The National Park Service will begin a major rehabilitation on Laurel Falls Trail, one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail will close for 18 months ...

“Laurel Falls Trail is a beloved feature of Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” acting park Superintendent Boone Vandzura said in a statement. “The rehabilitation will provide for greater ...

National Park Service photo The most popular trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closing and won’t reopen until mid-2026, according to the National Park Service. Laurel Falls Trail ...

“Laurel Falls Trail is a beloved feature of Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Acting Superintendent Boone Vandzura. “The rehabilitation will provide for greater safety and an ...

Named for the mountain laurel (an evergreen shrub) that blooms throughout the park, Laurel Falls is one of the most popular trails in the park. The path has an upper and a lower section ...

“Laurel Falls Trail is a beloved feature of Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Boone Vandzura, GSMNP Acting Superintendent, said. “The rehabilitation will provide for greater safety and ...

Long before Hurricane Helene hit the Smokies, the National Park Service already knew the visitation count for 2024 would be lower than previous years.

Laurel Falls Trail is a popular destination at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Seeing over 300,000 hikers annually, it’s one of the park’s most iconic trails. While Gatlinburg was largely ...

During peak season, the popular national park has 10 to 12 "Volunteers in Park" on its roster for every one National Park ...