Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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About the Authors Return to Hiking in
the Smokies |
2023
Trail and Campsite Closings Cooper
Creek Trail has been officially closed by the Park Service, and removed from
the list of trails for the 900-miler club. It is recommended that hikers
avoid this trail due to negative interactions with adjacent land owners. If you
have any edition prior to the 4th edition, updated (August 2020),
you can combine Hike 5 in the Deep Creek area with Hike 14, starting and
ending the loop with Mingus Mill Trail (16.4 miles total). Little
River Trail will be closed M-Th until September 7,
2023, for trail repairs. This will affect campsites 24 and 30, which will be
inaccessible M-Th. Ramsey Cascades Road and Trail are closed on M-Th
until further notice. There are
a number of trees down on Deep Creek Trail just north of CS54, as well as a
section of trail that has washed out north of CS55. These issues make the
trail almost impassable, and have been reported by hikers to Backcountry. • Scott Mountain is still closed due to storm damage, from
campsite 6 to Schoolhouse Gap (campsite 6 open, accessible from Cades Cove
area). It is unclear at this time if the Park Service will repair and reopen
this section of trail, or leave it closed permanently. • Gunter Fork opened, but caution urged due to landslides. The following trails have had footlogs
washed out, and in times of high water, the crossings might be very difficult
and/or dangerous: Rabbit Creek at Abrams Campground Boogerman/Caldwell Fork Trails – there is no plan at present
to replace these bridges Porters Creek Trail Deep Creek/Fork Ridge intersection Campsites 9, 21, 39, and 57 are closed due to bear
acitivity. |
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