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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Final Stretch Of Foothills Parkway To Finally Open At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials plan to open the long-awaited section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley, Tennessee, on Saturday, November 10. The public will be able to experience the entire 16-mile roadway for the first time since construction began in 1966, including the 1.65-mile section known as the ‘Missing Link’ which is now connected by a series of nine bridges.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Biodiversity Inventory Reaches 1,000 Species Mark

While it has been hundreds of years since Europeans first arrived in North America, new species continue to be discovered in the landscape. Most recently, those involved with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have reached the 1,000 plateau in terms of new species to science discovered in the park.

Good Books For Understanding Bear Behavior

There have been quite a few comments this past week or so in light of an incident at Great Smoky Mountains National Park about bear behavior and what to do with a bear that either mauls a human or feeds on a dead body. There are some good books out there about bear behavior, and what you can do to protect yourself from bears, both blacks and grizzlies.

Fall Color Without the Crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are justly famous for their fall color—and a flood of mid-October visitors. Can you avoid the heavy traffic and still enjoy some autumn foliage by timing your visit a bit earlier? Here's a Traveler trip report.

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