2010 Major Road Projects in the GSMNP

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A great deal of work will be done on Great Smoky Mountains National Park roads in 2010. Here's a list of the major projects:

Full Closures:

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
February 1 - May 28

Clingmans Dome Road
February 15 - May 28
One-lane closures to continue through June 30

Cades Cove Loop Road
March 1 - May 21

Heintooga Ridge Road
October 2009 - May 28

Sinks Parking Area - Meigs Creek Trailhead
January 5 - May 10

Smokemont Campground
March 10 - May 28

Little River and Jakes Creek Trailheads in Elkmont
July 5 - August 31

Partial Closures:

Foothills Parkway-West
May 10 - June 30

Repaving Gatlinburg Bypass to Sugarlands Visitor Center
April 1 - May 28
The Bypass will be closed entirely for 3 weeks in May

Foothills Parkway-East Repaving
Late spring - mid-August

This is the largest single project, costing approximately $24 million for design and construction of Bridge 2 on the unfinished Foothills Parkway. Work will begin in the spring of 2010. That area is not open to traffic so no visitor travel will be affected.

The Road to NoWhere

With so much to see and do in the Bryson City area, it is hard to imagine a day when you might have nowhere to go. But should that happen, there is always the "Road to Nowhere", a scenic mountain highway that takes you eight miles into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ends at the mouth of a tunnel. On the map, it is called Lakeview Drive, but to the citizens of Swain County it is The Road to Nowhere — A Broken Promise.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small Smoky Mountain communities that had been their homes for generations. With the creation of the Park, their homes were gone, and so was the road to those communities. Old Highway 288 was buried beneath the deep waters of Fontana Lake.

The Federal government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road. Lakeview Drive was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles to the west. And, of special importance to those displaced residents, it was to have provided access to the old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors remained behind.

But Lakeview Drive fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel, about six miles into the park. The environmental issue was eventually resolved, but the roadwork was never resumed. And Swain County's citizens gave the unfinished Lakeview Drive its popular, albeit unofficial name "The Road To Nowhere."

On weekends throughout the summer, the Park Service still ferries groups of Swain County residents across Fontana Lake to visit their old family cemetaries for Decoration Days and family reunions. And the legal issue of whether to build the road remains unresolved.

Download pdf brochure or click here to learn more.

2010 Marks the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Join the adventure with an extraordinary journey through the stories of this remarkable route and the region through which it passes. Discover the opportunities the 75th Anniversary presents for us all!

Why is the Parkway "More than a Road?" Recreational opportunities, habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna, access to America’s cultural heritage, an icon of American progress and ingenuity, and a gateway to charming communities. Discover communities along the Parkway,  study the rich heritage and history, and explore the future by visiting the official website which touts this landmark anniversary.

Hiker-Friendly at Amicalola Falls State Park

Hike from Amicalola Falls State Park in northern Georgia to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain on this 16.2-mile loop. This memorable, 16.2-mile loop in Chattahoochee National Forest links Amicalola Falls, Len Foote Hike Inn, and the summit of Springer Mountain. Hike it all in one day, or stay at the Hike Inn for a multi-day trip. The route begins in Amicalola Falls State Park and travels northeast to the Hike Inn Trail–Approach Trail junction. Bear right on Hike Inn Trail to begin a counterclockwise loop past creeks, hardwoods, and mountain laurel.

Less than 5 miles in, the trail passes Len Foote Hike Inn, a twenty room, eco-friendly lodge. Spend the night here (hikers must check in at the Visitors Center before 2:00 p.m.) or continue along the trail, heading northwest. Roughly a mile later, turn right at a 3-way junction for a 6.5-mile out-and-back to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Read more at Backpacker Magazine

Photo Workshop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park This Spring

Top outdoor photographer Richard Bernabe announces a spring photo workshop in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The details:

Beautiful Wildflowers and Lush Spring Landscapes
April 23 - 25, 2010
Townsend, Tennessee
Tuition $575

According to Richard, "The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is my favorite place to be when the leaves begin turning green and the first wildflowers start to bloom in the lush hardwood coves. Maybe that's the reason I've been helping lead other nature photographers to this magical National Park for over ten years. The convergence of vernal awakening and this magical place inspires me greatly and I try to inspire and help others to see and feel the same way when they are here on one of my workshops or tours."

Visit Richard Bernabe's website to learn more about the spring workshop

About Richard Bernabe

Richard Bernabe has become one of the top outdoor photographers in the southeastern United States. His images have been licensed to magazines, advertising campaigns, calendars, and large format photography books. A partial list of his varied clients include: American Rivers, Audubon Society, Backpacker Magazine, Blue Ridge Country, Canon Global, Costa Del Mar, National Geographic Society, National Parks, Nature, Orvis Corporation, Outside, Outdoor Life, Patagonia, Rock and Ice, South Carolina Wildlife, Trail Runner Magazine, Trout Unlimited, Wildlife in North Carolina

Richard is also a writer, teacher, and adventure traveler. He pens several monthly
columns on outdoor and adventure topics and conducts dozens of hands-on photography workshops each year with Mountain Trail Photo as well as occasional classroom study programs at select local colleges and schools, such as the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the John C. Campbell Folk School.

High Above the Clouds on Mt. LeConte

Visit the blog of Doug McFall, perched high atop Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as the winter caretaker. As a Crew Member and Cook at the Lodge, Doug shares his experiences about Living On Mt. LeConte. A laptop computer with a broadband connection is powered by solar panels.  Weather permitting, he will have enough power and a connection good enough to update the blog site regularly.  So please utilize the resources on the site.  Enjoy all the views and photos of the mountain.  Check out the Blog.  Send Doug a "Hello." And climb the mountian for a visit sometime!

Blue Ridge Parkway named one of top 10 value destinations for 2010

(MSNBC) Stretching 469 scenic miles across North Carolina and Virginia along the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the historic Blue Ridge Parkway, celebrating its 75th year in 2010, attracts all walks of life -- from nature lovers to bikers to the occasional family of black bears.

Many area hotels are celebrating the occasion with Parkway-themed promotional packages.

In Asheville, N.C., the artsy and most visited town along the drive, the upscale Grand Bohemian (a new addition from the Kessler Collection) is promoting a 75th Anniversary package, which includes breakfast for two, a gourmet picnic basket, and detailed Parkway guide map.

Read more at MSNBC...