Park rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States, are urging people to postpone their trips to the park after it was damaged by Hurricane Helen. is calling.
The national park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border, has seen impacts including flooding, downed trees, damaged power lines and hazardous trail conditions, NPS said.
These impacts resulted in road closures throughout the park and surrounding areas.
“While some national parks are open, outdoor recreation is currently suspended due to park staffing shortages and visitor safety concerns,” the NPS said.
They also noted that nearby communities have also been affected by Helen, with gas, food, water and other resources in short supply.
According to NPS, this has resulted in the closure of the following areas within the park:
- Balsam Mountain area, campgrounds and roads.
- Big Creek area, campgrounds and roads.
- Cataloochee Valley area, campgrounds, roads (including Highway 284).
- Deep Creek (the creek itself), located between the Indian Creek Bridge and the park boundary, is closed to all wading.
- Deep Creek Campground.
- Foothills Parkway East.
- Kwohi Road (formerly known as Clingmans Dome Road).
- Kwohi Visitor Center.
- Lakeview Drive.
- Newfound Gap Road/Highway 441.
- Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
- Parson Branch Road (as a result of the Flint Gap Fire).
- Smokemont Campground.
“While we recognize that this is a popular time to visit the park, we encourage visitors to reschedule their travel dates for their own safety,” park officials said in a statement.
They noted that if visitors decide to come to the park, they are asked to recreate responsibly. This includes:
- Avoid hiking or traveling in the backcountry as stream crossings are unpredictable and may result in fallen trees.
- Avoid playing in the water, know your limits, and understand that emergency response times may be delayed due to a lack of emergency services.
Park officials also asked visitors to consider that several park employees have also been personally affected by Helen. They noted that staff were either dealing with emergencies at home or were unable to drive to work due to road closures.
