Planning Trip to Smokies

[AlabamaDan]

So, my family wants to take a late year trip to the Smokies.  Do some shopping, stay in a cabin, do some day hiking, etc...  You know the normal Gatlinburg trip.  But, I don't think I've ever gone this late in the year.  How are the roads up there in November and December?  I was thinking about Mid Nov to Mid Dec for a long weekend trip.  My only concern really is the conditions of the roads.  Being from Alabama my whole life, I can't drive snow and ice.  Anyone got any experience up there that time of year?

[mich4076]

The only road that closes seasonally is the one that takes you to clingman's dome and over to Cherokee. They keep the main roads salted if there is snow but some of the county roads do not get any. My boss has a condo up there and it's up one of the county roads on top of a mountain so there are times where it is not passable. The conditions aren't too dissimilar from Bham (ie ice on bridges overnight) but you can always call the d.o.t. to find out and the local manager of the cabin will be more familiar with the winter weather patterns for the particular street they are on.

[mich4076]

ohh... btw... don't go anytime during thanksgiving unless you like spending your time inching in traffic!! I had to learn that the hard way once... lol

[Lostsheep]

There are quite a few closures right now w/ the paving and the weather coming up...

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/p...urvisit/temproadclose.htm

Temporary Closures
• Cosby Campground is closed for repaving of campground roads.
• Fontana Dam access road will be closed October 1st through January 31, 2010. Pedestrian access will be allowed. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will have signs posted.
• The Cades Cove Loop Road is scheduled to be closed to all public use from March 1-May 21, 2010 for repaving. Weather conditions may affect these closure dates.
•  Clingmans Dome Road is tentatively scheduled to be closed to all public use from December 2009 through May 2010 for repaving. Specific closure dates will be posted here once they become available.
•  Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is tentatively scheduled to be closed from December 2009 until June 2010 for repaving. Specific closure dates will be posted here once they become available.
•  The parking area at the Sinks on Little River Road is tentatively scheduled to be closed from October 2009 through May 2010 for redesign and repaving. Specific closure dates will be posted here once they become available.

Road Construction
• US-441 (Newfound Gap Road) repaving between Collins Creek Picnic Area south to the boundary with Cherokee, NC is scheduled for March 2009 through September 2010

Trailheads Closed
Trailhead access from roads within Cosby Campground to Lower Mount Cammerer Trail, Snake Den Ridge Trail, and Low Gap Trail are closed to facilitate repaving the campground. Although trailhead access from within the campground is closed, these trails will remain open and hikers can access them via connecting trails from the nearby Picnic Area parking lots.

• Backcountry Campsites 6, 10, 19, 21, 24, 28, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, and 84
• Cosby Knob Shelter
• Double Spring Gap Shelter
• Mollies Ridge Shelter
• Mt Collins Shelter
• Mt Le Conte Shelter
• Tricorner Knob Shelter
• Abrams Falls Trail
• Crooked Arm Ridge Trail (lower portion)
• Gabes Mountain Trail
• Laurel Falls Trail
• Little River Trail
• Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls area)

Backcountry Campsites and Shelters Closed
• Backcountry Campsites 13, 29, 75, and 113
• Russell Field Shelter

[Rob]

Normally there is not a lot of problems with traveling the roads in the area during November and December, However, due to the repavement projects mentioned above you may want to plan ahead as to where you plan to do your hiking. The Park Service is VERY vigilant on the weather conditions and does not hesitate to protect visitors from traversing dangerous roads by closing them in anticipation of bad weather. As for Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge they do all they can to keep the roads safe so you can take full advantage of the tourist trade in the area . Just be aware that the folks renting the cabin to you will NOT be responsible for your inability to gain access to your cabin due to adverse weather conditions. I try to make several trips to the region during the winter each year and have encountered a few problems in the months of January and February due to heavy snow and ice resulting in the closure of the parkway from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to Cherokee as mentioned above. The roadways do ice in many spots throughout the area when temps drop to freezing, the locals are used to it and are very impatient with tourists using caution and driving slow but you are the one responsible for your families safety so use your judgement and be safe! If just out exploring for the day I tend to avoid the higher elevations in the late afternoon because the conditions are subject to change rapidly as the temps drop.

[kodiak42]

hey dan ,  great time of the year to visit the smokies , most of the roadside leaf lookers wont be there and if your backpacking or dayhiking ,the backcountry trails wont be crowded. it would be a great time to visit charlies bunion on the A.T the view should be great there is less smog in the winter. its agood day trip about 8 miles round trip. here is the number for park weather and road closings be sure and check before you head out cause if it is 60 deg. in gatlinburg with sunshine it could be 30 deg. at newfound gap with snow and if it is the park will close U.S  441 temporarily, i have been there when they would close it anywhere from 2 hrs to 2 days to daylight travel only. have fun.........


                        park weather----- 1-865-436-1200 or  backcountry office at ---  1-865-436-1231

[AlabamaDan]

Thanks for all the great info!  I'm going in November and with all this info feel prepared to plan.   

[AlabamaDan]

Oh wait, I usually make a circle trip

Chattanooga => Lenior City => Friendsville => Maryville => Townsend => Pigeon Forge => Gatlinburg.

Then home is:

Gatlinburg => Cherokee => Bryson City => Nantahala National Forest => Andrews => Murphy => Ducktown => Cleveland => Chattanooga.

We've talked about getting through the park, but what about all those back highways and the Nantahala?  Would you scrap that scenic route and just take I75 => Knoxville => I40 => 321 and into Sevierville?

[AlabamaDan]

Ok we've talked about driving and the park, what about where you stay?  For years and years I stayed in a private house in Pigeon Forge, but the owners passed away and hiers sold to some development co.  When I didn't stay there I would use Auntie Behlam's rentals, but they've become rather expensive and corporate.  Any recomendations.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Requiring pet-friendly accomodations, I've generally stayed in the LaQuinta in Pigeon Forge, which is about two blocks from the bypass, which is better than being in Gatlinburg, IMO. However, you do have to overlook the funeral home behind it. Then again, I have no problem with corporate when it comes to accomodations, because I want a minimum of fuss.

On those repavement programs mentioned previously... I took a trip when they were repaving US-441, and wasted several hours over the course of a few days waiting for, and then following, the escort cars which were running "caravans" over the mountain. They only drove about 15mph, and the smell was horrific. I'd want to know if there was repaving, and if so, how long the distances are, because if they are more than a mile or two, expect significant delays.