Trails report - trails closed, limited, or otherwise effected from the big storm

[SGT Rock]

I got this today:

A note from the Park that they are halting all volunteer trail trips, ie, campsite cleanup, trail maint, etc., until they can evaluate the trails themselves.

Updated July 10 at 7:45 a.m.
The following trails have been closed to all use:
• Ace Gap Trail
• Chestnut Top Trail
• Finley Cane Trail
• Rabbit Creek Trail from junction with Hatcher/Hannah Mt. trails to Abrams Falls trailhead in Cades Cove
• Scott Mountain Trail and Campsite #6
• West Prong Trail and Campsite # 18

The following trails have numerous areas that are impassible to stock and are closed to horse riding, but open to hikers:
• Bote Mountain Trail
• Cooper Road Trail
• Crib Gap Trail
• Crooked Arm Ridge Trail
• Gold Mine Trail
• Indian Grave Gap Trail
• Rich Mountain Trail
• Rich Mountain Loop Trail
• Schoolhouse Gap Trail
• Turkey Pen Ridge Trail
Hikers have reported that the following trails have significant damage. Park staff have not been able to assess these trails yet, so these reports are unconfirmed. However hikers are advised to avoid these trails until they can be assessed:
• Twentymile Loop Trail
• Twentymile Trail
• Wolf Ridge Trail
• Deep Creek Trail above campsite #60
• Eagle Creek Trail from campsite #90 to Spence
• Jonas Creek Trail
• Welch Ridge Trail
• Bear Creek Trail
• Laurel Falls (above the falls)
• Cove Mountain Trail
• Goshen Prong Trail
• Noland Creek area, including Springhouse Branch Trail
• Hazel Creek Trail, including campsite #82
• Appalachian Trail south of Mollies Ridge
• Ramsey Cascades Trail
• Little Greenbrier Trail
• Long Hungry Ridge Trail
The following roads are closed and may affect visitor ability to access trailheads:
• Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend Wye
• Parson Branch Road
• Forge Creek Road
• Abrams Creek Road from Hwy 129
• Tremont Road past the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

[10-K]

Dang......

[Wise Old Owl]

Tnx SG Rock, Wonder if Shannendoah is having issues too.

[SGT Rock]

I don't know. My feel is that even if it is, that it is easier to get in and clean it up given the physical characteristics of SNP. The Smokies is going to be hard to clean up, before the storm there were still a few trails closed from the big tornado outbreak in April 2011 despite a concentrated effort to get in and open trails.

[Red Hat]

SGT Rock, you are the MAN! Thanks for the info.

[SGT Rock]

Doing the beer math is is about 200 miles of trail that are closed or impacted by this storm.

[generoll]

on a brighter note, as soon as they begin collecting for back country use they'll of course have the money to clean things up. right?

[Tennessee Viking]

The Park website and Great Smoky Mountains Assocication Facbook page is listing only a few trails and campsites closed now.

[Blissful]

Shenandoah suffered quite a bit of damage, they are asking you to be careful but trails are not closed except for the fire area

[SGT Rock]

The Park website and Great Smoky Mountains Assocication Facbook page is listing only a few trails and campsites closed now.

They have set up a special page that isn't easy to find. Look here: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/trail-damage-7-5-12-storm.htm

[SGT Rock]

Plus the other closed stuff normally found here: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm

[Tennessee Viking]

I see it now. I was only looking at the temporary closure page.

[oper8or]

I dont understand why 15 and 16 are closed on the RCT. SAR said 15 was clear. Maybe because of the Hannah / Rabbit Creek intersection? I've been to 15 and its a very nice site. I'd like to go back to it. The view is amazing when you get to the top just before decending to the Hannah/RC and site 16.

[oper8or]

I dont understand why 15 and 16 are closed on the RCT. SAR said 15 was clear. Maybe because of the Hannah / Rabbit Creek intersection? I've been to 15 and its a very nice site. I'd like to go back to it. The view is amazing when you get to the top just before decending to the Hannah/RC and site 16.

Correction, not SAR, but Greenback Rescue Squad. One of my buddies is on the team.

[Maddog]

Thanks for the info! Maddog