GSMNP Closes Greenbrier Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park temporarily closed roads, trails, and facilities in the Greenbrier area of the park to all motorists and pedestrians due to flood damage that happened as storms hit East Tennessee Tuesday night. Some areas of the park received heavy rainfall…the National Weather Service says the Porters Gap area received an estimated 8.72 inches of rain within just a few hours. The Greenbrier area of the park had received approximately 5 inches of rain over the last week, resulting in already saturated soils before the storm cell produced flash flood conditions along the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River. That led to evacuations of 400 people Tuesday night from the area of the Greenbrier Campground off Pittman Center Road. Park officials say that Brushy Mountain, and Grapeyard Ridge Trails will continue to be open, but hikers cannot access them from the Greenbrier area during the closure and should plan their routes carefully. They say hikers should be prepared to turn around if they encounter high-water river crossings or damaged trail conditions along these routes. Do not try to cross those areas.