Cades Cove Loop Road Closed November 29-30!

The hemlocks need additional treatment to kill the wooly adelgids, those Asian insects that have killed so many of the lovely trees in the Park. The 11 mile road around Cades Cove will be closed to all vehicular traffic, including bicycles but hikers will be allowed.

On November 30, only the western end of the Loop Road will be closed to vehicular traffic. Visitors will be detoured at Hyatt Lane (the second crossroad) and directed to cross the valley and exit. The detour will shorten the tour of the Cove to eight miles and will eliminate access to the Cades Cove Visitors Center and the Cable Mill area for the day. It will also affect the following trailheads: Abrams Falls, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek, Wet Bottom Trails and the Gregory Ridge trailhead.

Large truck-mounted sprayers will treat the trees with an insecticidal soap/oil solution that has proved efficient in killing some of the pests. So make your plans accordingly and mark your calendars with the dates.