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http://seymourherald.com/news/2009/oct/27/smokies-winter-schedule/

smokies winter schedule

published: October 27 2009 02:16 PM updated:: October 27 2009 02:21 PM       Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced its winter season facility closings schedule. As cooler weather approaches and visitation decreases, various facilities will close, including 7 of the 10 campgrounds, and operational hours for some visitor services will be reduced.
VISITOR CENTERS
       Through the month of November, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN, will open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, will serve visitors from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Cades Cove Visitor Center located half way around the Cades Cove Loop Road will be opened daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.   The visitor center hours for the following winter months are posted on the Park’s website, www.nps.gov/grsm.
ROADS
      Several of the secondary roads will close as indicated: Balsam Mountain/Heintooga Roads on November 1, Parson Branch and Rich Mountain Roads on November 16, Roundbottom/Straight Fork on November 10, and Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on December 1.
      During the winter months, the Park’s two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, will remain open throughout the year, except for temporary closures for extreme winter weather conditions.
      The Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop Road, Cosby Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont, Forge Creek, Lakeview Drive, and Foothills Parkway (East and West) will open and close as road conditions mandate.
       For more information on winter weather road conditions, contact the Park at 865/436-1200.
LODGING
      LeConte Lodge will accommodate guests until November 24 when it will close for the season.
CAMPING
      Two of the three major campgrounds will remain open all year. These year-round campgrounds are Cades Cove in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina. Starting November 1, they will be on a self-registration basis with a reduced number of available sites. Elkmont Campground in Tennessee will remain open through the Thanksgiving weekend and will close on December 1.
      Balsam Mountain campground is already closed for the season. The six remaining self-registration campgrounds will close on November 1.
CADES COVE CAMPGROUND STORE
      Cades Cove Campground Store will close on December 21, but will reopen December 26-January 3 to serve visitors during the holiday period. Vending machines at the store will remain in service throughout the winter.
PICNICKING
      Seven picnic areas will remain open through the winter: Chimney Tops, Cades Cove, Cosby, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, Big Creek, and Deep Creek. Picnic pavilions at Cosby, Greenbrier and Deep Creek will be open through the winter and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Picnic pavilions that will close on November 1 include Twin Creeks, Collins Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms.
HORSEBACK STABLES
      Smokemont Riding Stable is scheduled to close on November 2. Sugarlands Riding Stable and Smoky Mountain Riding Stable will close on November 30. Cades Cove Riding Stable will close on December 21, but will reopen December 26-January 3.   The closing dates are dependent on weather conditions.
HORSE CAMPS
      All five horse camps--Round Bottom, Tow String, Cataloochee, Big Creek, and Anthony Creek--are scheduled to close on November 9.