Smokey Mts in December

Not sure what you mean about stopping by?

One of the most crowded times of the year in Gatlinburg is Thanksgiving weekend and we know people who go down over New Years every year.

They sometimes may close a trail or two in the mountains, but unless there is a really big snow storm I don't think the roads are ever closed.

For me, it would be worth it.

The main highway through the GSMNP (US 441) between Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Cherokee, N.C., can and does close in bad weather. The roads can be treacherous at the top even when conditions at lower elevations are fine.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm says:

Weather-related road and facility closures may change throughout the day. For updated road and weather information please call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast. You may wish to write this number down when traveling to the area for handy reference for road and weather updates. This webpage is updated 2-3 times a week. For the most current report, please call the number listed above.

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441) is subject to closures at night due to ice forming on the road surface as the temperature drops in the evening.


That said, there is beauty in the Smokies any time of the year, and many year-round activities in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cherokee, Maggie Valley, Sevierville, Townsend, etc.

Thanks for the road info xrae. We may venture down that way this winter/spring at some point and that is good to know.

The Smokies are beautiful any time of year, but if you wait until the spring the hills are covered in wildflowers. The Smokies have more flowering plants than any other national park. In fact, there's a wildflower festival, the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage (http://www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/) to celebrate the blooms. Fodor's is coming out with a new guide book just on the Great Smoky Mountains. Look for it in bookstores in April.

SalwaJ, I hope your guide includes the Cataloochee Valley and the elk there. They're in a remote area of the park and amazing to watch at dawn/dusk when they come out to feed. (Just please do not approach the animals! People can be so dumb.)

We will be driving US441 cross the Gap, weather permitting this coming Sunday on our way north for Christmas. Hope the coming ice storm doesn't hit that far south and they have to close the road.