"Autumn - Heintooga Ridge Road" by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Great Smoky MountainsGuide Summer 2019 |
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SMOKIES GUIDE
The Official Newspaper of Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Summer 2019
In This Issue
Smokies Trip Planner • 2
Great Sights to See • 4
National Park News • 5
Elk Watching • 6
Park Etiquette • 7
Summer Driving Road Map • 8-9
Summer Ranger Programs • 10-14
You Can Help Park Science • 14
Jr. Ranger Corner • 15
Visitor Information • 16
Bright orange Tennessee Shiners surround a stoneroller on a chub nest in the West Fork of the Pigeon River. Image by Dave Herasimtschuk,
Freshwaters Illustrated
Smoky Mountain Fish Put On Colorful Breeding Displays
gis
tt
Ku
lp,
lo
Ma
t
Large stone nests protect native spawn on the river bottom
Sup
r
e r v i s o r y Fi s h e
yB
io
Words with a Ranger
As the supervisory fishery biologist
for Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, I am responsible for protecting,
preserving and managing more than 70
species of fish, setting fishing regulations for five species of game fish, and
maintaining and improving the water
quality of more than 2,900 miles of park
streams and rivers.
We protect and preserve fish populations by monitoring them annually,
restoring native fish in select streams
and working with neighboring state
Words with a Ranger continued on page 5
P
inks and purples, neon oranges and
wisps of bright yellow shimmer in
a dance of color under the flow of a
clear mountain stream. One of the most
spectacular displays of living color in the
Smokies doesn’t fly through the air or
bloom with the wildflowers—it billows
in a ball at the bottom of a river.
Early summer means it’s mating time
for many species of fish in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Males of some
native species like the River Chub and
the Tennessee Shiner put on a particularly striking show.
Male River Chubs begin to take on
a pinkish-purple coloration in April
to attract a mate, but they also play an
ecological role by building large stone
nests for their spawn out of pebbles
gathered from the river bottom. Several
smaller species of fish, which also take
on distinctive hues to attract mates,
have adapted to rely on these very
same mounds as safe spawning sites
throughout May and June.
At times in early summer, several
species can be seen gathered at once in
bright, shifting swarms above a single
mound. “It’s quite a spectacle,” said Fisheries Technician Caleb Abramson. When
the oranges and yellows of spawning
Tennessee and Saffron Shiners intermingle, Abramson describes the shifting
mass as a “fireball” of activity. Other
fish including Central Stonerollers and
Warpaint Shiners also use River Chub
mounds as spawning sites.
Although this summer show can
be one of the more elusive for park
visitors, spawning events can occur
in most of the major lower-elevation streams throughout GSMNP,
including the Little River and the
Little Pigeon River. Research remains
to be done into the complex levels
of interdependence between these
and other remarkable Smoky Mountain natives.
TH A N K YO U
FO R N OT
M OVI N G RO CKS.
Hellbenders live and nest under rocks.
Leaving no trace protects this
sensitive species.
SMOKIES TRIP PLANNER
Maps and guides: SmokiesInformation.org Additional information: nps.gov/grsm
Camping in the national park
The National Park Service maintains
developed campgrounds at nine locations in the park. Only Cades Cove and
Smokemont are open in winter. There
are no showers or hookups other than
circuits for special medical uses at Cades
Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont.
Campsites at Abrams Creek, Balsam
Mountain, Big Creek, Cades Cove,
Cataloochee, Elkmont and Smokemont
may be reserved. For reservations call
877.444.6777 or contact recreation.gov.
Sites may be reserved up to 6 months
in advance. Reservations are required at
Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big
Creek and Cataloochee campgrounds.
Site occupancy is limited to 6 people
and two vehicles (a trailer = 1 vehicle).
The maximum stay is 14 days.
Special camping sites for large groups
are available seasonally at Big Creek,
Cades Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep
Creek, Elkmont and Smokemont.
Group sites must be reserved. Call
877.444.6777 or contact recreation.gov.
Group sites may be reserved up to a year
in advance.
The list below shows number of
campground sites, elevations, camping
fees and maximum RV lengths.
For current dates of operation, visit
nps.gov/grsm.
• Abrams Creek 16 sites, elev. 1,125',
opens April 26, $17.50, 12' trailers
• Balsam Mountain 42 sites, elev. 5,310',
opens May 17, $17.50, 30' RVs
• Big Creek 12 sites, elev. 1,700', opens
April 19, $17.50, tents only
• Cades Cove 159 sites, elev. 1,807',
open year-round, $21-$25, 35'-40' RVs
• Cataloochee 27 sites, elev. 2,610',
opens April 19, $25, 31' RVs
• Cosby 157 sites, elev. 2,459', opens
April 19, $17.50, 25' RVs
• Deep Creek 92 sites, elev. 1,800',
opens April 19, $21, 26' RVs
• Elkmont 220 sites, elev. 2,150', opens
March 8, $21-$27,
32'-35' RVs
• Smokemont
142 sites, elev.
2,198', open yearround, $21-$25,
35'-40' RVs.
• Look Rock closed
in 2019
To prevent
the spread of
destructive insect
pests, the NPS has
banned outside
firewood from
entering the park
unless it is USDAor state-certified
Cyclists can enjoy Cades Cove without automobile traffic
heat-treated wood.
Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Image by Bill Lea
Campers may
SMOKIES GUIDE
Smokies Guide is produced five times per year
by Great Smoky Mountains Association and
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Publication dates are roughly as follows:
Spring: mid-March
Summer: early June
Late Summer:
mid-August
Autumn: mid-Sept.
Winter: mid-Dec.
Writers
Steve Kemp
Valerie Polk
Aaron Searcy
Editor
Frances Figart
Lead Designer
Karen Key
gather dead and down wood in the park
for campfires. Certified wood may be
purchased in and around the park.
Bicycling
Most park roads are too narrow and
heavily traveled by automobiles for safe or
enjoyable bicycling.
However, from May 8 to Sept. 25,
on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
from sunrise until 10 a.m., only bicycles
and pedestrians are allowed on Cades
Cove Loop Road. Bicycles may be rented
at the Cades Cove Campground store.
Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile,
one-way, paved road providing excellent
opportunities for wildlife viewing and
touring historic homesites.
Helmets are required by law for
persons age 16 and under. However,
helmets are strongly recommended for
all bicyclists.
Bicycles are permitted on park roads
but prohibited on trails except Gatlinburg, Oconaluftee River and lower
Deep Creek/Indian Creek.
Accommodations
• LeConte Lodge (accessible by trail
only) provides the only lodging in the
park. 865.429.5704 or lecontelodge.com
For information on lodging outside
the park:
• Bryson City 800.867.9246 or
greatsmokies.com
• Cherokee 828.788.0034 or
cherokeesmokies.com
• Fontana 800.849.2258 or
fontanavillage.com
• Gatlinburg 800.588.1817 or
gatlinburg.com
• Maggie Valley 800.624.4431 or
maggievalley.org
• Pigeon Forge 800.251.9100 or
Design Assistants
Lisa Horstman
Emma DuFort
NPS Coordinators
Stephanie Kyriazis
Susan Sachs
Summer Planning
Committee
Beth Bramhall
Julianne Geleynse
Stephanie Kyriazis
Lisa Nagurny
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 2
mypigeonforge.com
• Sevierville 888.766.5948 or
visitsevierville.com
• Townsend 800.525.6834 or
smokymountains.org
Pets in the park
Pets are allowed in frontcountry campgrounds and beside roads as long as they
are restrained at all times. Pets are not
allowed on park trails, except for the
Gatlinburg and Oconaluftee River trails.
Dogs on these trails must be leashed.
Special events
June 15 Women’s Work: Mountain
Farm Museum
September 21 Mountain Life Festival:
Mountain Farm Museum
December 14 Festival of Christmas Past:
Sugarlands Visitor Center
December 21 Holiday Homecoming:
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
For rent
The Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence
Cabin at Elkmont can be rented for
daytime events starting April 1 each year.
Contact recreation.gov.
Visitor centers
Summer hours of operation are:
Oconaluftee and Sugarlands: 8-7; 8-6 in
September. Cades Cove: 9-7; 9-6:30 in
September. Clingmans Dome 10-6:30;
10-6 in September.
Picnic areas
Picnic areas open year-round are:
Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier
and Metcalf Bottoms. All other picnic
areas (except Heintooga) opened on
April 19 or earlier. Heintooga opened
May 17. Please see the map on page 16
Paul Super
Stephanie Sutton
Florie Takaki
© 2019 Great
Smoky Mountains
Association
P.O. Box 130
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
SmokiesInformation.org
E Printed on
recycled paper
able weather; snow
can fall on any day,
especially at the
higher elevations.
Backpackers are
often caught off
guard when a sunny
day in the 70s°F is
followed by a wet,
bitterly cold one. By
mid- to late April,
the weather
is milder.
• Summer - By
mid-June, heat, haze
and humidity are
the norm. Most
precipitation occurs
as afternoon
thundershowers.
• Autumn - In
mid-September, a
MOVING ROCKS HARMS
pattern of warm,
AQUATIC LIFE.
sunny days and crisp,
clear nights often
begins. However,
cool, rainy days also occur. Snow may
for locations. Picnic pavilions may
fall at the higher elevations in November.
be reserved for $12.50-$80 at
• Winter - Days during this fickle season
recreation.gov.
can be sunny and 65°F or snowy with
highs in the 20s. At the low elevations,
Other services
snows of 1" or more occur 3-5 times
There are no gas stations, showers, or
per year. At Newfound Gap, 69" fall on
restaurants in the national park.
average. Lows of -20°F are possible at the
higher elevations.
Park weather
• Spring - March has the most changeThese temperature
and precipitation
averages are
based on data for
the last 20 years.
Temperatures
are in degrees
Fahrenheit. An
average of over
84" (7 feet) of
precipitation falls
on the higher
elevations of the
Smokies. On Mt.
Le Conte, an
average of 82.8" of
snow falls per year.
Fishing
Fishing is permitted year-round in
the park, and a Tennessee or North
Carolina fishing license is required.
Either state license is valid throughout
the park and no trout stamp is required.
Fishing with bait is prohibited in
the park. A special permit is required
for the Cherokee Reservation and
Gatlinburg. Licenses are available in
nearby towns.
A free fishing map with a complete
list of all park fishing regulations is available at visitor centers.
Summer hikers should be especially
aware of abrupt weather changes and
the danger of hypothermia—the
lowering of body temperature. The
combination of rain, cold and wind
(especially at the higher elevations) is
extremely dangerous.
To prevent hypothermia, carry
reliable rain gear at all times. Layer
clothing that provides warmth when
wet (not cotton). Be prepared for
sudden and drastic weather changes.
Stay dry.
Camping in the backcountry
Summertime camping can be an
exciting adventure for persons properly
equipped and informed. To facilitate
this activity, the National Park Service
maintains more than 800 miles of
trails and more than 100 backcountry
campsites and shelters throughout the
park. One of the greatest challenges for
backcountry campers is deciding where
to go. Here are some tools to help.
1. Get the map. Go online to view the
park’s official trail map (nps.gov/grsm/
planyourvisit/maps.htm), which shows
all park trails, campsites and shelters.
Park rules and regulations are also listed
here. If you wish, you can purchase the
printed version of the trail map for $1
by stopping at any park visitor center or
calling 865.436.7318 x226 or shopping
online at SmokiesInformation.org.
2. Plan your trip. Call or stop by the
park’s backcountry office, which is open
daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for trip
planning help. The office is located in
Sugarlands Visitor Center, two miles
south of Gatlinburg on U.S. 441.
865.436.1297.
3. Get a permit. Make your reservation
and obtain your permit through the
backcountry office at Sugarlands Visitor
Center (by phone or in person) or
online at smokiespermits.nps.gov.
Reservations and permits are
required for all overnight stays in the
backcountry. The cost is $4 per person
per night. Reservations may be made
up to 30 days in advance.
Driving distances and
estimated times
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 3
Cherokee, NC to:
Gatlinburg: 34 miles (1 hour)
Cades Cove: 58 miles
(2 hours)
Newfound Gap: 18 miles
(½ hour)
Clingmans Dome: 25 miles
(¾ hour)
Cataloochee: 39 miles
(1½ hours)
Deep Creek: 14 miles (½ hour)
Gatlinburg, TN to:
Cherokee: 34 miles (1 hour)
Cades Cove: 27 miles (1 hour)
Newfound Gap: 16 miles
(½ hour)
Clingmans Dome: 23 miles
(¾ hour)
Cataloochee: 65 miles
(2½ hours)
Greenbrier Cove: 6 miles
(¼ hour)
Deep Creek: 48 miles
(1½ hours)
Townsend, TN to:
Cades Cove: 9 miles (¼ hour)
Newfound Gap: 34 miles
(1¼ hours)
Gatlinburg: 22 miles (¾ hour)
Cherokee: 52 miles (1½ hours)
Look Rock: 18 miles (½ hour)
Cataloochee: 87 miles (3 hours)
GREAT SIGHTS TO SEE
1. Cosby
Highlights: hiking, waterfall, evening
ranger programs, scenic drive, mountain
views
Cosby features a large campground,
picnic area and plenty of hiking trails.
The 4.2-mile round-trip hike to Hen
Wallow Falls is moderate and extremely
popular. The mile-long Cosby Selfguiding Nature Trail is a good way to
stretch your legs and get acquainted with
the area. Sutton Ridge Overlook and its
impressive views are accessible from the
Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail. It’s 2.5 miles
out and back.
Cosby Campground is generally one
of the last campgrounds in the park to
fill up. The picnic area includes a large
covered pavilion that can be reserved in
advance at recreation.gov. Join us Friday
evenings this summer for “Celebrating
Cosby” programs at the amphitheater
(see program schedule on page 10).
A 6-mile section of Foothills Parkway
between Cosby and I-40 provides stellar
views of the majestic Smokies and is well
worth the drive.
Mileage from Gatlinburg––20
from Townsend––40
from Cherokee—53
2. Look Rock Tower
Highlights: mountain views, short hike,
scenic drive
Look Rock, named for a natural
rock ledge, is the highest point on the
western portion of Foothills Parkway.
It is located between the Walland and
Chilhowee entrances to the parkway.
A half-mile trail from the parking
area to the top of the ridge provides
access to Look Rock Tower, with a
360-degree panoramic view of the
Great Smokies and neighboring foothills. Thunderhead and Gregory Bald
are among the landmarks that can be
viewed from this vantage point. This
location makes a particularly good spot
for stargazing and viewing summer
meteor showers.
Please be aware that,
although the observation
tower is open, other Look
Rock facilities, including
the picnic area, campground and associated
restrooms, are closed.
Mileage from
Townsend—16
from Gatlinburg—38
from Cherokee—68
BIG CREEK
CATALOOCHEE
ABRAMS
CREEK
Road
Closed
to
s e d les
clo h i c
a d o r ve
o
R ot
m
3. Foothills Parkway
West
Highlights: mountain
views, scenic drive, newly
opened parkway section
See the Smokies in a
new light as you drive 32
miles of continuous parkway—without
billboards, utility poles, or commercial
traffic—offering stunning views of the
park and the Tennessee Valley.
Late in 2018, the Walland to Wears
Valley section of Foothills Parkway
opened to the public, connecting with
the segment between U.S. Highway
129 at Chilhowee Lake and U.S.
Highway 321 in Walland that was
opened in 1968.
The newest portion of Foothills
Parkway features nine bridges, the
longest of which spans 800 feet and
follows a curvilinear path around the
mountain terrain. Known as Bridge 2,
it is comprised of 98 pre-cast concrete
segments that were lowered into place
by a large, specially built gantry crane
and tensioned together in a cantilevered
construction. The result is an engineering marvel, presenting spectacular
views of the wide expanse of the Smokies
to drivers on this new roadway.
A parking area at Caylor Gap is an
excellent stopping point with views.
Mileage to the Wears Valley entrance
to Foothills Parkway (newest section):
from Townsend––8
from Gatlinburg––16
from Cherokee––46
Waterrock Knob
4. Balsam Mountain
Highlights: mountain views, mid-to-latesummer wildflowers, elk, scenic drive
This mile-high area features a campground (reservations required), picnic
area, hiking trails and a scenic drive.
Enjoy summer wildflowers along the way.
To get there, take the Blue Ridge Parkway
to Mile 458 and turn onto Heintooga
Ridge Road. This paved road runs the
ridge past scenic overlooks for 9 miles
to Balsam Mountain Campground and
Heintooga Picnic Area. You’ll pass the
trailheads for two outstanding hiking
trails—Hemphill Bald and Flat Creek.
Either trail offers the opportunity to hike
in a mile or more and return the way
you came.
From the picnic area, you can
continue onto one-way gravel Balsam
Mountain Road for 13 miles, then
another 14 miles on paved roads back to
the town of Cherokee.
Mileage from Cherokee––12
from Gatlinburg––45
from Townsend—62
5. Cataloochee Valley
Highlights: historic buildings, elk viewing,
horse and hiking trails
Access to Cataloochee will be more
difficult later this fall when the main entry
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 4
through Cove Creek Gap is closed due to
roadwork. See this scenic valley while you
can between now and November.
From just about anywhere you
start, the journey to Cataloochee is
long and winding. The last four miles
are on a curvy, one-lane gravel road.
Once safely in the valley, you will find
that beauty and history abound.
Historic buildings include nicely
preserved frame homes, barns, a church
and even a school. Popular trails include
the 2-mile-round-trip walk to the
Woody House on Rough Fork Trail
and the 7.5-mile Boogerman loop hike
featuring old grove forests. The latter
includes some difficult stream crossings.
During summer, the best times to
view elk and other wildlife are early
morning and evening. Fields are closed
in May and June to protect calves and
in September and October during the
rut. Fields are also closed when elk are
present. Please read the elk-watching
guidelines on page 6 to learn how you
can protect these magnificent animals
and yourself.
Advance reservations via recreation.gov
are required for Cataloochee Campground.
Mileage from Cherokee––39
from Gatlinburg––65
from Townsend—87
Words with a Ranger
continued from page 1
and federal partners to ensure stream
populations remain free from nonnative parasites and diseases. We
also lead a variety of research studies
to inform park managers on current
topics such as water chemistry changes
associated with acid rain, conservation
genetics of our native fish species, and
mercury levels in fish tissue.
I became interested in this field after attending local fishing club meetings
with my father and watching presentations by the state fishery biologist. The
data was fascinating to me and really
helped me understand why they managed the populations and set the fishing
regulations like they did. We hire a
number of interns and seasonal fishery
technicians annually that share a similar
passion and are starting their careers as
I did years ago.
Currently we are working to restore
native Brook Trout to three miles of
Anthony Creek (TN) and four miles of
Little Cataloochee Creek (NC). These
efforts are providing visitors with an
additional 13 streams and 30 miles of
fishing for native Brook Trout, which is
an important part of the natural heritage of the Smoky Mountains.
We are also working to provide
water quality data to our state and
federal partners to determine if air
quality policies are helping to improve
both air and water quality across the
park. These data, collected by Trout
Unlimited and other park volunteers
since 1993, are being used to adjust
air quality policies so that acidified
streams will be allowed to recover and once again support fish and
aquatic insects.
These air and water quality improvements will not only benefit the
Great Smoky Mountains but the entire
Southern Appalachian region. And we
are very proud of that.
PARK NEWS
Great Smoky Mountains National Park news briefs
New Chief Ranger Joins Park Staff
Lisa Hendy joins the staff at Great Smoky
Mountains National Park with a strong
background in search and rescue operations, one of the many assets necessary
to take on the top law enforcement job
at the country’s busiest national park.
Hendy previously served as chief ranger
at Big Bend National Park in Texas.
Image by Amelia Anne Photography
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
welcomed Lisa Hendy as the new chief
ranger in April. In this position, Hendy
oversees employees in the Resource
and Visitor Protection Division who
perform law enforcement duties, wildland fire operations, emergency medical
services, search and rescue operations
and backcountry operations, and staff
the emergency communications center.
Hendy brings a wealth of experience
to the position after serving at several
parks with complex ranger operations
including Yosemite, Grand Canyon,
Yellowstone, Arches and Rocky Mountains national parks. Her most recent
previous assignment was as chief ranger
at Big Bend National Park.
“Lisa has demonstrated incredible
leadership in managing law enforcement, fire and search and rescue operations at some of the nation’s busiest
parks,” said Superintendent Cassius
Cash. “She’s built strong programs by
investing in local partnerships with
neighboring agencies to help make
areas safer for visitors and residents.
She is a great addition to the park’s
management team.”
Hendy is the 2011 recipient of the
prestigious Harry Yount National Park
Ranger Award honoring excellence in
protecting resources and serving visitors.
In 2007, she received an Intermountain
Region Exemplary Service Award for
lifesaving efforts within Grand Canyon
National Park. Growing up near Chattanooga, TN, Hendy had her first
backcountry experiences in the Smokies
where she backpacked as a youth. She
continues to be a tremendous outdoor
enthusiast and enjoys kayaking,
climbing, hiking and canyoneering.
“I am delighted to have returned to
my home state in the park that provided
my first real outdoor adventures,” said
Hendy. “It is a pleasure to be involved
in the efforts to protect a place that was
so instrumental in defining my passions
and ultimately my career.”
Tremont Acquires Land, Celebrates 50 Years
The rhododendron isn’t the only
thing growing in the Walker Valley
this summer as Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT)
announces their landmark purchase
of 152 acres of land adjoining the
GSMNP boundary in Townsend, TN.
The new space within hiking
distance to GSMIT’s current campus
promises to open a world of possibilities for the Smokies’ unique environmental education center, which has
long been a trailblazer in the field of
experiential learning. This year alone,
GSMIT will provide more than
6,000 students of all ages extended
opportunities to eat, sleep and learn
in the park.
“As an organization, we have big
goals for education,” said GSMIT
President and CEO Catey Terry. “For
some time, we have explored ways we
can reach a larger audience and strengthen our
community outreach.
Once we saw this incredible piece of property, the
vision of a second campus
began to take shape in real
and exciting ways.”
The news of expansion comes at an especially
fitting time as 2019 marks
another significant milestone for GSMIT—half a
century of learning in the Smokies. A
special 50th anniversary celebration is
currently planned as part of GSMIT’s
homecoming on October 13, 2019.
Stay up to date on both anniversary festivities and plans for GSMIT’s
new acreage or register for one of the
many workshops and courses available
at gsmit.org.
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 5
Schools from across the country spend
3-5 days during the school-year living
on Tremont’s campus inside the park.
Through their unique co-teaching
exchange, skills and teaching techniques
used here are easily transferred back to
the home classroom. The lessons and
memories live on well past the time
spent here. Image by Joye Ardyn Durham
Following Elk-Watching Guidelines Saves Lives
Feeding and approaching elk increases long-term risks for both elk and visitors
T
he open fields around Cataloochee,
Oconaluftee and Tow String Road are
closed to the public during May and June
for visitor safety and to protect young
elk calves. The same areas are closed
during September and October because
of dangers posed from bull elk during the
annual rut.
The fields are closed to the public,
regardless of the time of year, when elk
are present. You may observe and photograph elk in the fields from your vehicle
or by standing near the road. It is illegal to
approach elk closer than 150 feet.
Bull elk can weigh 900 pounds and are
dangerous. You may be gored or trampled
by elk if you approach them.
Feeding elk harms the animals and
causes them to lose their natural fear of
people and thereby become threats to
visitor safety. In order to protect visitor
safety, park wildlife staff may need to
euthanize elk that have lost their fear of
people. By not feeding or approaching
wildlife, you are protecting them.
Average lifespan of an
elk in the wild:
12 years
Lifespan of the food-conditioned
bull elk that was euthanized in
2013 when he became aggressive
towards humans:
1½ years
Young elk are at risk of
learning to associate
people with food
rewards when they
separate from their
mothers and must find
their own food sources
for the first time.
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 6
Graffiti Ruins Views for Everyone
Removal requires extra labor hours and isn’t always an option
Illustration by Emma DuFort
E
scaping to the mountains allows us to
forget our everyday routines. Unfortunately, some park visitors also forget
basic good manners.
Graffiti is a serious issue affecting
Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
and evidence shows that many vandals
may be acting out of a lapse of judgment and a desire to leave their mark
in a place they have enjoyed—much
like signing a registry book. Those who
leave behind graffiti should be aware
that it is a crime the park service is
actively battling.
In late 2017, a group of park
managers met at a popular scenic overlook on Newfound Gap Road to discuss
the graffiti problem. “Three large stone
walls that surround extremely popular
pull-offs were covered in spray paint,
nail polish and permanent marker,”
said Trails and Facilities Volunteer
Coordinator Adam Monroe. “The graffiti had become very obvious, even to
drive-by visitors.”
A signature feature of Newfound
Gap Road is beautiful stone masonry
that was completed in the 1930s. These
natural materials were chosen to blend
into the landscape and complement
mountain views from the roadway.
Graffiti stands in stark contrast to those
aesthetic values, so the park group determined that cleaning the entire surface
encompassing the three walls was necessary. In total, 2,480 square feet of surface
area would need to be cleaned.
Five park volunteers armed with a
biodegradable removal product and a
professional grade pressure washer spent
a total of 42 hours over the course of
three days scrubbing and spraying the
walls, then repeating if necessary. The
job required 1,200 gallons of water.
“One thing that really stood out
is that the markings read more like a
summit register than typical ‘tags’ or
profanity,” said Monroe, who coordinated the volunteers. “It was common
to see whole families signing full names
and dates.”
It’s clear from these markings that
some visitors want to commemorate
their time here, and previous vandalism
had possibly desensitized them to the
fact that graffiti—no matter how small
or what its intention—is a crime. The
graffiti problem extends to the park’s
collection of historic structures where it
is virtually impossible to remove from
the irreplaceable wood.
The park service is committed to
preventing and removing graffiti wherever possible. In our digital age, a shared
photograph is worth a thousand words
scrawled across a stone wall or log cabin.
So flash a smile. Take a photo at your
favorite spot. And leave no trace.
Smokies Guide Summer 2019 • 7
To Knoxville
To I-40
SEVIERVILLE
321
32
o
Fo
Cosby
th
kw
Par
i ll s
To Newport
ay
Exit
443
Hartford
CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST
Exit
447
Park View
416
129
411
441
b er Ga
p Trail
re
sC
ke
Ja
il
Tra
lls
G R E AT
Cades Cove
Visitor Center
R
Twentymile
Loop Trail
I
Hazel Creek
Trail
ra i
eT
Tw e n
ty m
il
Twentymile
Cascade
Fontana
Dam
Fontana
Lake
H
RT
ke
vie
Juney Whank
Falls Trail
wD
r
al a
Swain County
Visitor Center
28
Co
ve
Bi g
Mingo
Falls
Blu
g
e R id
e
Parkw
ay
19
Oconaluftee River
Trail
CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION
Soco Gap
©GSMA2019
129
Dellwood
Horseback Riding
(rental)
Camping
Major Hwys
441
Major Roads
Paved Roads
74
Gravel Roads
Trails
23
74
SYLVA
143
28
NANTAHALA
NATIONAL
WAYNESVILLE
Nature Trails
Trail
Santeetlah
Lake
Maggie
Valley
FOREST
To
Asheville
Picnic Areas
Cherokee Museum
n
JOYCE
KILMER - SLICKROCK
WILDERNESS AREA
276
441
23
Summer Auto Tours
Great Mountain Views
B
w
ar k
id ge P
lue R
ch
Balsam
Mountain
ad
19
Deep
Creek
BRYSON
CITY
Ap p
CHEROKEE
Exit 20
H
ia
NO
Mountain
Farm Museum
Indian
Creek Falls
Tom Branch Falls
Juney Whank Falls
Twentymile
FONTANA
VILLAGE
Mingus
441
Loop
Trail
La
Co
ve
Ro Cre
ad ek
Smokemont
Loop
Trail
Oconaluftee Mill
Visitor Center
Restrooms are available
at visitor centers, Cades Cove and
Smokemont campgrounds, Cades Cove,
Deep Creek and Greenbrier picnic areas,
Newfound Gap and Great Smoky Mountains
Institute at Tremont. Vault toilets are
also available at Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave,
Abrams Falls and Clingmans Dome trailheads.
Big
i
i
Clingmans Dome
Road
Andrews Bald
Bone Valley
Trail
l
Wolf
Ridge
Trail
Lake
Cheoah
OL
Chasteen
Creek Falls
Ro
PA R K
m
lsa
Heintooga Ridge/
Balsam Mountain Roads
Smokemont
N AT I O N A L
l e s)
hic
ve
Deals
Gap
NA
at
Trail
or
ot
Calderwood
Lake
EE
Kan
ek
m
to
ad
CA
TE
NN
S
ES
ch
M O U N TA I N S
Cre
ed
Ro
(
s
clo
ch
a
Appal chian Trail
• Shelter: tent, tarp, garbage bag, emergency blanket
Cataloochee
tain
un
Mo
Kephart
Prong
Trail
Deep
n
r so
n
B ra
129
CHEROKEE
NATIONAL
FOREST
Charlies
Bunion
Cataloochee
PISGAH
Valley
Overlook NATIONAL
FOREST
R
tooga idge Road
ein
Pa
• Nutrition: extra food
Trail
Thunderhead
Mountain
• First-aid supplies
• Repair kit and tools
an
Newfound
Gap
Trail
SMOKY
Fern Branch
Falls
Ba
Clingmans
Dome
Chilhowee
• Fire: waterproof matches/lighter/candle
Alum Cave
Bluffs
Oconaluftee
Valley Overlook
Cades Cove
• Illumination: headlamp, flashlight
Alum Cave
Trail
Chimney
Tops Chimney Tops
Middle Prong
Trail
m
sF
a
Rainbow
Falls
ek
T
Road
Lynn Camp
Prong Cascades
cu m
Mount
Le Conte
il
Tra
d
Rich
Cu
GSM Institute
at Tremont
Lit
tle
Big Creek
Mouse
Creek
Falls
Mount Guyot
ala
R
n
un
t ai
Elkmont
Carlos
Campbell
Overlook
re
r
ve
tR
Mo
Little
Tri
lli u
bo
Tram Gap
il
Tra w F
a ll
il
s
Ri
on
Schoolhouse
Gap Trail
Meigs
Falls
l
40
Porters
Flat
Grotto
Falls
Road
Maloney
Point
Ramsey
Cascades
Ap p
Par
k
op Trai
ut T
stn
Ch e
Trail
Sugarlands
Visitor Center
il
ra
o
Heritage
Center
Fighting Creek
Trail
Laurel
Falls Laurel Falls
r
Rive
Tre m
Ab
ra
Abrams
Falls
Abrams
Creek
• Insulation: extra clothing, sleeping bag
• Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen
73
Townsend
ad
Little
Greenbrier
School
Po r t e r s C
lls
Look Rock
Tower
• Navigation: map and compass
321
Cataract
Falls
Little Brier
Gap Trail
NA
es M ounta i n
ek Trail
Cre
Tr
wa
y
Metcalf Bottoms
Big
Creek
Mount
Cammerer
Trail
Lo
w
Tra Gap
il
s Trail
ade
asc
Ramsey C
Red light
#8
in
Ra
hi
GATLINBURG
Wears Valley
RVs
ot
Fo
Foothills
Parkway
Townsend
Visitors Center
Gab
N OR TH C AROL
I
Mount
Cammerer
Greenbrier
No
B
efore you head out on that backpacking trip,
ask yourself these basic questions: Can I respond
positively to an accident or emergency? Can I safely
spend a night or more i