Latest GSM Guide Posts

Cades Cove Loop Road Closed For Repaving

September 19, 2021

Cades Cove Loop Road Closed For Repaving Just a reminder that Cades Cove Loop Road is closed for repaving until September 27, 2021. The road is closed to all types of traffic including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and horseback riders. The project started on September 7 and will last until September 27, 2021. The loop road should reopen just in time for the arrival of all the fall foliage viewers that arrive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The much-needed project will include resurfacing the 11-mile loop road. Cades Cove Loop Road gets about 2 million visitors a year. That’s…
Read more

Share

GSM Travel

The Smokies Fall Foliage Predictions 2020

September 23, 2020

Fall Foliage Predictions 2020 For The Great Smoky Mountains The fall foliage predictions 2020 are in for this year’s annual show of fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains. And the prediction is a good one. The prediction by the biologist and local experts predict nice color and a normal timeline for peak colors. A warm summer with plenty of rain and a cool September should result in a typical and colorful fall foliage season this year. For the last couple of years, the fall foliage has been late in arriving by about 7-10 days. And the pop of color…
Read more

Share

News

Tubing In Townsend On Little River

July 13, 2020

Tubing In Townsend On Little River Tubing in Townsend is a great way to cool off. Its summertime, it’s hot and you are in the Great Smoky Mountains. A great way to cool off is to enjoy a cool splash in the Little River. The Little River runs tight thru Townsend, Tn. Parts of the river are calm pools of cool water while other parts are fast rapids and swirling pools. The water is clean, cool, and clear. No matter what your level of fun, tubing on the Little River is a lot of fun for the whole family. Townsend…
Read more

Share

GSM Travel

Vehicle Free Wednesdays Started in Cades Cove

July 8, 2020

Vehicle Free Wednesdays Started in Cades Cove Cades Cove Loop Road is now “Vehicle-Free Wednesdays” in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Vehicle Free Wednesdays started on June 17, 2020 and will continue through September 30. Cades Cove Loop Road is only open to pedestrians and cyclists on Wednesdays every week until late September. Now bike riders and walkers can enjoy the peace and quiet of exploring Cades Cove without the vehicle noise, exhaust fumes and traffic congestion. In the past Cades Cove had been closed to vehicle traffic only on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May through September. But…
Read more

Share

News

Synchronous Firefly Viewing Event At Elkmont Cancelled

April 23, 2020

Synchronous Firefly Viewing Event Cancelled The popular springtime event, the synchronous firefly viewing event, has been canceled by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials. A news release on April 21, 2020 states “in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and to adhere to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)” the synchronous firefly viewing event has been canceled. The synchronous firefly viewing event takes place every year during late May and early June. As part of their mating, Photinus Carolinus, a…
Read more

Share

News

Dollywood Eagle Nest Live Cam

April 19, 2020

Dollywood Eagle Nest Live Cam Hatchling Dollywood may not be open but the park has a new attraction currently. The Dollywood eagle nest live cam has an eaglet to watch. Two eagles of the eagle enclosure in the Village Craftman’s section of Dollywood are proud parents! And it’s all been caught on a live webcam! Proud eagle momma Glenda is sitting on a second egg that can hatch any time now. Grant and Glenda are two disabled and non-releasable bald eagles that live at the American Eagle Foundation inside of Dollywood. One of two eggs in the nest has already…
Read more

Share

News

High Wind Warning Close Campgrounds Tonight

October 26, 2019

High Winds Warning Close Campgrounds Tonight High Wind Warning Close Campgrounds tonight in the Great Smoky Mountains. The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for Blount County this afternoon. The warning lasts until Sunday morning at 5:00 am. Due to high wind conditions that are expected to continue overnight the park service has had to close several campgrounds and several roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont campground and Cades Cove Campground are both closed. Little River Road and Laurel Creek Road have also been closed due to downed trees as a result of the high…
Read more

Share

News

Cades Cove Loop Road In Autumn

October 9, 2019

Cades Cove Loop Road In Autumn A ride on Cades Cove Loop Road in autumn is a to-do list must. Cades Cove is a beautiful area of the Great Smoky Mountains. Cades Cove Loop Road is a winding 11-mile road that loops around a valley nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. During fall it is a nice ride to enjoy the colorful fall foliage scenes. It may only be 11 miles but allow 2-3 hours to slowly ride through the valley. Traffic on the one-lane one-way road can be quite crowded at times. Traffic on the weekends during October is…
Read more

Share

Uncategorized

Fall Foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains

September 27, 2019

Fall Foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Predictions   The fall foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains predictions are in for this year’s annual show of fall colors. A warm summer and a warm September should result in a colorful fall foliage season.  Current drought conditions should not have too big of an impact. The biologists and fall color experts are predicting a good fall season for this upcoming fall foliage show. During September sunny days and cool nights make the perfect recipe. We had sunny days but not many cool nights. A cold front is in the forecast for the first…
Read more

Share

News

New Section of Foothills Parkway Opens

November 8, 2018

New Section of Foothills Parkway Opens In Wears Valley The “Missing Link” of the Foothills Parkway will open on November, 10, 2018. The Foothills Parkway was dreamed up by Congress way back in 1944. The road was planned as a scenic drive along the Great Smoky Mountains from Chilhowee, TN to Interstate 40 east of Cosby, TN. The entire length of the Foothills Parkway was a planned 72 miles. Since 2010 only one-third of the parkway had been completed and was open to vehicles. Portions of the parkway had been built and were accessible but the completed parkway project ran into many…
Read more

Share

News