Great Smoky Mountain campgrounds, roads closed due to weather
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds, as well as other park roads. This is to protect against potential wildfires while the area has an active red flag warning, upcoming high winds and severe weather.
The National Park Service announced these closures on Monday, November 20.
Park rangers will be telling campers they must leave those areas. They encourage visitors to leave the park as soon as possible.
The national park is closing the following roads:
- Newfound Gap,
- Clingmans Dome Road,
- Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail,
- Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley,
- Little River Road between the Townsend Wye to Sugarlands Visitor Center,
- Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road,
- Cataloochee Road,
- Lakeview Drive.
They say Gatlinburg Bypass, Foothills Parkway West and other roads will remain open as long as it is safe.
These closures will remain in effect until there are no more high winds and red flag warnings.
The National Park Service says winds may reach 40 mph overnight, with hurricane-force gusts.
The red flag warning means the area will see very low humidity and strong winds, which can produce an increased risk of fire danger.
All campfires and charcoal use are currently banned in the park.
Back in November 2016, the Smoky Mountains saw fatal wildfires that damaged thousands of buildings. Those fires were stirred up by hurricane-force winds as well.
