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The Cataloochee Campground is one of six campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are not open due to a variety of reasons/NPS file

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which ranked third in visitation in 2024, is heading into the high season with a half-dozen of its campgrounds closed.

Currently the Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, and Look Rock campgrounds are closed, the National Park Service confirmed Friday evening.

"The park’s largest campgrounds are currently open: Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont. Deep Creek will open as planned on April 18," an email from Park Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., said. "Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby, and Look Rock campgrounds are closed. We regret any inconvenience. Visitors who booked campsites in those campgrounds have received refunds."

According to the park's website, the Balsam Mountain, Cataloochee, and Big Creek areas, campgrounds, and roads remain closed due to damage from last fall's Hurricane Helene. Additionally, roadwork on the 2.3-mile-long Cosby Entrance Road from Tennessee State Route 32 to the gate of Cosby Campground is responsible for that campground's closure.

There was no immediate explanation for why the Abrams Creek and Cataloochee campgrounds were not open, although the Cataloochee Valley saw the most significant impacts from Helene. The Upper Cataloochee Valley Road saw the worst damage, and various levels of erosion and flooding impacted all trails in Cataloochee Valley and nearly all footlog bridges in the area were washed away during the storm. Cataloochee Valley also experienced fallen trees, flooding at campsites and damaged power lines. There were impacts to historic buildings, particularly the Caldwell Barn, which park staff are currently working to stabilize.

However, the delay in the hiring of seasonal staff also is believed to be responsible for some of the campground closures. 

"Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to focus on ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks," the NPS email from Washington said. "Our teams are dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our visitors, ensuring memorable and meaningful experiences for all."

Beyond camping, the Park Service said the picnic areas at Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf Bottoms were all currently open, while Chimneys, Collins Creek, Cosby, Heintooga, Look Rock, and Twin Creeks picnic areas and pavilions were closed. Visitors who booked reservations at those picnic pavilions have received refunds.

"While some areas are temporarily unavailable, the vast majority of the park remains open, offering the same breathtaking scenery, rich biodiversity, and unforgettable experiences that visitors have cherished for generations," the Park Service said. "Whether hiking scenic trails, exploring historic sites, or simply taking in the beauty of the mountains, there is still so much to enjoy and discover in Great Smoky Mountains National Park."

Last year Great Smoky Mountains tallied 12,191,834 visitors, trailing only the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (17,187,508), and the Blue Ridge Parkway (16,733,639). The Elkmont Campground logged the most overnight stays in the park last year, with 125,121. Cades Cove counted 106,075 overnight stays at its campground. Abrams Creek tallied the fewest, 7,399.