Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

About the Authors Liz Etnier Mike Etnier Return to Hiking in the Smokies

2025 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 4^th 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). Bullhead Trail is open, but has many downed trees on it, making it very difficult to hike. • 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 and Swallow Fork are closed due to severe damage from Helene. 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 Deep Creek/Fork Ridge intersection Campsites 19 and 82 are closed due to bear activity There are bear warnings for the GatlinburgTrail, Cataract Falls Trail, and Cove Mountain Trail, as well as for campsite 71.