Great Smoky Mountains

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