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UPDATE: Heavy Rains Trigger Flooding, Evacuation Of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Campground

Published Date

June 28, 2018
Flooding on the Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS

Flooding Thursday morning on the Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS

Editor's note: This updates with the campground reopened.

Storms that brought more than 2.5 inches of rain to parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park briefly forced the evacuation of the Elkmont Campground on Thursday morning.

Park staff didn't have an exact count of campers who were moved to the Sugarlands Visitor Center shortly after 9 a.m., but said 196 of the campground's 220 campsites had been reserved Wednesday night, along with three group campsites. By early afternoon, though, the campground was reopened, along with Little River Road from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Upper Tremont Road, and Wear Cove Gap Road. 

Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area to the Townsend Wye remained closed due to downed trees and rocks.

Overnight, the park received heavy rain at high elevations, including 2.54 inches recorded at Clingmans Dome. Over a six-hour period, Little River rose approximately 6 feet above the normal level at the Townsend Wye. 

The Elkmont Campground, picnic area, and associated roadways were to remain closed until floodwaters receded and park crews assessed facility conditions. Trails remained open, though hikers were advised to use caution throughout the park, especially on trails with stream crossings.

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