Government Shutdown
As of October 17, 2013, with the end of the government shutdown, maintenance activities, club hikes, etc on the Appalachian Trail can resume.
The U.S. Forest Service/Blue Ridge Ranger District will conduct a controlled burn on the Cooper East burn unit Thursday March 14th, which will include Bryant Creek, Coosa Bald, and Addie Gap. To achieve this burn and minimize impacts to public safety, the Duncan Ridge Trail will be temporarily closed for 24 hours beginning at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 13th from Mulky Gap to Wolfpen Gap.
In addition, FS Road 39 (Duncan Ridge Road) will be closed from its intersection with FSR 33A; FS Road 33A will be closed from the intersection with FSR 39 and FSR 33; and FS Road 261 (Bryant Creek Road) will also be closed. Road closures will affect the East parking area for the Yellow Mountain Trail on Addie Gap Road (FSR 33A). Signs will be posted and Public Information Officers will be present on the day of the burn to assist with notifying visitors.
WEATHER CAUSES ROAD CLOSURES IN SMOKIES - JANUARY 17, 2013
A landslide has caused the closure of the Newfound Gap Road in the Smokies until further notice. Several other roads in the area are closed temporarily due to inclement weather and flooding.
FIRE UPDATE - NOVEMBER 30, 2012
Temporary closures have been lifted for the A.T., the Approach Trail, and the portions of FS46 that had been affected by a wildfire in the area. All sections of the Trail are now open.
FIRE UPDATE - NOVEMBER 28, 2012
The latest release from the Forest Service indicates that the fire near Springer Mountain is about 85% contained. No structures have been threatened and Amicalola Falls State Park and the Len Foote Hike Inn remain open. The affected trail sections remain closed but may re-open as soon as Friday.
NOVEMBER 26, 2012
Due to a wildfire in the area, a portion of the Approach Trail and the A.T. on and around Springer Mountain has been closed as of November 25, 2012. For further details, please see the Forest Service notice.
We will provide further updates as we receive them.
UPDATE - August 18, 2012
Construction has been completed at both the Woody Gap Trailhead and the Chestatee Overlook parking area. Both locations re-opened on Saturday, August 18, 2012
WOODY GAP TRAILHEAD AND CHESTATEE OVERLOOK TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE FOR REPAVING
The Woody Gap Trailhead, located in Union County at the intersection of State Highway 60 and the Appalachian Trail, will close on Monday, August 13, 2012, and will reopen on Saturday, August 18 to allow crews to repave the parking area. This closure includes both parking areas located on each side of Highway 60.
The Chestatee Overlook, located in Lumpkin County south of Woody Gap along State Highway 60, will close beginning Monday, August 20, and will reopen on Saturday, August 25 to allow crews to repave that parking area.
The Forest Service regrets any inconvenience this may cause forest visitors. The areas will be clearly marked with notices two weeks in advance of the closures. Any vehicles parked in the lots during the closures will be towed at the owners’ expense. Alternate access points to the Appalachian Trail include Neels Gap in Union County on US Highway 129, Amicalola Falls access trail off State Highway 52, and other access points along Forest Service 42.
For more information, please contact the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests at (706) 745-6928.
NEWFOUND GAP ROAD IN SMOKIES -- April 20, 2013
The Newfound Gap Road (US441) from Gatlinburg to Cherokee has re-opened, according to the Great Smoky Mountain Association.
FS CLOSES DUNCAN RIDGE TRAIL FOR CONTROLLED BURN IN THE AREA- March 13, 2013