Found primarily in the southern Appalachians, Balds are defined as ‘mountain summits or crests covered primarily by thick vegetation of native grasses or shrubs occurring in areas where heavy forest growth would be expected.’ Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains is one of two grassy balds maintained by the park service and at 5,920
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is beginning a new program that allows nearby residents, business people, teachers and community members to see the everyday workings of the national park. >> Read Complete Article
The first phase of the repair work on the section of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) that was damaged in a recent landslide began on January 28 and Park officials hope to have the road reopened by summer. The first phase consists of building an access road to the slide area, removing debris and stabilizing
Logging long stretches in the backcountry of the Cataloochee Valley area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Western Carolina University biology graduate student Elizabeth Hillard is performing research that will help park personnel manage resources in regard to the park’s growing population of elk. >> Read Complete Article
Sunset from the Clingmans Dome parking area in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome has the distinction of being the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is also the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.
Gatlinburg Gateway Triathlon. The event, which takes place at 8:15 a.m. on April 13th at the Gatlinburg Community Center, is the fifth annual event of its kind. >> Read Complete Article
As a result of last week’s torrential rainfall accumulations, a portion of road on the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway connecting Cherokee and Tennessee, was swept away in a landslide. >> Read Complete Article
The seventh annual Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend, TN, is set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2 with a kickoff reception at the Townsend Artisan Gallery (7843 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway) Thursday, Jan. 31 from 5-7 p.m. >> Read Complete Article
When February 13 rolls around the National Park Service will begin charging a backcountry camping fee for all those wishing to camp overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains backcountry. The fee will be $4 per person per night in order to use the park’s backcountry campsites and shelters. The money collected from the fees will
Highway officials hope to have a time and cost estimate within the next week for the work that is needed to repair the section of U.S. 441 that was destroyed in a landslide last week. The Park service chief of facility management, Charles Sellars declared. “It is a significant slide. It’s going to take us
