Getting There Take I-40 from Asheville to U.S. 19; then take U.S. 441 to the park's southern entrance near Cherokee, a distance of 50 miles west. Access Points & Orientation -- Although there are several side roads into the park, the best routes are through one of the three main entrances, two of which are located on Newfound Gap Road, U.S. 441, a 33-mile road that stretches north-south through the park. The southern entrance is near Cherokee, North Carolina, whereas the northern entrance is located 33 miles away near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The third main entrance is on the western side of the park at Townsend, Tennessee. Other access points are from the campgrounds at the edge of the park. The park is open year-round, and admission is free. Visitor Centers At each of the three main entrances are visitor centers for the park. Each center offers information on roads, weather, camping, and backcountry conditions. You'll also find books, maps, and first-aid information. The Sugarlands Visitor Center and Park Headquarters (tel. 865/436-1291; for park headquarters and all three visitor centers) is at the northern entrance, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This center is the largest and offers a 20-minute movie. A natural-history exhibit features stuffed animals such as a wild boar and other wildlife of the region. The smaller Oconaluftee Visitor Center is at the southern entrance and offers a few exhibits on what to see and do in the park. Cades Cove Visitor Center, at the western end of the park on Parson Branch Road about 12 miles southwest of Townsend, Tennessee, is set among a cluster of historic 19th-century farms and buildings. The visitor centers are open daily from April to October: in April, May, and August 31 to October from 8am to 6pm (9am at the Cades Cove center); June to August 30, from 8am to 7pm (9am at the Cades Cove center). Fees, Regulations & Permits Entrance to the park, backcountry permits, and parking permits for people with disabilities (which can be obtained from the visitor centers and ranger stations) are all free. Park visitors must adhere to quite a few regulations, which help preserve the surroundings and safety of visitors as well as that of the wildlife: Alcohol is allowed only in designated picnic and campsite areas and at LeConte Lodge. Open containers in automobiles are illegal. No hunting, weapons, or fireworks are allowed, including bows, arrows, and slingshots. Fires are allowed only in designated areas, such as established fire rings and fireplaces. No trees can be cut down for firewood, although dead and downed wood may be used. Firewood is sold by concessionaires at the Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont campgrounds. You may camp in designated areas only. To camp overnight in the backcountry, you must obtain a permit from a ranger station, one of the campgrounds, or one of the visitor centers (but not at Cades Cove). Motorcycles, bicycles, and mountain bikes are allowed on paved roads and campgrounds. They are not permitted on trails and administrative roads. Helmets are required for motorcyclists. Skateboarding is prohibited in the park. Pets are allowed in parking lots, in campgrounds that are accessible by motor vehicle, and along paved roads. They are not allowed on the trails, in public buildings, or in the backcountry -- with the exception of Seeing Eye and hearing guide dogs, which are permitted to travel throughout the park. It is illegal to pick, damage, destroy, and/or disturb any natural feature of the park. Federal law protects the forests and wildflowers of the Great Smokies. Food should never be left out for bears to find. You'll find specially designed trash cans and dumpsters throughout the park for deposit of any food, wrappings, and containers. Seasons With each season come new scenery and several changes in the weather. From late March to June, spring brings great bursts of color from the wildflowers. Flowering shrubs spread across the countryside. This time is known as the wildflower season, although to a lesser degree, summer and fall also produce a panoramic variety. At the higher elevations, mild daytime temperatures around the mid-70s (mid-20s Celsius) are recorded, although evenings are much cooler, dipping into the mid-40s (single digits Celsius). As the season changes over to summer, which lasts from June to August, the lush greenery comes into its full splendor and the weather gets warm and humid. Although the higher elevations offer milder temperatures, ranging from the low 50s to the mid-60s (teens Celsius), the lower ones can bring on days that are in the 90s (30s Celsius). Autumn colors first appear at higher elevations when the leaves on the fire cherry tree change to brilliant shades of crimson. Around the beginning of October, elevations above a mile have seen the end of fall, but lower elevations are just coming into their own with brilliant reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and browns. The best time to experience this change is from mid- to late October. Winter in the park can be very scenic, with snowfalls blanketing the countryside. At higher elevations, the temperature can drop below zero (-18°C). Throughout the year, one factor remains constant: Weather can change often and rapidly. During the course of a day, you may witness several thunderstorms and breaks of clear, sunshiny skies, while temperatures switch from cool and comfortable to hot and humid. The wettest months are generally March and July. Avoiding the Crowds -- The height of the tourist season lasts from late May until late August. As autumn approaches, the greatest number of visitors come to the park on weekends, with the crowds much more manageable during weekdays. From March to November, the best crowd-avoiding times are the early morning hours. Although the National Park Service tries to keep all roads and trails open and clear in the winter, sometimes that's impossible (especially at the higher elevations), making travel across the park an iffy proposition. Only those who are very well equipped and skilled in the winter outdoor scene should brave the elements in the park's backcountry during the winter months. Ranger Prograns Park rangers provide assistance to visitors at the ranger stations scattered throughout the park, as well as at the visitor centers. Rangers also offer films, short talks, guided nature and history walks, and evening campfire programs, along with slide presentations covering geology, bears, plant life, and early settler life. These programs are posted daily at the visitor centers. |
