Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed a trail on weekdays starting Monday as crews continue rehabilitation work in the popular park.
The weekday closures are expected to last through Nov. 14
The NPS noted the closure will not be in effect on federal holidays.
“The rehabilitation will improve overall trail safety and protect the park’s natural resources,” the NPS said in a statement. “Located in the Greenbrier area, the popular four-mile Ramsey Cascades Trail is the only way to access the 100-foot Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park.”
In addition to weekdays, the trail will be closed on one weekend from May 3 to May 5 so crews can replace a footlog bridge.
The latest work is part of the park’s larger efforts to rebuild after significant flooding and storm damage. The NPS even closed the popular trail completely for several months in 2022 and early 2023.
Crews will “repair tread surfaces, improve drainages, construct trail structures such as staircases, turnpikes, and retaining walls and remove trip hazards like exposed roots and rocks.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was the most visited national park in the United States in 2023, sits between North Carolina and Tennessee and boasts some of the highest mountains in the eastern U.S., gorgeous year-round wildflowers, stunning drives, and beautiful hiking trails. The park is free to visit, but does charge parking fees.
Beyond the Ramsey Cascade trail, the park features more than 500,000 acres, 10 developed campgrounds, and more than 100 backcountry campsites.
