Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In The Aftermath Of Helene

While sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina are being reopened, the economic damage to towns along the parkway won't be as easily overcome.

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By Kim O'Connell - November 11th, 2024 5:15pm

From Confederate general to Cherokee heritage: Why returning the name Kuwohi to the Great Smoky Mountains matters

It’s not every day that the name of a mountain is restored to the one used by Indigenous peoples for centuries.

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By Kurt Repanshek - January 10th, 2025 6:26pm

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ticketing Truckers On Newfound Gap Road

Commercial truckers who head onto the Newfound Gap Road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park to bypass storm-damaged roads on routes around the park that straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border are being ticketed by the National Park Service and could face $5,000 fines.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 18th, 2024 11:01am

Ongoing Recovery At Great Smoky Mountains National Park From Helene

While crews are making progress in coping with the impacts Tropical Storm Helene had on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, some areas of the park remain closed due to damage from the storm.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 11th, 2024 4:30pm

Newfound Gap Road Across Great Smoky Mountains National Park Open 'Round The Clock

The National Park Service at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is able to keep the Newfound Gap Road open 24 hours a day thanks to assistance from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Government and Sevier County (The Cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville and the Sevier County Government).

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 9th, 2024 12:35pm

Commercial Vehicles' Efforts To Drive Newfound Gap Road In Great Smoky Leads To Closure

Attempts by commercial vehicles to cross Great Smoky Mountains National Park via the Newfound Gap Road, and accidents involving some that tried, have prompted the National Park Service to close the road overnight.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 6th, 2024 12:30pm

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 295 | The Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene

The flooded Oconaluftee River at Great Smoky Mountains National Park 9-27-24. NPS photo.

Who could have predicted that Hurricane Helene would carry her fury from the Gulf of Mexico and the coast of Florida hundreds of miles north into Appalachia? While there were forecasts calling for the hurricane to be downgraded to a tropical storm and drop quite a bit of rain in the region, the extent of damage in western North Carolina has been breathtaking.

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UPDATE | Parks Slowly Recovering From Damage Inflicted By Helene

Damage assessments and recovery work is slow going in national park units from North Carolina to Georgia that were hard hit by Tropical Storm Helene.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 3rd, 2024 6:59pm

Newfound Gap Road To Open In Great Smoky Mountains On Wednesday

While cleanup from Tropical Storm Helene continues in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Newfound Gap Road that crosses the park from Tennessee to North Carolina is scheduled to reopen Wednesday morning.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 1st, 2024 3:06pm

Recovery Continues At National Parks Impacted By Tropical Storm Helene

Flooding, power outages, and downed trees were among the issues national parks were facing in the aftermath of Helene, which evolved from tropical storm to hurricane and back to tropical storm as it rampaged from the Gulf of Mexico north into Appalachia.

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 30th, 2024 2:58pm

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks