Good Morning,

After a superbly sunny day and sparklingly star-filled night, the clouds have made a return. The mountaintop could be spending the better part of today socked in, but skies are expected to clear later on, hopefully in time to reward tonight’s guests with a satisfying sunset. Temps will hold steady with where they’ve been of late, between the 40s and 60s. The winds will be a tad more active today though, which could make it feel cool at times, especially if the sun remains obscured. Wednesday is calling for a return to more pleasant conditions, but the sunny streak could come to a close on Thursday as a slight chance of precip is forecast. It’s a bit of a surprise how quiet this year’s hurricane season has been, and thankfully Fiona poses no threat to the Appalachians. But as we’ve seen in the past, some of the biggest storms of the year can strike in late September and October, so we’ll continue to monitor all the action in the tropics for several more weeks.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

After another active day at the lodge, it’s a much calmer scene atop the mountain to begin this new week. Streaks of pinks and oranges line the distant horizon with pale blues above. The air is still and cool against the skin, reminding everyone that any inkling of summer is truly in its final days. A beautiful day is in store for those seeking to conquer the mountain today, which should be accomplished with fewer crowds than recent days. Temps will bounce between the 40s and 60s once again under mostly clear skies. The rest of the week still looks fabulous. It’s a hiker’s paradise!

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

It’s a soothingly calm morning atop the mountain this Sunday. After a clear star-laden night, the haze has returned to mute the otherwise blue sky and orange sunrise. We have another beautiful day in store for travelers. Breakfast platters are rolling out while temps sit in the lower 40s. Our high this afternoon should surpass the 60° mark. Any winds will be light over the peaks. As expected, the trails and lodge grounds were buzzing yesterday with hiker bodies taking advantage of the glorious weekend weather. It’s highly likely today will be quite similar, so come prepared for some extra dense congestion on trail and during the drive.

​Have a great end to the week.

Good Morning,

The weekend is here and we’re expecting a busy and bustling day on the mountain. With such delightful temps and sun-filled skies, the people are sure to be drawn to these famous mountains. It’s a cool start to this Saturday but we should have no problem soaring into the 60s this afternoon. Little to no winds are anticipated over the crest. Skies could be a little hazy, obscuring those distant views, but that shouldn’t put a damper on what is going to be another beautiful day to explore the woods. Mind the traffic congestion this weekend, as there are sure to be plenty of creeping cars and convertibles cruising through the park.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

There is a haze over East TN this morning but not enough to block the sun from shining down. Another beautiful day is on tap for the Smokies. Folks are enjoying breakfast while the thermometer reads the mid 40s. Hopefully conditions warm enough this afternoon that we tap the 60s. What winds we have will be light. The weekend looks fabulous and will surely bring out the crowds. Traffic congestion is already ramping up in the gateway communities. Pack the patience for all the vehicular traffic that will undoubtedly extend one’s travel times to, inside, and from the park this weekend.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Looking all around, patches of mountain ash trees don gold instead of green while the fading coneflower begins to brown and whither. The calendar may declare that one final full week of summer remains until the official autumnal equinox, but up here the heat and humidity of recent months is already becoming a distant memory. And the change, like it always seems to do this time of year, happens in an instant, amplified by the fact that it’s already halfway through September. Also gone are the gloom and doom of nagging rains and steadfast clouds, replaced with a joyous and uplifting streak of sunshine and blue skies. Life is good on the mountain!

Temps are cool as guests roll out of bed and sip the first cups of coffee, starting this Thursday in the lower 40s. The warming sun should see us climb close to 60° this afternoon. Skies will stay mostly clear with only light winds cutting across the peaks. Travelers can count on some continued traffic delays and congestion as they weave their way into the park, with roadside maintenance taking place on The Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. And a reminder that this coming weekend sees the annual fall version of the Rod Run, so the parkway that is the vehicular bloodline through Sevier County will also be clogged at times. So plan those routes to and from the trailhead accordingly if you want to avoid as much frustration behind the wheel as possible. Up top we’re taking advantage of the ideal weather conditions to tackle some more maintenance projects of our own. If you hear the whacking of hammers to nails, it’s because some cabin rooftops are getting a roof shingle makeover.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

It’s not as cold or breezy on the mountain this morning as compared to last. Temps are holding steady in the lower 40s at sunrise and we seem to be sitting just inside the upper fringe of a thin cloud layer. Once the sun ascends over High Top the puffy wall should burn off quickly and give way to another fabulously sunny day over the Smokies. It will still feel a little cool up top today, especially in the shade, with high temps in the 50s expected along with mostly light winds. Tonight will tap the 40s once again. For tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day? More sun!

There might be only ten weeks left in this season, but there are only about two weeks left to submit online written requests for 2023 reservations. So be sure and follow the links on our official website and not miss the boat. Remember that these are only requests and not guarantees, as the actual booking process does not take place until Monday, October 3rd this year.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Everyone went to bed on a mountaintop cloaked in cloud cover, but this morning all eyes are waking up to clear skies and an orange orb on the horizon. Between the light breeze and 35° temps, there’s a distinct chill in the air that hasn’t been felt up here in quite some time. It’s almost as if a switch was flipped from summer to autumn overnight. Even with the infusion of sunshine today, conditions to kickoff this delightful streak of weather will start out cool. Highs might not even escape the 50s today, so an extra layer or two for a visit up top will help with the comfort level. The thermometer should drop again into the 30s this evening. Until we string together a couple warm and dry days, trails will still be a little squishy in some places, but creek levels will begin to normalize fairly quickly. This past weekend’s rain did a number on the Grass of Parnassus, with not many blooms remaining along the trails. Many of the purple gentian have begun to brown and wilt as well. With temps like these, we aren’t that far off from feeling the first frost.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

The building excitement and anticipation for the coming week is palpable. Spotty rain showers and lingering clouds from the weekend will eventually disappear as today progresses. After months of one dreary mountain forecast after another, the sunshine is coming back strong and with no sour weather in sight. The seasonal transition that takes place every September makes for some of the best hiking of the year as the often toasty temps relax along with the waning southern humidity. Throw uninterrupted sun into the mix, and outdoor exploration will be at its finest this next week and a half. Once we shake off the last of the gray veil, our high temps should continue to scrape the 60s, but we’re going to start seeing overnight lows dip into the 40s on the regular. So remember those extra layers for once the sun goes down while enjoying a day-ending solar spectacular at Cliff Tops. We’re also getting into the time of year where we lose daylight hours fast, already down to 12.5 hours as we speak. That means day hikers need to be aware of when the sun sets, how much time is needed for a safe descent of the mountain, and when to leave the top. It gets darker much faster in the deep hollers of these mountains, and especially cooler along creek-sharing trails.

Have a great start to the week.

Good Morning,

Well if anybody or anything is thriving in this weather, it surely is the salamanders and snails. This second Sunday of September will be entertaining more clouds and rain over the mountains. Winds will be light and the occasional uptick in the breeze will have it feeling a little cool to the scantily layered trekker. Temps will likely spend all of their time in the 50s today. Trails will continue to be soggy along with higher than average creeks and drainages. So start early and step gingerly in those steep and slick places until conditions can dry out. Monday is calling for more of the same, but the forecast forTuesday and beyond is already making everyone excited.

Have a great end to the week.