How many people have died in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
“On record, we’ve seen roughly 500 fatalities since the inception of the park” in 1934, says Dana Soehn, park spokesperson for Great Smoky. “About 170 of those deaths are related to motor vehicle accidents.”
How common are bear attacks in Smoky Mountains?
Bear attacks in the park are rare. They mostly eat berries, nuts and acorns, but also will eat small animals and scavenge on carcasses, McInnis said. But with the Smokies being the most-visited national park in the country – 12.1 million people visited in 2020 – human-bear interactions are almost inevitable.
Are there any roads you can’t drive on in the Smoky Mountains?
Trailers, RVs, and buses are prohibited on some secondary roads in the park, including Balsam Mountain Road, Greenbrier Road past the ranger station, Heintooga Ridge Road, Rich Mountain Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and the road exiting the park at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
Why are the Smoky Mountains a bad idea?
Below are seven reasons a vacation to the Smoky Mountains might be a HORRIBLE idea for you and your group: Traffic, which is not a factor druing low seasons like January, can be a big factor at certain times of the year. The dreaded Exit #407 off of I-40 can back up for miles!
Where to go in the Great Smoky Mountains?
The Cades Cove Loop Road and Newfound Gap Road are the most heavily used areas of the park and are busy year-round. Many lesser-used places are waiting to be explored. These include Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain, Cosby, Fontana Lake, Greenbrier Cove, Heintooga Ridge Road, and Foothills Parkway east and west.
How many miles of road are there in the Smokies?
There are 384 miles of road in the Smokies. Most are paved, and even the gravel roads are maintained in suitable condition for standard passenger cars. But driving in the mountains presents new challenges for many drivers. Roads in the park are narrow and winding with blind curves and low shoulders. Speed limits are generally 35 mph or less.