Winter showed up early in the Smokies this week. Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed U.S. 441, Newfound Gap Road, between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, North Carolina, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, because of the snow in the forecast. If you were planning to drive over the mountain this weekend, here’s what you need to know.
What’s closed right now
- Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441): Closed across the mountain between Gatlinburg and Cherokee since 6 p.m. Thursday, November 12.
- When it reopens: The park hasn’t given a reopening time. It reopens once crews decide the road is safe to drive, WVLT reported. With more snow due Friday night and freezing temperatures after that, don’t be surprised if it stays closed into the weekend.
- Other roads: When the closure was announced, Newfound Gap Road was the only park road set to close for this storm, according to WVLT. That can change quickly if ice forms or wind brings trees down, like it did earlier this month.
How much snow is coming
The National Weather Service in Morristown has a Winter Weather Advisory for elevations above 3,000 feet in the Tennessee mountains, including the Sevier and Blount County Smokies. It runs from 10 a.m. Friday, November 13, to 1 p.m. Saturday, November 14. The Weather Service expects up to 4 inches of snow above 3,000 feet, with more possible on the highest peaks, and it specifically calls out U.S. 441 at Newfound Gap for slippery roads and a messy Friday evening commute (Knox News has the details).
Down in town it’s a different story. WATE notes that Gatlinburg, Wears Valley, Townsend and Cades Cove all sit below 3,000 feet, so the snow shouldn’t cause travel problems there. Spots like Ober Mountain, Newfound Gap, Mount Le Conte and Kuwohi are where it will pile up. Everyone gets the cold, though, with a hard freeze expected this weekend and lows in the 20s and low 30s.
Tips if you’re visiting this weekend
- Heading to Cherokee or North Carolina? Plan on driving around the park instead of over it while the road is closed, and give yourself plenty of extra time.
- Check before you go: The park posts road updates on its current conditions page, its road and facility closures page and on @GreatSmokyNPS on X. Those are the best places to see when Newfound Gap Road opens again.
- Hiking up high? Bring a warm jacket, hat, gloves and traction devices for your boots. The crew at LeConte Lodge warned on November 12 that wind chills on the crest could dip toward zero at times and that trails may ice over. Lodge guests are being steered to trails like Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap and Bullhead while the road is closed. The lodge itself closes for the season November 24.
- Want to see the snow? The prettiest views are often from town once the clouds lift Saturday, when the high peaks above Gatlinburg turn white. Enjoy them from a safe spot and leave the closed roads to the plow crews.
- More closings are on the way: Kuwohi Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and the Little Greenbrier area close for the winter on November 29. Our winter changeover guide has the full list.
Sources: Great Smoky Mountains National Park on X, WVLT, Knox News, WATE, High on LeConte and the National Weather Service in Morristown. Conditions change fast in the mountains, so check the park’s latest updates before you drive.