Great Smoky Mountains National Park has implemented weekday closures for the Ramsey Cascades trail, effective from Monday onward, as part of ongoing rehabilitation efforts within the park.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), the Ramsey Cascades trail will be closed from Monday through Thursday each week, with the closures anticipated to continue until Nov. 14. Notably, the closure will not be enforced on federal holidays.
In a statement, the NPS highlighted that the rehabilitation work aims to enhance trail safety and safeguard the park’s natural resources. Situated in the Greenbrier area, the popular four-mile Ramsey Cascades Trail serves as the sole access route to the majestic 100-foot Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park.
Additionally, the trail will undergo closure during one weekend, from May 3 to May 5, to facilitate the replacement of a footlog bridge.
This initiative forms part of the park’s broader endeavor to recover from significant flooding and storm damage. Previously, the NPS had closed the trail entirely for several months in 2022 and early 2023.
The rehabilitation efforts encompass various activities such as repairing tread surfaces, enhancing drainage systems, constructing trail structures including staircases, turnpikes, and retaining walls, and mitigating trip hazards such as exposed roots and rocks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, renowned as the most visited national park in the United States in 2023, spans across North Carolina and Tennessee, showcasing some of the highest mountains in the eastern U.S., captivating year-round wildflowers, scenic drives, and picturesque hiking trails. While the park offers free admission, parking fees are applicable.
Beyond the Ramsey Cascade trail, the park boasts over 500,000 acres of wilderness, featuring 10 developed campgrounds and over 100 backcountry campsites.
This closure aligns with previous instances where the park has restricted human traffic, such as the closure of a park road last summer due to heightened bear activity during the animals’ foraging season.