It's going to be a great weekend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, both because of the Wildflower Pilgrimage and because the Cades Cove Loop Road is reopening after a substantial reconstruction of the road.

The loop road is reopening ahead of schedule thanks to incentives built into the construction contract. When it reopens this weekend, there will be a celebration that will include bikers and hikers only on the loop road Saturday morning, and on Sunday there will be a foot race around the 11-mile loop with nearly 400 participants.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Interstate 40 on the eastern side of the park will be open in time to shorten the routes folks on that side of the park will have to take to reach Cades Cove for the weekend festivities. Currently, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is not predicting a reopening of that section of interstate at mile marker 2.6 near the Tennessee-North Carolina line, which has been closed since October due to a rock slide, until Tuesday.

Still, North Carolina tourism officials are understandably happy to see the route reopened. Both eastbound lanes are expected to be open; one westbound lane will be closed for about three miles as crews continue to complete work in spots.

“The reopening of Interstate 40 comes at a really important time of year for the tourism industry here,” said Lynn Collins, executive director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

“Spring is such a wonderful time to visit the mountains of Western North Carolina,” she added. “Thanks to the beautiful and colorful scenery, the extensive menu of outdoor activities and a chance to enjoy nature, this is a season that has traditionally attracted high numbers of visitors to the Maggie Valley and Waynesville area. And we’re certainly thrilled by the DOT’s efforts to reopen the interstate in time to alleviate the concerns of travelers.”

Come Saturday in Cades Cove the Loop Road will reopen only to bicyclists and pedestrians from sunrise (expected at 6:50 a.m.) to noon. Motor vehicles then will be permitted to travel the road starting at noon to sunset, according to park officials. They will not be allowed to arrive any earlier than noon.

During the morning hours, park personnel will be stationed at the Townsend Wye to control traffic to the Cove. They will only allow those who will be recreating in and near the Cove, i.e., walkers, and campers/picnickers, and Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont participants, and will be turning away motorists who plan to tour the Loop Road. Motorists will be directed to return at noon.

Visitors who plan to explore the Cove in the morning can expect to park in a field as a large number of people is expected. To accommodate visitors who would like to rent bicycles for the day, the Cades Cove Campground Store will open for business at 7 a.m. and will have available for rent multi-speed comfort or mountain bikes, in addition to single speed cruisers.

Several safety cautions and regulations should be noted while biking the Cove. Following these standard cautionary practices will make for a pleasant riding experience. Under Tennessee law, helmets are required for persons under 16 years of age, and it is recommended that all other riders wear helmets. Cyclists, particularly those with children, should maintain safe speeds especially on steep grades and around blind curves. Speed is the number one cause of bicycle accidents, according to park officials. Visitors should be aware that there are potentially hazardous situations along what appears to be mostly level land and with the newly paved smooth surface, it will be important to practice safe riding skills, especially if the road surface is wet from rain. Be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Park officials also expect traffic to be heavy when the road opens to motorists at 12 p.m. Saturday, so people should be patient. With the opening of Cades Cove Loop Road, the one way Parson Branch Road will also be open. However, travelers who plan to exit the Cove onto Parson Branch Road must be aware that at its intersection with Route 129 they will only be allowed to travel south into North Carolina because a rockslide on Route 129 prevents travelers from heading north into Tennessee. Signage will be in place at the beginning of Parson Branch Road warning travelers of this change.

On Sunday, access to the cove will be restricted and limited to preregistered runners for the special Cades Cove Loop Lope event sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies. The park expects about 380 runners to participate in this run. Registration for the run is now closed as all available parking has been taken up.

Park officials, in partnership with the Friends and the Knoxville Track Club, are organizing this one-time event in recognition of the accomplishment of the long overdue road rehabilitation project. Park personnel will be staged at the Townsend Wye to facilitate traffic flow and allow only those participating in the run, as well as registered campers.

After the run, the road will open to the general public at noon.

Starting on Monday, the Cades Cove Loop Road will be open on a normal sunrise-sunset schedule.