September 23, 2026

​It’s the first full day of autumn, and the various sights are certainly coordinating with the change.  Fallen leaves underfoot, upper elevation trees turning brown or bare, gray overcast skies, and an occasional cool breeze.  Although there are still plenty of warm and humid days ahead, the mountain isn’t shying away from pushing summer toward the inevitable bon voyage!  While the summit has been smothered by clouds this morning, the next round of storms and rain is on the way.  The strongest possibility for precip and a lively atmosphere will be this evening into Thursday morning, with localized flooding possible depending on how storm cells track.  Use caution, watch the radar, and pack accordingly if looking to hit the trails in the coming days.

As we approach October, it’s a good time to remind everyone - especially any newcomers to the Smokies - that visitor traffic on the mountain and throughout the national park tends to surge considerably this time of year.  Especially on weekends when the weather is favorable for driving, hiking, and plenty of leaf peeping.  If the thought of idling on roadways, battling for limited parking spaces, or navigating unknown towns is unappealing to you, remember that you can avoid all those headaches by booking seats on our convenient trailhead shuttles.  You can be a guest staying overnight or a day hiker with a free afternoon.  You can go up and down the same trail, or consider loop or one-way options as well.  Give our reservations office a call during normal business hours, talk to a living breathing friendly and knowledgeable human being, and let us help you plan a worthwhile journey on Mt. LeConte!