Park Closes Newfound Gap and Little River Road Due to Irma Winds

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials closed Newfound Gap Road and Little River Road on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 5 p.m. due to high winds moving through the area associated with Hurricane Irma. The park has experienced rain and strong winds across ridges of the higher elevations throughout the day.

Newfound Gap Road runs between Gatlinburg, Tenn. and Cherokee, N.C.

From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., sustained winds at Clingmans Dome were 30 mph with gusts up to 58 mph. At Cove Mountain, sustained winds were 23 mph with gusts up to 38 mph for the same time period. The strongest winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Irma are expected to occur now through Tuesday morning at 3 a.m.

Sugarlands Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and Administrative facilities closed at noon Monday. The Spur and Bypass will remain open at this time.

See other Great Smoky Mountains National Park road and facility closures due to Hurricane Irma.

For more information about road conditions on these main park roadways, please follow Twitter at SmokiesRoadsNPS or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm.