This map, said to have come from Blackberry Farm Resort, shows two trails -- the Boundary Trail and the Blair Gap Trail -- that are not listed on Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official trail map/Southern Forest Watch
Sometime in recent years two trails running more than a mile-and-a-half were cut into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, allegedly for the use of a private resort that borders the park, according to court documents.
When contacted by the Traveler, park officials declined to discuss the trails, or even acknowledge their existence, as their presence has been raised in litigation. However, the "Boundary Trail" and "Blair Gap Trail" depicted on a trail map purportedly handed out by the Blackberry Farm Resort do not match any trails on the park's official trail map. Together they run along the park's western boundary roughly from the Beard Cane Trail to the Cane Creek Trail. Officials at the resort, where rooms start at $745 a night, had no immediate comment when asked about the trails this week.
A trail of downed trees allegedly marked an illegal trail cut in Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Southern Forest Watch
The existence of the trails surfaced in connection with a lawsuit brought against the Park Service by Southern Forest Watch, a nonprofit group organized to overturn the park's $4 per night fee charged on backcountry travelers. Though not central to the fight over the backcountry reservation system, the group pointed to the "illegal trail system" as part of a pattern of "political patronage" that former park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson oversaw. Mr. Ditmanson, who instituted the backcountry fee system in 2013, retired from the Park Service earlier this year.
By allowing the Blackberry Farm Resort to maintain these trails for the use of their customers and residents, Great Smoky Mountains officials were limiting the general public's access to the park's backcountry and allowing it to be impaired, charges Southern Forest Watch's lawsuit.
The Park Service, in court documents responding to Southern Forest Watch's complaint, denied allowing a "private resort to maintain and utilize their own separate, exclusive network of trails into, on and within the boundaries" of the park. However the agency did admit that there was a signpost with a map box located outside the park boundary and that "any signs that were erected within Park boundaries by Blackberry Farm Resort were erected without permission from NPS and have since been removed."
These ATVers allegedly were entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the Cane Creek Trailhead/Southern Forest Watch
The trail map showing the Boundary and Blair Gap trails came from the map box on the signpost, according to Southern Forest Watch's lawyer.
The trail signs and maps were found by John Quillen, a member of Southern Forest Watch. A park volunteer who regularly hikes the Cane Creek Trail to help maintain it, Mr. Quillen discovered the Boundary Trail in 2009 when he came upon a trail of trees that had been chainsawed down. He and some friends also heard a chainsaw at work, and encountered riders on two all-terrain vehicles who allegedly claimed they had come from Blackberry Farm. Photos of a trail sign, the ATV, and downed trees are part of Southern Forest Watch's court filing.
No court date for the matter has been set.
Comments
Gary,
After reading that link you posted I found this comment quite interesting:
I already mentioned that above, i'll post the quote again, so you can try and re-read what I wrote, and attempt to comprehend it, again! Your original trip report from attempting this manway where you hiked down onto blackberry farms, then came back up, and tried a crosscountry route to get to cane creek confirms that there is not an ATV trail on the boundary trail area connecting between the two drainages. Cane Creek is an old road bed that dates back beyond the park. ATVs are not allowed in the park, but it sounds like someone that was affiliated with the S&R but not a ranger used one on the trail during this search. Sounds like this is not a ongoing occurrence, or a backdoor deal allowing ATVs in the park for recreational activities, and like I said, if ATVs were using this trail all the time, that would be brought to light. You're just concocting things in your head.
I'm not involved in law enforcement, or how they manage Search and Rescue operations.
The Swag (another uber-expensive B&B) is also adjacent to park boundary. If they find a former trail or old road/path inside the park, and near their property, is it ok if they start reclaiming that, too?
I own some land directly adjacent to the park. I've come across some old roads close by and inside the boundary. Can I start clearing them? With chainsaws? Would be nice to access some of the trails directly from my land.
Another friend owns land adjacent to the park and discovered an old footpath inside the park that continues right past his property. Ok if he starts widening the path inside the park?
It's one thing to utilize an unmarked trail - I have no problem with that. Different story altogether to clear trail. And completely disrespectful to use a chainsaw.
Tom, the Swag sits under another "boundary trail" called the "Cataloochee divide trail", which is the park border on that side.. That trail actually runs on the border of quite a few people's properties and can be easily accessed by those properties, similar to the boundary trial on the northern side..
The hurricane mountain trail was already built, and has been there since the 1930s. It was built by the CCC. To think that people from blackberry farms have just started using that trail a few yeas ago since John Quillen discovered it, is quite foolish. Since the original trail was graded in the late 1930s, and Blackberry farms was started in 1939. RodF posted the map that shows of it's existence.
You can't cut standing trees in the park.
..But Blackberry Farms did cut trees to maintain that trail. And now it is well documented. Translation Tom, acc to the above logic, it is OK for you to clear trails if you own land adjacent to the park and use those old manways. While you're at it, go ahead and boldly place a signpost with your own trail maps pointing back to your house. Let your guests think you have a half million acres of equestrian and ATV trails. Because the NPS is reducing pesky backcountry visitors to the tune of %30 so less eyes on it.
People use trails next to the park, including old manways. That is a fact. You obviously have done this many times. Or are your magically exempt in wearing the path on an old foot trail, when you hike these old footpaths and mainway trails? Even in your blog post, you admit to traversing down a drainage after you make it up from Blackberry farms property.. You can't have it both ways.
Here are the backcountry rules and regulations for the park: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/backcountry-regs.htm
Many of these trails are worn in and been used for not only decades, but centuries. I've hiked many of them, myself. Your original documentation on this subject, which i'll post again is a more honest depiction of your "discovery" ...
http://web.archive.org/web/20140526233648/http://www.southernhighlanders...
And yes, this is public lands, so if you want to get philosophical, the National Parks not only belongs to everyone that might live or go to blackberry farms, but everyone else in this country. It's a democratic institution. So you sort of lose that argument that the National Park is sole property of blackberry farms. But, that's kind of a cute propaganda technique to sway people that are not keen enough.
And John, continually supplying a bunch of hyperbole through accusations is kind of useless. It gets really old.
Gary--Since saying you were exiting the thread and would not comment further, you have commented four times, with two of the four being at some length. I'm in no way trying to stifle your voice, but saying one thing and doing quite another does impact credibility a wee bit.
Jim Casada
Since your group continued to sling their verbal arrows, I will defend myself. Personally, the best part about a forum like this, is it's open for other opinions. You guys tend to only like it when you can sit around and make acccusations on a closed forum where no one can call question to your motives, or explain another point of view. I understand that's easier for you... but here it's real. So, if you have anything to add, other than more insults - bring it, and let's have an intelligent and adult conversation without petty accusations with useless hyperbole thrown in. Can you do that, Jim?