week of 3/13/02
 
 
 


Park announces spring schedule
SMN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced its spring opening schedule for Park facilities, including secondary roads, self-registration campgrounds, and concession operations.

Many of the secondary roads that are set to open on March 15 include: Forge Creek, Little Greenbrier, Parson Branch, Rich Mountain, Roundbottom/Straight Fork, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Clingmans Dome Road is set to open on April 1 and the Heintooga Ridge Road at Polls Gap will open on May 17.

Tunnel construction on the Tennessee side of Newfound Gap Road will require one-lane alternating traffic through the tunnels through March 15. Beginning March 16 buses and RVs will be permitted to travel through the tunnels and work will continue with intermittent single lane closures through May 18, but no lane closures will occur on the weekends. After May 18, construction will cease during peak summer season and resume on Aug. 19 for completion in about one month.

The three visitor centers are open daily and the operating hours through March are: Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cades Cove Visitor Center, near Townsend, is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The National Park Reservation Service (NRPS) provides visitors an opportunity to make reservations at three of the Park’s developed campgrounds, group campsites, horse camps, and picnic shelters. Reservations can be made 5 months in advance by calling 1-800-365-2267 or by Internet at http://reservations.nps.gov.

Two family campgrounds open on a staggered basis starting March 15.

Three of the park’s 10 campgrounds are on NPRS from May 15-October 31: Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Camping fees are $12 per site at the smaller, more primitive campgrounds, $14 at the more developed campgrounds, and, at the reservation campgrounds during the period May 15-Oct. 31, sites will cost $17 per night. In addition, Elkmont iverside campsites are $20 per night.

Group Camping will be available at seven campgrounds and reservations need to be made through NPRS. Group camping is available at Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, Deep Creek, Elkmont, Cades Cove, and Smokemont. The cost for group camping ranges from $20 to $63 per site/night.

Horse Camps at Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Towstring, and Round Bottom will open March 15 and reservations are only available through NPRS. Horse site fees are $20 at all horse camps except for Big Creek where it is $25.

° Picnic Areas — There are 10 first-come, first-serve picnic areas. Open all year are Cades Cove, Chimney Tops, Cosby, Greenbrier, Deep Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms. Big Creek and Collins Creek will open on March 15 and Heintooga and Look Rock are scheduled to open on May 17. The private, larger picnic pavilion at Twin Creeks opens on April 1 and reservation is available through NPRS only. Twin Creeks fee ranges from $35-$75 depending on the use and the number of people. In addition, picnickers can reserve four other picnic pavilions on NPRS. They are located at Collins Creek, Cosby, Deep Creek or Metcalf Bottoms picnic areas and the cost is $20.

° Horseback Riding is available at four horse concession operations in the Park. The rates are $15-$20 per horse per hour at the following stables: McCarter’s will open on March 9 and Smoky Mountain on March 15. Smokemont begins March 23 and Cades Cove on April 1. At the Cades Cove horse concession, buggy rides ($8 per person) and hayrides ($6 per person) are offered. The Deep Creek horse stables will be closed during the 2002 season.

° LeConte Lodge, accessible only by trail, will open on March 25. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 865.429.5704, fax 865.429.0045 or e-mail reservations@leconte-lodge.com. One night at the lodge costs $81.50 per adult (tax included) and includes two meals — dinner and breakfast.

° Campground Concessions — The Cades Cove Campground Store and bicycle rental will open for business on April 1. The store provides snack foods with several hot food items. Wood concessions are available at Elkmont, Smokemont, Cades Cove, and Balsam Mountain.

For more detailed information on Park programs or services, consult the Park’s newspaper, Smokies Guide, which can be obtained at the Park’s visitor centers for 25 cents or call the park at 86.436.1200 or check the Park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsm.