Wednesdays this summer will be vehicle-free days on Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS file

How best to manage visitors to the Laurel Falls Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to be a discussion park staff is having, though the park will retain day-long, vehicle free access to the Cades Cove Loop Road on Wednesdays this summer.

Last year the park tested a reservation system for parking at the Laurel Falls Trailhead, as well as keeping the Cades Cove Loop closed to vehicles on Wednesdays. Both pilot projects aimed to improve safety, visitor experience, and resource protection.

According to a park release, visitor feedback was positive for the second year of the Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Day pilot, with 84 percent of visitors providing supportive comments. Approximately 42 percent of commenters requested additional vehicle-free access opportunities on the Cades Cove Loop Road.  

An average of 1,296 visitors participated each Wednesday from May 5 through September 1 last year. On average, 44 percent of those visitors walked and 56 percent cycled the Loop Road. The full-day approach, along with on-site parking management, allowed better access and more opportunities to enjoy the experience throughout the day, according to the park. Parking was generally available 82 percent of the time; however, parking lots were consistently full during the morning hours.

Park managers will continue to manage and monitor the parking areas similarly in 2022. Visitors are encouraged to come in the afternoon and evening hours for a better chance of securing a parking space. More information about vehicle-free days can be found at this page. 

Regarding the Laurel Falls reservation program, 91 percent of those who commented on it were in support of it, the park release said. During the pilot period, trailhead parking was provided by reservation only and no parking was permitted in undesignated areas along Little River Road from September 7 through October 23. Parking reservations, which were available for two-hour time blocks, were made online at www.recreation.gov for a fee of $14 per vehicle.

These fees were used to staff the parking lot, provide on-site portable toilets, and purchase roadside signage and barriers. Managing access through the reservation and shuttle system was expected to spread use more evenly throughout the day, creating a less crowded and more enjoyable experience on the trail and at the falls. Overall, visitors experienced lower rates of litter and a reduction in crowding during the pilot, park staff said. An average of less than one grocery bag of trash was collected by volunteers during a six-hour shift, which was down significantly from an average of 2.2 bags prior to the pilot.  

The Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan Environmental Assessment will consider management strategies such as those employed during the pilot project. Park managers plan to hold a public scoping period for the EA by early summer and then release the EA for public comment later in the year. Specific dates for these public comment periods will be announced in future news releases.