 Here are some updates from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 2011 (photo is the view from Chimney Tops):
Get Road Updates Via Twitter or Text
Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors and local travelers may now sign-up to receive status updates about the Park’s most frequently used roads via text message or the Internet. In the past, travelers had to place phone calls to the Park to determine the status of the roads which can change frequently with changing weather conditions.
Those who wish to be notified of the status of the Park’s four most popular roads - Newfound Gap (U.S. 441), Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road, and Cades Cove Loop Road – can opt to get text messages to their cell phones by texting follow smokiesroadsnps to 40404. To stop receiving the text message alerts, text stop smokiesroadsnps to the same number. Standard text rates will apply.
The public can get that same information via the Internet by going to http://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps to read recent road notification postings. This is a Twitter website maintained by the Park, but anybody can access it at any time, without having to establish a Twitter account. Anyone having a Twitter account can go an extra step and choose to have updates set to them by going to the site listed above and clicking the “follow” button to see the updates on their own account page and receive the notifications in the manner they specify.
In addition to notifications of winter road conditions, Park officials plan to notify travelers throughout the year of road openings and closings due to rock slides, fallen trees, and accidents. Anytime the status of one of the listed roads changes, a message will be sent.
As the National Park Service prepares for its 2016 centennial celebration, officials are increasingly utilizing technology to connect the American people to their national parks. Information on all of the roads in the Park as well as other Park information may be obtained by calling the park’s information line at (865) 436-1200 and following the prompts.
 New Smokies Visitor Center near Asheville
A new $3 million Oconaluftee Visitor Center will opened in April 15 near Cherokee. It's adjacent to the wonderful Mountain Farm Museum. Nice gift shop plus an impressive exhibit on life in the Smokies prior to the National Park.
Advance Reservations Now Required at Cataloochee Campground
Cataloochee Valley Campground in North Carolina will go live on Recreation.gov on February 9, 2011. Under this system, campers will be required to make advanced reservations to stay at the 27-site campground when it reopens for the season on March 11. Historically, the popular but remote campground operated on a first-come-first-served basis, but this method will no longer be used in the future.
Normally, the national reservation system allows campers to make reservations up to six months in advance, but during this start up period, the reservation database for Cataloochee will not be active until February 9. On that date, people can make reservations for any date from March 11 (opening date) through August 9, a six month window. Each day after February 9, a new date, six months ahead, will become available. Reservations can be made either online at: www.recreation.gov or toll-free at 1-877-444-6777. The camping fee will be $20 per night which includes the contract costs for the reservation system and is the same as several other campgrounds in the Park with similar amenities.
9.5 Million Visitors in 2010
During a year of weather extremes, landslides, and major construction projects, Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitation in Calendar Year 2010 pulled through to match 2009 levels. Visitation through the Park’s three main entrances and outlying areas in 2010 was 9,463,538, just slightly below 2009, the Park’s 75th anniversary year which reported 9,491,436 visits. According to Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson, “Extreme weather in 2010 left its mark on Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a cold chilling winter to sweltering heat in summer.” Above average snowfall in the high elevations caused more frequent closures of Newfound Gap Road and other Park roads January through March and then again in December. Both February and December marked record snowfall at Mt. LeConte (6,593 feet), 52 inches and 53 inches, respectively. Then during the summer months, a heat wave hit and the Park recorded a long string of 90-plus temperatures in the low country with August seeing above average highs.
New Zip Line Canopy Tours & Jeep Rides
The new Waterfall Gorge Canopy Tour on the north side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes you into the Smoky Mountain Creek Gorge exposing a lush forest of ferns, wildflowers, towering trees, rock cliffs, waterfall and moss covered bolder gardens. Also new is guided jeep rides with local guides from Wildwater that follow the steps of the early explorers, visiting the back roads of the region and learning more about the Great Smoky Mountains. Read more!
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