Popular Areas Closing for Winter Preparation

With winter quickly approaching, the National Park Service will close several popular roads, campgrounds and riding stables over the next few weeks.

The Sugarlands Visitors Center will be open 8 am to 5 pm daily, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center will be open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily and the Cades Cove Visitor Center will be open 9 am to 5 pm daily throughout November.

The Cades Cove Riding Stables will close November 5th, Sugarlands Riding Stables closed November 1st and the Smokemont Riding Stables is closed for the season. The Smoky Mountain Riding Stables will remain open until November 25th. All five horse camps, Round Bottom, Tow String, Big Creek, Anthony Creek and Cataloochee will close November 12th.

Balsam Mountain/Heintooga roads closed November 1st, Parsons Branch and Rich Mountain roads will close November 9th, Round-bottom/Straight Fork roads will close November 12th and the Clingman's Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Trail will close December 1st.

Elkmont Campground will remain open until December 1st and the Cades Cove campground will remain open all year. Balsam Mountain and the remaining self-registering campgrounds are already closed for the season.

LeConte Lodge will close November 20th and re-open in the spring.