Where is the best place on trail to get your permit for entering the park?
Where is the best place on trail to get your permit for entering the park?
Any place that has a printer......
so, you could print it before you left to get on trail.....
You have 30 days to get it before you enter the park. Will likely take you 2-3 weeks to get to Fontana. So you COULD print it out within a week before you start, but you can also print it out at the outfitter at the NOC...they have a computer set up for hikers to do so. Also...I saw hikers printing it out at the Fontana Lodge on the day they entered the Smokies, just have to catch a ride to the lodge or call/pay for a shuttle at the phone near the boat loading area (on trail).
Frankenstein - 2014 GAME
www.trailjournals.com/kylezontheat
https://smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm
Old 2013 post from Laurie at ATC on this subject
"That's the thing about possum innards - they's just as good the second day." - Jed Clampett
As Laurie's quote said, the NOC has a computer and printer set up just for this purpose.
If you have any difficulty locating a printer, a Smart Phone might be all you need.
The whole permit process eventually generates a PDF that "officially" you are supposed to print and carry with you.
But I've heard several reports that "unofficially" the rangers accept a digital copy of the PDF.
(Of course you've got to make sure you can show that digital copy at any time. Don't know what would happen if a Ranger asked you to present your permit and you said you couldn't because your phone battery is dead. So if you do decide to venture into GSMNP without printing your permit, at least write down the permit # in case your phone dies.)
Got mine at NOC. As said above, they have a printer setup just for Permits.
You can print it in Franklin, Fontana Dam, the NoC..... anywhere really.