Water problems at some Backcountry Campsites in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Seem like the water problems are starting again in the Great Smoky Mountains national park for backcountry campers. Last years drought in the Smoky Mountains caused serious problems for campers as there was stretch of more than 20 miles that ran dry.

So far the backcountry sites that have water problems are in the Cades Cove Tennessee area backcountry site #7 (Ace Gap) and backcountry site #4 (Kelly Gap) and in the Elkmont Tennessee area backcountry site #19 (Upper Henderson).

All three backcountry sites with water issues in the Great Smoky Mountains national park are from 1,600 to 2,900 feet in elevation and horses are allowed.

Last years water problems in the national park were more prevalent in the North Carolina side as opposed to these which are all in Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains national park closes 2 backcountry campsites.

2 Backcountry campsites were just closed in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, the first being backcountry campsite #15 on the Rabbit Creek Trail connecting Cades Cove with Abrams Creek and the other backcountry campsite #53 in around the Thomas Divide trail intersection with the Newton Bald Trail accessible off Newfound Gap Road in North Carolina.

Both backcountry campsite 15 also know as the Rabbit Creek campsite (pictured below) and backcountry campsite 53 known as Poke Patch campsite were closed due to aggressive black bear activity and will remain closed until further notice. This can be a few days, weeks or even longer.

When a campsite in the Great Smoky Mountains is closed due to black bear it is monitored closely by park staff to see if bear are continuing to be a potential threat in the area. If you see a tent in a closed campsite leave it alone as it may be a decoy set up by the park service but you can tell park staff of your finding just in case it is a camper who does not know of or is unwilling to head the warning.

All hiking trails and backcountry campsites open for Memorial Day in the Great Smoky Mountains national park

The national park service was able to open the Trillium Gap hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park which was closed due to a landslide as well as the Goshen Prong hiking trail and backcountry campsite which was closed due to tree blowdowns and the 2 trails Schoolhouse Gap and Turkey Pen Ridge which were closed due to aggressive black bear activity all in time for the for the Memorial Day Weekend.

With fantastic weather predicted for the weekend expect to see a lot of activity in the Great Smoky Mountains national park as well as enhanced traffic enforcement so enjoy the park but drive at the posted limits!

Hiking trails, backcountry campsites, Cades Cove still closed from Aprils prescribed fire

Some hiking trails and backcountry campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains National park still remain closed more than a week after the controlled fire in Cades Cove.

Fire was used by the national park service to help promote the growth of yellow pine and by burning some of the dead brush now, reduce the risk of a wildfire by limiting the fuel the dead brush would provide.

Normally trails and backcountry campgrounds would reopen after a controlled burn with a few days after the park service confirms that all hot spots on the hiking trail that can rekindle a fire have been extinguished and that there is no danger to hikers from limbs and trees that may fall.

The following trails are still closed in the North West corner of Cades Cove:

• The Cooper Road hiking trail at the Wet Bottom Trail junction starting 0.2 miles from Cades Cove loop road all 5.3 miles to the to the Beard Cane Trail junction.
• The Beard Cane Trail for the entire length of 4.2 miles from Ace Gap Trail to the Cooper Road Hiking trail

The following backcountry campgrounds remain closed in the North West corner of Cades Cove:

• Backcountry camp site #3 on the North end of Beard Cane Trail
• Backcountry camp site #11 on the South end of Beard Cane Trail