Archive for the ‘Abrams Falls Trail’ Category

Abrams Falls Trail has reopened

Friday, May 27th, 2011
Just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend, park officials in the Great Smoky Mountains have announced that the popular Abrams Falls Trail has reopened.

The trail was closed after a tornado ripped through western end of Cades Cove on April 27th and downed more than 4500 trees in the area.

The 2.5-mile trail to Abrams Falls was reopened yesterday, however, 33 miles of trails and three backcountry campsites remain closed in that area:

• Backcountry Campsites 3, 11, 15

• Ace Gap Trail

• Beard Cane Trail

• Cooper Road Trail from the Beard Cane/Hatcher Mountain Trails junction to the Cades Cove Loop Road

• Hannah Mountain Trail is closed from Rabbit Creek Trail junction to Abrams Falls/Little Bottoms Trails junction.

• Hatcher Mountain Trail

• Little Bottoms Trail is closed from Campsite 17 to Abrams Falls/Hannah Mountain Trails junction

• Rabbit Creek Trail

• Wet Bottoms Trail

• All trails leaving from the Abrams Falls trailhead and Abrams Creek Ranger Station are closed to horse riding due to downed trees.

According to a press release from today, the Park has hired a number of local people and is receiving assistance from 23 trail workers from six western parks to help support Park efforts to clear and rehabilitate trails. There is no estimate when the repairs to the other trails will be completed at this time.

For more information on hiking to Abrams Falls, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, reopened, tornado | Comments Off

Over 4,500 trees down in Smokies

Friday, May 6th, 2011
Great Smoky Mountains officials published a press release late yesterday reporting that a survey by trail workers shows that, as a result of last weeks' tornado, a total of over 4,500 trees are down in the closed sections of the park, with some areas resembling jackstraws for over a mile at a time.

Trail workers also counted over a thousand areas where trees were blown down and their roots tore gaps in the trail.

At this time, the full and partial closures of seven trails on the west end of the Smokies total roughly 27 miles.

The popular Abrams Falls Trail remains impassable due to numerous blow downs and over 40 areas where root balls were ripped out of the trail surface, leaving hot-tub sized craters. Park managers hope to have Abrams Falls Trail reopened by Memorial Day.

Below is a map of the affected trails. Please click for a larger view:

Park managers stress that no park roads are affected by the storm damage, and that the remainder of the park’s 800 miles of trails remain open. In the Cades Cove area visitors are encouraged to seek alternative trails. Access to Gregory Bald via Parson Branch Road is unaffected. Visitors can stop at any park visitor center for advice.

You may also want to note that the camping area and lower picnic area at the Horse Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest are closed until further notice. The area received extensive tornado damage as well. Visitors are welcome to camp at Paint Creek or Rock Creek Recreation Areas.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, Horse Creek Recreation Area, cades cove, cherokee national forest, downed trees | Comments Off

Photo of the Day: Beard Cane Trail

Monday, May 2nd, 2011
The NPS photo above is from the Beard Cane Trail. The pathway extends right up the center of the ravine in the photo, which is now totally choked with downed trees.

Both the Beard Cane Trail and the Abrams Falls Trail near Cades Cove have been closed due to extensive damage from the wind and rain that occurred last Wednesday during the severe storm outbreak that hit the South. The trails are blocked by scores of downed trees and also have areas where trail surfaces were washed out.

The Abrams Falls Trail is closed from its trailhead at Cades Cove to the Hatcher Mountain Trail junction, and will likely remain closed through Friday. There is no reopening estimate for Beard Cane Trail, which is closed from Cooper Road Trail to Ace Gap Trail. The trail blockages also resulted in the closure of backcountry campsites 3 and 11. Other trails may also be blocked as more assessments are conducted.

The Park’s acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said, “The west end of the Park in Blount County, Tenn. was hit hard by the storms. At this point we have not had the chance to assess the condition of the trails in the western end of the Park, so hikers and, especially equestrians, may want to consider planning their routes in other areas of the Park.”

The Smokies website is also reporting that Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road are closed due to downed trees.

Additionally, all trails leaving from the Abrams Falls trailhead and Abrams Creek Ranger Station are closed to horse riding at this point as well.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, Beard Cane Trail, cades cove, downed trees, storm damage | Comments Off

Three hikers reported lost in Smokies

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Update: Rangers have found the hikers and are leading them back to the Abrams Falls Trail.

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Rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are looking for three lost hikers who called this afternoon to say they were lost. WBIR is reporting that all three are healthy and uninjured, but uncertain of their location.

Park spokesman Bob Miller said the trio of hikers, two young men and a young woman, got off the Abrams Falls Trail on the west end of Cades Cove, and then proceeded to become lost.

The hikers were able to use a cell phone to call park officials around 3 p.m. today to say they were lost. Rescuers planned to search until nightfall tonight, then resume searching tomorrow morning.

The "Horseshoe", an almost complete circle formed by Abrams Creek - roughly half-way between the trailhead and Abrams Falls, is famous for getting hikers lost. I'm not speculating that this is where they became lost, just throwing that out there as a possibility.

If not found and they have to spend the night in the woods, they have a long, cold and wet night in front of them. The forecast for tonight calls for the temperature to drop to 46, with occasional rain showers. Hopefully they're protected from the elements.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, cades cove, three lost hikers | Comments Off