You are here

Home » Input Sought For Solutions To Crowding At Laurel Falls In Great Smoky Mountains

Input Sought For Solutions To Crowding At Laurel Falls In Great Smoky Mountains

Share
By Compiled From N... - December 2nd, 2022

A proposal to rehabilitate the popular Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park would replace the narrow pedestrian bridge at the falls/NPS file

Crowds in particularly popular areas of the National Park System are challenging park managers to manage the crowds while preserving the natural resources. One solution that seems to be growing is to require reservations for access, something that's been adopted at Zion and Acadia national parks and tested at Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah national parks.

Now Great Smoky Mountains officials are mulling whether to make permanent a reservation system for the Laurel Falls area of the park, while Shenandoah officials are reviewing how their trial reservation program for Old Rag fared.

At Great Smoky, the park staff is preparing an environmental assessment for the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan and is seeking public input through January 6. The plan addresses visitor experience and safety, parking, and trail infrastructure rehabilitation for one of the most visited trails in the park.

One management strategy under consideration is to make permanent the reservation system that was tested on a trial basis last year. During peak periods, $14 reservations were needed to gain two hours of parking time in the trailhead lot.

But bringing back reservations is just one aspect under consideration in the EA. Also included is a rehabilitation plan that would close the trail to the public for up to 18 months while the footpath is, essentially, rebuilt. Existing asphalt would be removed and a new layer would be laid down. The proposal also envisions improved drainage and signage, a more formal "gathering area" at the trailhead, and possible installation of a vault toilet in the area.

Five trailside rest areas also would be created along the way to Laural Falls, and a wider bridge at the falls would be installed. The plan also calls for greatly increased parking. Currently, there are 14 spots at the trailhead, and the plan proposes two additional lots with a capacity of 54 vehicles.

The preferred alternative would replace the broken asphalt trailbed with new asphalt/NPS file

The proposal also includes a "no action" alternative that would keep current conditions in place. As part of the current public scoping comment period, the Park Service is asking for input on the preliminary proposed action and issues that should be considered in the environmental assessement.

You can review the proposal at this site, and leave your comments there as well.

Or you can mail your comments to ATTN: Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan/EA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

Under the current timeline, the park staff intends to release the draft environmental assessment for public review next spring, with a decision expected next summer.

Support National Parks Traveler

National Parks Traveler is a small, editorially independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit media organization. The Traveler is not part of the federal government nor a corporate subsidiary. Your support helps ensure the Traveler's news and feature coverage of national parks and protected areas endures. 

EIN: 26-2378789

Support Journalism about National Parks!

National Parks Traveler is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.

Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:

  • Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
  • Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
  • Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
  • North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
  • Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
  • Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
  • Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.

Comments

Submitted by chris... on December 2, 2022 - 8:53am.

the previous poster is correct- the NPS does not care.  If you have not noticed the "covid pandemic" gave the NPS the excuse to implement the recreation gov scam and all of the other plans to reduce visitation, increase costs, and expand the NPS foot print to block development.  

This is a win win for the rich.  they profit off your visit to the parks, they profit off the parks reduction in visitation, they profit off the parks expansion, they profit off the lack of empoyees and the use of recreation gov.  

At this rate we wont have a park service or a national parks traveler 


Submitted by SmokiesBackpacker on December 4, 2022 - 10:50am.

Chris, you are spot on. Superintendent Ca$$iu$ Ca$h should get an award for limiting access by taxpayers to taxpayer funded lands. Rec.gov will have their $14.  Mark this post. Doesn't matter what the comments are.  The NPS cares not.


Submitted by T Burt on December 7, 2022 - 4:21pm.

Amen brother!!


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.