Tue
Oct 15 2013
11:57 am

I took a car stroll through the Park this morning. Highway 441 is open from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to Cherokee, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is also open. All other roads are closed, meaning you will have to drive through Pigeon Forge to get to the Park, however the Gatlinburg Bypass is open. All facilities and picnic areas are closed including the parking lots. The trailhead parking lots at the Chimneys and Alum Cave are barricaded, however the Newfound Gap lot is open and the restrooms also. I overheard a ranger say that traffic and law enforcement are still in place on the roads, and there are four maintenance personnel on duty for the entire Park.
The NPS has a large electric sign at Sugarlands blinking the words "Expect extreme congestion" and the sign is accurate. It was difficult to find a parking spot at Newfound Gap around 11am today. The leaves aren't at peak yet but getting there in the higher elevations.

bizgrrl's picture

Beautiful picture. And, no

Beautiful picture. And, no cars.

Brian A.'s picture

Supposedly there's a deal

Supposedly there's a deal worked out to reopen the park through the weekend.

fletch's picture

open..

I just read in the comments in an earlier post that TN is paying for the Park to open starting Wednesday thru the weekend, and it looks like a federal deal might be worked out before the weekend. My blog skills are a little rusty.

R. Neal's picture

I believe you posted this

I believe you posted this beautiful photo and report (thanks!) before the announcement was made, and at the time the Gov. was suggesting there would be no deal.

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