Gatlinburg Unlike some of the other similar gravel back roads, Parson's Branch isn't all that scenic and definitely not a shortcut to anywhere. The reopening of Parson Branch Road is certainly special, said Cades Cove Preservation Association member Larry Sparks. This will make a great option to visit the Fontana Dam / Lake area so you won't have to backtrack. All rights reserved. This portal to the past is Parsons Branch Road, an 8-mile track leading from Cades Cove to U.S. 129 about 4 miles from the top of The Dragon, that 11-mile climb that contains 318 curves. NATIONAL PARK Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials celebrated the reopening of Parson Branch Road with a ribbon-cutting event honoring the crew who performed the needed work and the Parson Branch Road, a bucolic route that runs from Cades Cove to the western boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has been closed since 2016 due to hazardous trees. The eight-mile road now provides motorists a trail-like experience through a mature forest canopy with nearly 20 stream crossings. During a recent assessment, park managers determined that the number of hazards along the roadway had diminished due to a significant number of trees naturally falling. Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington States Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting. Great Smoky Mountains National Parkofficials announced that efforts are underway to reopenParson Branch Roadin 2022. Very please to hear it is reopening! Falling trees has been the biggest issue with Parson Branch Road in the past, although rutting is a concern as well, particularly after heavy rains when the river level rises and the water can get over the road in some locations. Parson Branch Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was reopened May 26 after a six-year closure. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the scheduled reopening of Parson Branch Road at noon on Friday, September 21, 2007. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Packages Flights to Great Smoky . This Essential Guide To RVing In The National Park System presents RV enthusiasts with a rich collection of articles exploring the park system by RV, camper, or trailer that is supported by a directory packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks. Not only does this restore access to one of the most special places in the Smokies, it also allows another opportunity for people of all abilities to spread out and explore less traveled areas of this very busy park.. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, Tenn. ( WATE) Rain or shine, Parson Branch Road in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park will reopen to visitors on Thursday. (May 26) the reopening of Parson Branch Road with a ribbon-cutting event honoring the crew who performed the needed work and the Friends of the Smokies who provided critical funding to support the efforts. P.O. About 15 yrs. Motorhomes, buses, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited. Over this time period, more than half the dead trees have fallen due to natural deterioration and multiple large storm events.. High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling Parson Branch Road. CADES COVE Great Smoky Mountains National Park contractors began removing at least 800 dead hemlock trees along Parson Branch Road, an eight-mile primitive backcountry road that connects Cades Cove with U.S. 129 on the western edge of the park. Although I always enjoyed fording the streams on PBR. Over the last six years, more than half the dead trees fell due to natural deterioration and multiple large wind events, making it feasible to remove the remaining damaged trees through a $150,000 contract with Richmond Tree Experts. The road has been closed since 2016 because of the tree hazards and damage to the road surface. The historic gravel road, originally constructed in 1838, is now reopened to the public after a six-year closure. The Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000 to meet this need, which was matched by an additional $50,000 in federal funds. Parson Branch Road was originally constructed in 1838, a century before the existence of Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself. Hikers can use it to access trails, such as Gregory Bald Trail. Northbound Spur traffic will be one lane beginning January 3 through April 7 . more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Very pleased that it is reopening. Our treasured National Park faces many daunting challenges each year on top of trying to meet routine, operational needs, said Friends of the Smokies Board Chair Sharon Pryse. Our treasured National Park faces many daunting challenges each year on top of trying to meet routine, operational needs, said Friends of the Smokies Board Chair Sharon Pryse. As a result, the road was closed to all vehicle use by the public. Parson Branch Road to Reopen May 26! The Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000 to meet this need, which was matched by an additional $50,000 in federal funds. With this being one way, there are a few things that you need to think about. Seasonal opening and closing dates for the secondary roads are as follows: Balsam Mountain Road - Open May 15 - November 1 Cades Cove Loop Road - Open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. Motorhomes, buses, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited. Park officials said they wanted to hold the ceremony to thank crews for their hard work and donors for their financial support. Parson Branch Road is a historic, gravel road that follows a route traveled by people for more than 180 years. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Once the tree removal work is complete, Park crewswill begin working on road clean-up, ditching, and grading of the road surfaceto ready it for opening. Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below: 2016-2022: 6 years to get a job done. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels Great Smoky Mountains National Park Holiday Rentals Restaurants near Great . The road provided a significant commerce route for Cades Cove residents, including direct access to the Little Tennessee River for trading goods. The road will close for the season on Nov. 13. Or does it require 4-wheel drive and. June 12th, 2022. I must admit it hasn't the charm of the Rich Mountain Road or Balsam Ridge, but I am glad they're reopening it for those who roam. The road will close for the season on November 13, 2022. "We are pleased to reopen Parson Branch Road in time for the 2022 summer season," said Deputy Superintendent Alan Sumeriski. The trees died due to a widespread infestation of the non-native forest pest, hemlock woolly adelgid. The road restoration involved removing more than 1,700 dead hemlock trees, replacing 16 culverts and installing 550 tons of gravel. #11. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Over this time period, more than half the dead trees have fallen due to natural deterioration and multiple large storm events. Once the tree removal work is complete, Park crews will begin working on road clean-up, ditching, and grading of the . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials celebrated the reopening of Parson Branch Road with a ribbon-cutting event on March 26, 2022, honoring the crews who performed the needed work and the Friends of the Smokies, who provided critical funding to support the efforts. Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000 in funds, Parts of Foothills Parkway to close for $31M paving project, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling Parson Branch Road. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. Parson Branch Road. To help prevent the spread of HWA, experts say gear used near an infestation should be thoroughly cleaned, and material that is infested should be left where it was found.. Park crews then completed needed road repairs including improving drainage and grading the road surface which required the replacement of 16 culverts and 550 tons of gravel. Parson Branch Road is a historic, gravel road that follows a route traveled by people for more than 180 years. Order your guide, either as an ePub ebook for your Kindle or as a PDF version. Much of it follows a creek in a ravine down to the Little Tennessee (TOTD) then its left to Cherokee or right toward Chilhowee Lake where you can pick up the Foothills Parkway back to Wears Valley or take the road just before the Parkway back to Alcoa/Maryville. By the time we got to the truck and started out the water was over the tires on the last few crossings. Blount County commissioned Cades Cove resident Russell Gregory to oversee construction of the road, which was completed in 1838, to provide access from Cades Cove to what is now Highway 129. The one-way, eight-mile road was closed in 2016 after crews documented more than 1,700 dead standing dead hemlock trees within falling distance of the road corridor along a one-mile section of the roadway. Parson Branch Road is reached by turning onto Forge Creek . That's a lot of trees that have been removed, either from having fallen or being at risk of falling. Parson Branch Road in Cades Cove could be closed through 2016. Once the tree removal work is complete, park crews will begin working on road clean-up, ditching, and grading of the road surface to ready it for opening. For more information about the operating schedule for roads and facilities in the park, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/seasonalroads.htm, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 62-1564782) and an official National Park Service partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, , which was matched by an additional $50,000 in federal funds, https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/seasonalroads.htm. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels Great Smoky Mountains National Park Holiday Rentals Great Smoky Mountains . After a long wait, Thursday welcomed the reopening of Parson Branch Road in Cades Cove. By Joel Davis joeld@thedailytimes.com Joel Davis. Not only does this restore access to one of the most special places in the Smokies, it also allows another opportunity for people of all abilities to spread out and explore less traveled areas of this very busy park., TheEnvironmentalJournalofSouthernAppalachia. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling Parson Branch Road. Park crews originally delayed opening the road in the summer of 2016 due to a damaged, 20-linear-foot section of road caused by an uprooted dead tree. Its significant not just for me as a former Cades Cove resident and descendant of Russell Gregory, but also for all who love and appreciate the history and beauty of Cades Cove and Chestnut Flats. Thanks. Its significant not just for me as a former Cades Cove resident and descendant of Russell Gregory, but also for all who love and appreciate the history and beauty of Cades Cove and Chestnut Flats. The eight-mile, primitive gravel road between Cades Cove and the western boundary of the park along Highway 129 has been closed since 2016 due to hazardous tree concerns. But it could reopen to motorists later this year/NPS file. The road also provides access to trails such as Gregory Bald Trail which is a popular route for hikers in June to experience the hybridizing azaleas in bloom atop the high-elevation grassy bald. Gatlinburg Northern California. Parson Branch Road, originally constructed in 1838, is now reopened to the public after a six-year closure. May this road opening serve as a tribute to my 3rd generation great grandfather Russell Gregory and others who literally built it with pick and shovel in hand.. Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000 in funds, matching $50,000 in federal funds, to support the removal of the dead trees and make needed repairs to the road itself. Los Gatos: Black Road reopened as PG&E crews wrap up restoration project early. Park crews then completed needed road repairs including improving drainage and grading the road surface which required the replacement of 16 culverts and 550 tons of gravel. More details in this link. Trees that posed a hazard to motorists along the Parson Branch Road led to the road's closure. Parson Branch Road was once a significant commerce route for Cades Cove residents, providing direct access to the Little Tennessee River for trading goods. C-SPAN, an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3), one radio station and a group of. Blount County commissioned Cades Cove resident Russell Gregory to oversee construction of the road, which was completed in 1838, to provide access from Cades Cove to what is now Highway 129. For more information about the operating schedule for roads and facilities in the park, please visit the park website. This seasonally opened road is generally open from April to November annually. For the first time in six years, Parson Branch Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open to the public. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113023325', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cades Cove Visitor Center. The MEN looks back at the inhumane owners who's deplorable abuse of their pets has seen them brought before the courts. Share. The Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000 to meet this need, which was matched by an additional $50,000 in federal funds. The road provided a significant commerce route for Cades Cove residents, including direct access to the Little Tennessee River for trading goods. This article was provided by Great Smoky Mountains National Park Public Information Officer Dana Soehn. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The road was closed to all vehicle use by the public. Parson Branch Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was reopened May 26 after a six-year closure. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113130101', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Pigeon Forge. The road also provides access to trails such as Gregory Bald Trail which is a popular route for hikers in June to experience the hybridizing azaleas in bloom atop the high-elevation grassy bald. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. I know many will be quite happy to have this road reopened again! Safety Tips It's important to keep safety in mind when driving Parson Branch Road. TN Its significant not just for me as a former Cades Cove resident and descendant of Russell Gregory, but also for all who love and appreciate the history and beauty of Cades Cove and Chestnut Flats. Has anyone missed it being open? Road crew reopens Parsons Branch Road; GSMNP "We are pleased to reopen Parson Branch Road in time for the 2022 summer season," said Deputy Superintendent Alan Sumeriski. I am proud to represent the Friends of the Smokies and donors from across the country who respond to help the park address these unplanned and unfunded needs so visitors of today and tomorrow can enjoy these remarkable experiences.. This made it feasible to remove the remaining damaged trees through a $150,000 contract with Richmond Tree Experts. Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Press Release issued by: Public Affairs Office, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over the last six years, more than half the dead trees fell due to natural deterioration and multiple large wind events, making it feasible to remove the remaining damaged trees through a $150,000 contract with Richmond Tree Experts.
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