September 27, 2025

Our dance between clouds and sun, calm and rain, soft breezes and rumbles of thunder all continue. Expect this mixed bag of dynamic and choppy skies to persist through the weekend. Even as guests wake up and slurp down pancakes and hot cocoa, the booming of nearby storms can be heard echoing across the mountains. Mornings should be mostly pleasant both today and tomorrow, with possibilities for storms in the afternoons and evenings. So early starts up the trail will benefit everyone for avoiding the worst of what the weather has in store for us. Temps at our location are going to sit snug in the 50s day and night.

There’s a lot on the docket this coming week. Here’s a quick rundown to assist you with your planning:

*Beginning this Sunday, Sept. 28, supper for overnight guests will be served at 5:45 PM. This is to allow our overnight guests the opportunity to enjoy a hearty and well-earned supper with plenty of time to make the short trek up to Cliff Tops for sunset. We’ll continue to serve supper at this time for a few weeks until the next shift in mid October. Breakfast will remain at 8:00 AM.

*Potential for Tropical Storm Impacts - it is appearing more certain every day that Imelda will grow into a hurricane and approach the Carolina coast. What remains uncertain is if the storm will in fact make US landfall and push toward the Smokies, or spin itself back out to sea. If the still-developing cyclone finds its way to us, it will be early to mid next week when we would could experience any impacts like rain or gusty winds. Stay tuned.

*Potential for Federal Gov’t Shutdown - at this time, there are still a great many unknowns as to whether a lapse in appropriations will occur come midnight October 1st, and how that will affect operations and staffing here in GSMNP. Our direction will come from the NPS, should a shutdown come to fruition, as it relates to our ability to provide visitor services or not. Stay tuned.

*Regardless of the above, the 2026 bookings process is still on track to begin this coming Wednesday, October 1st. Our reservations team will begin simultaneously processing the thousands of online written requests previously submitted and accepting phone calls inquiring as to 2026 bookings during normal business hours (8:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern) starting on Wednesday.