News and information about camping in the Great Smoky Mountains.
A Smokies backcountry shelter is closed after a camper was bitten by a bear. According to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bradley Veeder, of Las Vegas, was sleeping in a tent near the Spence Field Backcounty Shelter on Tuesday when he was bitten in the leg through his tent. The bear was scared away,
In an effort to protect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park forest from disease-carrying pests, park officials have proposed a new regulation that would prohibit campers from bringing firewood into the park unless it’s certified. If passed, the new regulation would only allow visitors to bring in firewood that has been heat-treated and bundled with
Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers overnight camping opportunities galore. “There are a lot of good choices,” Park spokeswoman Caitlin Worth said. “I feel one of my favorites is doable as a one-night trip, but a lot of people do it as two nights — the loop out of Big Creek going up Baxter Creek
The unsung heroes of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the maintenance workers, whose diligence allows millions to enjoy the most visited national park in the country on a daily basis. In 2012, about 9.7 million people visited the park. That comes to about 26,575 per day. The GSMNP Facility Management Division deals with the
Campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains are staying busy during this long holiday weekend. But this summer, visitors have limited options. >> Read Complete Article
Due to a five percent budget reduction, the 2013 season will see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park close three campgrounds, two picnic areas, one horse camp, and selected access roads. Facilities that will be closed are: the Look Rock Campground and picnic area, the Abrams Creek Campground and the Balsam Mountain Campground and Picnic
The National Park Service will cut $130 million from its $2.6 billion budget under sequestration measures that are set to begin at the end of March. Information about the cuts was recently leaked to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees who posted detailed information on their website: http://www.npsretirees.org The Great Smoky Mountains and the
Cades Cove is the most-visited location in the Great Smoky Mountains and it’s also home to one of the largest campgrounds. The Cades Cove campground consists of 159 sites and is open year round. Tents and RVs up to 35 feet can be used in the campground. The popular facility provides flush toilets, drinking water
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
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is changing its backcountry reservation and permitting process. Beginning early next year, the park will collect a $4 per person per night fee for backcountry camping. >> Read Complete Article
