Smokies delays re-opening of Elkmont area trails

Officials from the Great Smoky Mountains announced yesterday that the on-going construction project will delay the re-opening of the Little River/Jakes Creek Trail access road in Elkmont.

The new re-opening date is now October 15.

The work consists of repaving all of the connecting roads to the popular trails in Elkmont and creating formalized parking areas for the trailheads, as well as a new day use parking area at the Appalachian Clubhouse.

Managers were expecting to complete the work by Labor Day, but progress was held up by the addition of underground utility work which delayed the award of a contract.

Limited access is still being provided to hikers to reach the Little River Trail, but there is no safe access through the construction site to the Jakes Creek Trailhead which provides access to the Cucumber Gap, Jakes Creek and Meigs Mountain trails.

An extremely limited number of temporary parking spaces have been designated at the Elkmont Campground, so hikers planning to use the Little River Trail will need to check in for instructions at the campground kiosk.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Cades Cove Picnic Area to be closed August 23-24

Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers have announced plans to close the Cades Cove Picnic Area on Monday and Tuesday, August 23-24. During the closure, Park crews and contract personnel will repave all of the deteriorated parking areas in the picnic area.

The work is weather-dependent so extended rain could cause the Park to delay the completion until Thursday, August 26. No closures will occur on Wednesday, August 25, because the picnic area is heavily used for parking on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Cades Cove Loop Road is restricted to bicycle and pedestrian use until 10:00 a.m.

Also:

It looks like the low water warnings at the Mollies Ridge Shelter have been removed.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com