A proposal to rehabilitate the popular Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park would replace the narrow pedestrian bridge at the falls/NPS file

Crowds in particularly popular areas of the National Park System are challenging park managers to manage the crowds while preserving the natural resources. One solution that seems to be growing is to require reservations for access, something that's been adopted at Zion and Acadia national parks and tested at Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah national parks.

Now Great Smoky Mountains officials are mulling whether to make permanent a reservation system for the Laurel Falls area of the park, while Shenandoah officials are reviewing how their trial reservation program for Old Rag fared.

At Great Smoky, the park staff is preparing an environmental assessment for the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan and is seeking public input through January 6. The plan addresses visitor experience and safety, parking, and trail infrastructure rehabilitation for one of the most visited trails in the park.

One management strategy under consideration is to make permanent the reservation system that was tested on a trial basis last year. During peak periods, $14 reservations were needed to gain two hours of parking time in the trailhead lot.

But bringing back reservations is just one aspect under consideration in the EA. Also included is a rehabilitation plan that would close the trail to the public for up to 18 months while the footpath is, essentially, rebuilt. Existing asphalt would be removed and a new layer would be laid down. The proposal also envisions improved drainage and signage, a more formal "gathering area" at the trailhead, and possible installation of a vault toilet in the area.

Five trailside rest areas also would be created along the way to Laural Falls, and a wider bridge at the falls would be installed. The plan also calls for greatly increased parking. Currently, there are 14 spots at the trailhead, and the plan proposes two additional lots with a capacity of 54 vehicles.

The preferred alternative would replace the broken asphalt trailbed with new asphalt/NPS file

The proposal also includes a "no action" alternative that would keep current conditions in place. As part of the current public scoping comment period, the Park Service is asking for input on the preliminary proposed action and issues that should be considered in the environmental assessement.

You can review the proposal at this site, and leave your comments there as well.

Or you can mail your comments to ATTN: Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan/EA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

Under the current timeline, the park staff intends to release the draft environmental assessment for public review next spring, with a decision expected next summer.