GSMNP: Unfriendly for hikers/campers?

[Currahee D]

This post may stir the pot a bit, but it seems like from what I've read about the rules and regs of the GSMNP, it seems to be fairly restrictive and unfriendly for hikers. Is it true that backcountry hiking/camping fees are coming? And why aren't dogs allowed in the park, I can't imagine being a thru-hiker with a dog and parting ways with my 4 legged partner for that stretch. Also, why are reservations required for shelters and/or tent camping. Maybe because I'm a relative newby to backpacking, but it seems like the GSMNP is a complete hassle to hike through or camp in?? It all just seems way too restrictive to actually enjoy, maybe it's the libertarian in me, but it seems beyond ridiculous for the government to heavily regulate something that should be absolutely free and enjoyable. Anyone else agree?, I'm sure many will disagree.

[fireneck]

Yes, I agree it can be a pain, but I'm all for it. Regulating the 9 MILLION visitors is very important. Though a majority of them don't wonder more than 1/4 of a mile off cement! Someone pointed out in another thread that 1% of it's visitors is roughly 90,000 people. Let's entertain the idea that 1% of the park's visitors are backpackers... that's a lot of people tracking out the woods. It's important to have harden sites (shelters, tent pads) to reduce the impact of these people on the land. One of the other ways of regulating the impact is requiring permits (which they already do, they're still free as far as I know) The 800 square miles only has some much carrying capacity for people, it's important to keep the land healthy.

Frontcountry camping reservations are NOT required. They only allow a certain number of sites to be reserved in advance, thus it allows for walk ups.

I have heard rumors that backcountry fees are coming, but that's what happens when people decide to cut the budget of the NPS! If every tax payer paid an extra a $15 NPS tax it would DOUBLE the NPS budget.

Personally I am happy they have banned dogs and other pets!

[aaronthebugbuffet]

A lot of national parks have fees, require reservations and have strict rules regarding pets.

[Chaco Taco]

Its not a hassle only if you make it that way. The GSMNP is absolutely beautiful and is fun to hike. There are other trails other than the AT in the park that are awesome and have campsites. Curtis at Standing bear takes in dogs, or he used to while you go through the park. It all just requires a little more planning. There are no fees yet, but they are coming. Unfortunately, the fee issue is going to spur a big debate with people on this site. There are fee's up here in The Whites for parking your car for daily use and fees for staying in the backcountry and such and I have no issue with paying it. Its just how it is and it wont keep me from going out, so I dont complain about it. Thats basically what I see happening. This issue just gives people something else to complain about. Many people will try and circumvent the new rules and stealth places and will get caught, like they always do. You really have to look at it like this, is it really going to do any good for you to get ticked off about it on an internet website and piss a bunch of people off when the fees are yet to be put in place? If you dont like it, start a petition to change it and send it to the people responsible for making the rule.

I personally have a special place in my heart for the Smokies. I have always had so much fun hiking there and miss them. Its some of the most beautiful woods on the trail and is so very unique. If you can put aside the other stuff for something that may be out of your control, there is so much in that park to enjoy.

[HeartFire]

Dogs are not allowed on trails in ALL National Parks. The GSMNP is unusual in the NP system for not having fees (to date) it is certainly very hiker friendly as you just self register for back country camping at many of the ranger stations. Some, not all camping sites require reservations because they are often over used. Thru hikers do not need reservations for the shelters on the AT, just drop off your form at Fontana dam. There are about 800 miles of trail in the GSMNP, most of them much nicer than the AT.

Dogs on a thru hike are a 'hole nuther' topic

[Blissful]

You ask a bunch of whys that no one has answers for. Maybe go to the head honchos there and inquire. Or come to Shenandoah where all you need is a permit and your dog on a leash - should be great color this year. But I also agree with Chaco, the Smokies like many NPs are loved to death and thus more regs to keep things in balance so everyone can enjoy.

[4eyedbuzzard]

GSMNP is way too much of a hassle and should be avoided at all costs. Avoiding the park also sends a strong message to the authorities in charge that people don't agree with all the regulations and policies.

[IrishBASTARD]

We need regulations in place for GSMNP and far beyond...for all of our Parks. We need to protect what we have left remember These parks are American Treasures...to be enjoyed by everyone who is able to. Fees in place are needed because of budget cuts in all fields of Government. I would happily pay a fee so others can enjoy what I had in the past...being a beautiful park. I dont think its unfair to hikers simply because if you let too many on trail...then everyone wants to say hey I was back country hiking with so and so. We need regulations to help thrus and section hikers get past GSMNP...both inside the park and around it. They must regulate to keep nine million people off the lands we still have in our Country for such adventures. Be it it is public but those nine million people I dont think every single one knows about leave no trace let alone...not to just walk anywhere you like. If its not restrictive then we loose it to ignorance in people...either not caring or knowing whats good for GSMNP. With the dog issue I dont own one so I wont comment.

[lissersmith]

I have lived very near this park most of my life, have hiked all 900 miles of its trails and have never felt like any of it was a hassle. If you don't have a few regulations in place, it would be a disaster. And as far as dogs go, I am all for "none allowed". There is too much wildlife that does not need to be bothered by dogs. Also, dogs would probably bark all night at a backcountry site at bears etc. and keep everyone awake. If there were no reservation at the shelters, it would be a cluster----k. Most of the trails ar not heavily used except for the A.T. My complaint about the park is that they are too restrictive in regard to mountain biking, yet too obliging to horseback riders.

[Pedaling Fool]

GSMNP is way too much of a hassle and should be avoided at all costs. Avoiding the park also sends a strong message to the authorities in charge that people don't agree with all the regulations and policies.

I agree, probably, pending how this new reservation policy pans out.

With these new reservation rules pending I don't think I'll go through GSMNP again, but will have to see. No problems though, many more trails around, just be glad the govt doesn't manage those areas like the park. Even with the old rules (which I didn't really like, but had no major issues with) it just didn't feel the same in the park.

[Chaco Taco]

We need regulations in place for GSMNP and far beyond...for all of our Parks. We need to protect what we have left remember These parks are American Treasures...to be enjoyed by everyone who is able to. Fees in place are needed because of budget cuts in all fields of Government. I would happily pay a fee so others can enjoy what I had in the past...being a beautiful park. I dont think its unfair to hikers simply because if you let too many on trail...then everyone wants to say hey I was back country hiking with so and so. We need regulations to help thrus and section hikers get past GSMNP...both inside the park and around it. They must regulate to keep nine million people off the lands we still have in our Country for such adventures. Be it it is public but those nine million people I dont think every single one knows about leave no trace let alone...not to just walk anywhere you like. If its not restrictive then we loose it to ignorance in people...either not caring or knowing whats good for GSMNP. With the dog issue I dont own one so I wont comment.

Well said IB

[Tipi Walter]

The GSMNP head honchos either are drinking too much stinging nettle tea, or have a hot iron on their butts put there by big business. All this talk of charging backpackers cash money to sleep while the honchos DO NOT charge $20 for every vehicle entering the park must be a policy caused by coal smog induced dementia. Everybody knows the park is the most air polluted park in the country, with air as bad as Los Angeles, and yet the boys won't close the roads thru the park, won't charge money for cars and trucks coming into the park, and still allow bumper to bumper tourist traffic thru Cades Cove. Are we nuts?

And then they designate around 90 backcountry overnight sites which let's say are an acre each, adding up to around 100 total acres to camp on. One hundred acres out of 500,000?? No wonder these backcountry sites are mud pits and overused. Why not open the park up to unlimited camping wherever you can find a spot to sleep? This system works great in the Mt Rogers backcountry, the Big Frog and Cohutta wilderness, the Slickrock wilderness, the Snowbird backcountry, the Dolly Sods wilderness, the Bald River and Upper Bald wilderness, and thruout the Pisgah, Jefferson, Nantahala, and Cherokee national forests. Even most of the 2,000 mile length of the AT allows camping anywhere without fees or permits.

And here's a good solution: Make backpackers and overnighters-on-foot get a yearly annual pass ($200? $300?), or a lifetime pass ($2,000?) and then open up the park and have at it. Backpackers don't need to be led by the hand to each and every spot---or to write down where they'll be on night 16 of a 20 day trip. Who could know?

Until the Rangers restrict the driving tourists as they do the backpackers, we will continue to have these long screeds and rants on their apparent wacky reasonings.

[mudhead]

Dogs are not allowed on trails in ALL National Parks.

All needs to be changed to several.

[Rain Man]

Troll.

Rain Man

.

[mudhead]

I truly hope that is not directed at me.

[Tipi Walter]

Troll.

Rain Man

.

That's all you've got to say?

[Chaco Taco]

here it comes

[MyName1sMud]

Troll.

Rain Man

.

I trolled the park I guess. Didn't have a permit and spent 3 days in the woods there.

whoops

[Odd Man Out]

The GSMNP head honchos either are drinking too much stinging nettle tea, or have a hot iron on their butts put there by big business. All this talk of charging backpackers cash money to sleep while the honchos DO NOT charge $20 for every vehicle entering the park must be a policy caused by coal smog induced dementia. Everybody knows the park is the most air polluted park in the country, with air as bad as Los Angeles, and yet the boys won't close the roads thru the park, won't charge money for cars and trucks coming into the park, and still allow bumper to bumper tourist traffic thru Cades Cove. Are we nuts?

Yes we are nuts. But it isn't just the head honchos at the park. Every time a park tries to restrict traffic by putting in public transportation/shuttles (such as Zion, GC, Yosemite, Denali), people whine about "limiting their access to the parks" (even if they are free shuttles). In this country, if you can't drive your private vehicle up to it, you are restricting access. Why do we have drive thru banks, fast food, library book returns, mail boxes, churches, etc? So you don't have to get out of your car. People even complained that democracy was threatened when they closed PA Ave in front of the White House to automobile traffic. First you can't drive by the White House. Pretty soon they will take away your vote, or so they claimed. We are all fighting a loosing battle against the American car cult.

[Spokes]

From the National Park Service Webpage (emphasis added):

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has prohibited dogs in the backcountry since the park was first established in the 1930s. The park prohibits dogs on hiking trails for several reasons:

• Dogs can carry disease into the park's wildlife populations.

• Dogs can chase and threaten wildlife, scaring birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting sites. The scent left behind by a dog can signal the presence of a predator, disrupting or altering the behavior of park wildlife. Small animals may hide in their burrow the entire day after smelling a dog and may not venture out to feed.

• Dogs bark and disturb the quiet of the wilderness. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably or bark excessively.

• Pets may become prey for larger predators such as coyotes and bears. In addition, if your dog disturbs and enrages a bear, it may lead the angry bear directly to you. Dogs can also encounter insects that bite and transmit disease and plants that are poisonous or full of painful thorns and burrs.

• Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors.


My 2 cents on dogs and hiking is the dog doesn't get a say so in the matter. It can't tell you if it doesn't want to go on a frickin' hike.