April 15, 2024

Good Morning,

Another busy weekend is behind us, and another sunny and beautiful day on the mountain is ahead. It’s already warm at sunrise (for mid April at 6,400’) and should feel quite toasty this afternoon as we get into the mid 60s. Winds will be present early today but gradually ease off as the hours pass. Tomorrow will bring comfortable temps again, ranging from 50s-60s but skies will be a bit cloudier. Still adequate for safe and enjoyable hiking.

This past weekend outstanding, vehicular traffic around the park and gateway communities has been less chaotic and congested for April than in years past. That could quickly change in the coming days and weeks though. The NPS has rehabilitation work planned on a couple of their famous waterfall trails elsewhere, so visitors hoping to bask in a calming waterscape will likely gravitate to those Mt. LeConte trails still accessible to them, such as Rainbow and Grotto Falls. This coming weekend also marks the annual Spring Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, so classic cars and slow lanes will be filling up in the coming days. Plan those routes to and from the Smokies accordingly if you hope to minimize your time on pavement and maximize your time treading trails.

Have a great day.