Prescribed burns are planned Feb. 3-5 in Cades Cove. The main loop will be open but Sparks and Hyatt lanes will close. Your support of Friends of the Smokies provides $47,000 in 2025 for burns in Cades Cove and Cataloochee to preserve and protect the habitat. Thank you, Friends!

While a Pennsylvania rodent weighs in on the forecast, our Smokies groundhogs have no comment. Those predictions seem shady. We have stand-up groundhogs. Happy Groundhog Day! 📸 Picture by Barry Spruce Photography

Your support of @smokiesfriends funds the Forever Places crew that saves historic structures in the park. You also funded a "strike team" to help rebuild the flume in Cades Cove. Your license plates and donations make this possible. Thank you, Friends! youtube.com/watch?v=ojG-7P…

Milestone moment! Since our creation in 1993, you've now raised more than $100 million to help the Smokies. You've made a huge impact for 32 years, including our first major project that restored the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower in 1995. Thank you, Friends! 💕friendsofthesmokies.org

Margaret Stevenson (1912-2006) achieved staggering hiking stats in the Smokies. The first woman in the 900-Miler Club, she hiked Le Conte 718 times. An endowment benefiting our Trails Forever program in her honor recently reached $275K. More at our blog: friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/margaret-…

We still have space on our Trails Forever Hike at Bradley Fork next Tuesday, April 8! Check out these pics from last week when we scouted the trail. It's beautiful and in great shape! Just $25 for a guided hikes and it benefits the Trails Forever program. friendsofthesmokies.org/hike-with-trai…

Tomorrow/Friday April 4, the park partially reopens Cataloochee for the first time since Helene ravaged the region. This video tours the damage and shows what you can access. Thank you for supporting Friends of the Smokies to help fund repairs! YouTube link:  youtu.be/1UFzVhyRd14

Cataloochee reopens today/Friday, April 4. After Thursday's announcement, we received many questions. We've posted updates to our blog with more info on open trails, hiking where the road is closed, entering via Old Cataloochee Turnpike, and more. Link: friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/catalooch…

100 years ago, Tennessee approved buying 80K acres for a national park in the Smokies. The bill failed in the house. They voted again the next day, and it passed (see cartoon). Rep. Annie Davis of Knoxville championed the bill. Learn about her at our blog: friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/anne-may-…

Spring is springing in the Smokies! Wildflowers are... wildflowering. The flowers are showing off so much, we're making up new bloomin' words. 🙃 We saw these beauties on our Trails Forever Hike at Bradley Fork Trail: trillium, creeping phlox, fringed phacelia, and trout lily.

Y’all have a good weekend? Whatcha doin' three weekends from now? Join us for a family-friendly hike in the park Saturday, May 3! We'll be exploring Meigs Creek and Curry Mountain Trails. It's part of our Trails Forever Hikes series. Details & Register: friendsofthesmokies.org/hike-with-trai…

“Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” If you hear this in the Smokies, it’s not a catering service. That’s the distinctive call of the barred owl. Along with being heard, they’re the most seen owl because they can be active during the day. (Photo by Ann Froschauer)

We're so grateful for our partners at Appalachian Trail Conservancy. They help us fund bear management along the A.T. in the Smokies, including funding to maintain food storage cables and cover other costs that make the park safer for bears and hikers. Thank you, ATC! friendsofthesmokies.org/2025-park-need…

Wishing you a happy and peaceful Easter Sunday. Photo of Little Cataloochee Baptist Church in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, built in 1889 and bell tower added 25 years later.

Our 'Trails Forever Hikes' series is off to a smashing start in 2025. Our wonderful volunteer hike leader and writer Danny Bernstein recaps the trek on Bradley Fork Trail in our latest blog post. Check it out and reserve your spot on a hike at the link. friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/bradley-f…

Your Friends of the Smokies license plates make a big difference. That includes funds for the Forever Places crew. They've been hard at work replacing the Cable Mill flume in Cades Cove and are reconstructing the dam. Thank you to the crew and to all Friends of the Smokies!

You underestimate the power of the PARK SIDE. Maintain a safe distance of 50 yards from bears and elk in the Smokies. Don't approach, disturb, or feed wildlife. Thanks for being a Friend of the Smokies and May the Fourth be with you! nps.gov/grsm/planyourv…

Cades Cove Vehicle-Free Wednesdays return June 18, 2025. They will continue every Wednesday through Sep. 24. Vehicle-free days allow people to walk, run, hike, and bike the 11-mile scenic loop without motor vehicles. Learn more at the park's website: nps.gov/grsm/planyourv…