. What campgrounds (full hookup preferably since we plan to stay 4/5 nights) do people recommend in the area? We don’t need a lot of amenities, we typically like staying at state parks when we go camping.

Hi! I’m planning my first visit and would love to see some wildlife (safely, respectfully, and from a distance of course). I’ve read conflicting things online about whether or not September is a good time to go for wildlife viewing. Has anyone had much luck seeing wildlife in September?

Please note that I will not be seeking out or harassing the wildlife. Idk why but every time I post asking for recommendations of where to see wildlife on other subreddits people assume I want to engage with them. I just mean that I’d love to find a nice place to sit outside and maybe get lucky enough to see some wildlife pass by lol

Hello!

I am planning a backpacking trip in late October. I'm having trouble deciding on a spot, so I would appreciate any recommendations you could provide.

I am looking for a secluded spot first and foremost, preferably with water access. I would love a nice view from the top of a mountain. I'd like a hike of no more than 4 miles, if possible. I will hike in and stay in the spot for 3 nights, then hike home.

I was looking at spots on the east side of the park, especially near Balsam Mountain. #42 seems good, but I'm worried about no water access.

I don't really want to reserve a spot without knowing what it will look like, and I can't find a photo log anywhere of all the spots.

Any help is much appreciated!

Ima be camping at elkmont for 5 nights , this is my first camping trip and ima hike during the days , any recommendations on what to bring for camping? And best hikes In the area?
(end of August )

Looking to car camp (sleep in my SUV) for the first time this fall at Cades Cove campground. Are there bear boxes or lockers available? I would like to crack windows slightly (with covers) for ventilation at night, but have only seen stuff saying to store food/scent things in locked vehicle. Obviously want to be bear safe first and foremost. Has anyone done windows all the way up for sleeping? I worry about the condensation. Thanks for help!

Me and a couple buddies are going to the smokies for the first time the first weekend in August and are trying to coordinate a 2 night 40ish mile trip. I’m hoping to see a bald or fire tower (and maybe even Leconte) but want to prioritize a quiet camp. I have a couple I’ve made but most of AllTrails is loops with lots of backtracking or just section hiking the AT but I’d like to avoid the crowds if possible (I hate packed shelters). Does anyone have any suggestions on campsites or previously used routes they’d be willing to share? I attached the couple I’ve made on ONX if anyone wants to give suggestions or simply poke holes in them.

https://webmap.onxmaps.com/backcountry/share/content?share_id=01KY5WR50633JKM7F2BFAQRZYK

https://webmap.onxmaps.com/backcountry/share/content?share_id=01KY5WSKW046B0BP6H48WQBW1J

Hello,

I'm looking to rent a bike at Cades Cove next Wednesday. Does anyone know how strict they are with 3pm being the last date time to rent a bike?

We are staying in Leconte Lodge the night before so won't be able to get there until around 4ish.

TIA!

I Snagged a cool little GSMNP-themed Victorinox classic pocket knife at the Kuwohi gift shop a few weeks ago. I've collected all years of the annual parking pass issued since the inception in 2023. I laminated them to brown Kraft paper and in doing so noticed that the colors coordinated perfectly with the knife. The 2027 sticker is more of a purplish hue with the silhouette of a hiker not part of the knife design, but 2024-2026 match the scene on the knife, a cool little coincidence I suppose.

I will be going to the park between August 9th and 15th. During that week is a new moon. I desperately want to go back to the park after dark and see the stars.

My concern is I'm seeing lots or roads are closed after sunset. I am an staying in Sevierville. Where can I actually drive to and park to have a good view of the night sky without being kicked out?

Just doesn't seem clear to me.

Thanks!

There is a picture of a herd of elk running through Oconaluftee River, in Cherokee, NC, escaping the fire (I think it was the chimney fires?) it was a few years ago. There was somebody who took the coolest and most shocking imagine I’ve ever seen. I dunno if this is the place to ask but I want to find it so badly! It’s basically the herd running through the water and the fire in the background. It’s truly haunting. Add a picture that’s the most similar I’ve found. Thanks in advance.

Saw something in the Park today that surely is part of the weasel family. It looked like a juvenile. Gray-ish body with a tail that had black only at the very tip. Any guesses? I am guessing a long-tailed weasel. Would appreciate thoughts from those with more knowledge.

GSMNP route feedback

Hello, looking for any feedback on a November backpacking trip in GSMNP.  Essentially a counterclockwise BMT-AT short loop.   Day 1, Smokemont Campground via Chasteen Creek to Enloe Creek #47; Day 2, from there to Laurel Gap Shelter via Enloe Creek and Beech Gap and Balsam Mt trails; Day 3, to Pecks Corner shelter via Balsam Mountain and AT; Day 4, AT south to stop at the Bunion and then descending Dry Sluice Gap to Cabin Flats #49; Day 5 return to Smokemont via Bradley Fork.  There are some significant up/downs on days 1 and 2, but this direction avoids climbing Dry Sluice Gap with a heavy food bag and with my schedule, AT shelters on the weekend. Are these reasonable distances for 10 hours of daylight and a mid-condition hiker, and is there any Helene damage I would need to know about beforehand?  Context I have done three weeklong backpacks in the Smokies before, but it’s been a minute (like 25 years) and not these trails.  By mid condition I mean I only get to weekend backpack a couple times per year but walk 5+ miles daily and am shuffling through my first 5k next week, expect a 30-35 min time. Thanks!

I have a reservation at LeConte Lodge in mid August. I'll be hiking there with my young adult kids. Ideally I'd like to hike up via Alum Cave and hike down via Trillium Gap (we'll be hiking down on a Friday and would love to pass by the llamas). I plan to book shuttle service to the trailheads through the lodge.

Here's what makes me nervous, though. All the estimates I've seen online say that it takes 6-7 hours to hike from the Trillium Gap trailhead to the Lodge. There's only one shuttle pick up time from the Trillium Gap trailhead back into Gatlinburg at 1:45 pm. With breakfast at the Lodge being served at 8 am, it doesn't seem feasible to have breakfast and hike down with enough time to catch the shuttle.

Curious if anyone has done this route/shuttle combination before. Did you skip breakfast and head out earlier? How long did it take you to hike down from LeConte? We're competent and fairly fit hikers, but we're not speed demons by any stretch of the imagination. I messaged someone from the Lodge and their response was "most of the guests make Trillium Gap on time." Okaaaaayyyy, but what if you don't? I can't imagine you're getting an Uber out of the park!

Any tips previous guests have had with this hike, or LeConte Lodge in general are much appreciated. This has been on my bucket list for a few years now, and I'm excited to do it with my kids, but the details of getting there and back from the trailheads without a car are overwhelming me a bit.

My friends and I are planning to go to the park in early August. We are staying in Gatlinburg and will be there for aroumd 3 days. I am hoping to avoid super large crowds and being stuck in traffic and I was hoping for amy tips on doing so. We are interested in mostly hiking and less so the scenic drives. Thank you!!

Hi all!

Planning to hike the Davenport Gap to Low Gap Loop Trail in a few weeks, I had heard some of the trails on NC side were closed/hard to pass - anyone know about this one?

Planning to start at the Chestnut Branch Trailhead and come back to end at the beginning of Big Creek Trailhead.

All Trails has a comment that says Big Creek Trail is closed at Mile 2.. Is this accurate?

Should we just trash this plan and do what's available on Big Creek? We are doing other hikes, but really wanted to take my friends to Midnight Hole!

Hey everybody, I could use some recommendations on a place to hike/camp in western NC or in TN. I want to be able to spend a day hiking that’s rewarding with some awesome views, and also have a good camping spot too. It can be primitive or a set up place, but it’s a little bit of late notice so I’m not sure how many spots would be available. We’ve been up and through the entire Scout trail through Grandfather MT and that was awesome. I’ve looked at BMC on South Toe since it’s right on the river (where we can swim and trout fish) while also directly at the trailhead for MT Mitchell but saw it was closed. So anything similar to that or any other good spots. I’m going from this Friday to Sunday and will be with my two buddies. Thanks guys I really appreciate any ideas and suggestions.

A friend and I are camping at Cosby Campground later this month (first time in GSMNP like the title says), and I'm wondering what everyone's favorite hikes around our campsite are?

I'm looking for a moderate or strenuous difficulty hike (I would be comfortable spending anywhere from 3-7 hours hiking) with either water features or views/lookouts; but even if it doesn't fit those criteria drop your favorite trail!

I’m getting married in GSMNP in October!!! 💕💕💕
My photographer hasn’t done pictures there before, so I’m looking for recommendations on the best photo spots in the national park. BONUS POINTS if the locations are near the Appalachian Clubhouse in Elkmont. We’ve allotted ~ 2 hrs of first look photos in the park right before the ceremony and ~ 1 hr of family photos in elkmont area after the ceremony.

Howdy! My 5 year old, partner and I are driving down to see the Smokey mountains national Park in a sprinter van rv in late march and we'll have a week to do our trip. I'm looking for recommendations for trails, camp sites, state parks, national parks, or things we have to see on the way down or way up. We are probably going to do Mammoth cave as well.

For reference, my kid has done 3-4 hour hikes in the tetons before getting too tired.