Smokies Live Blog

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Autumn leaves blanket a bridge along Alum Cave Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This October’s Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, held October 27 to 29, will be the first fall event of its kind hosted by DLiA. Photo provided by Smokies Life.
Keely Knopp

2025 FALL COLORS

October OCTOBER 31ROUNDTOP TRAIL   Beech Brilliant yellow foliage Blueberry Mostly red leaves, but some pink/orange Greenbrier Mostly yellow but some orange ones Hickory Yellow foliage – some bronze Sassafras Some with red foliage – others with orange or yellow foliage. Sugar maple Various colors: red, pink, orange and yellow. Brilliant display. Sumac Few brilliant red Sweet gum Few with dark red/maroon leaves Tulip popular Yellow

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September 11, 2025 No Comments
Robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) blossoms along a trailside creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With a focus on spring wildflowers, this year’s Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, April 30 to May 2, will have participants examining brilliant blooms in the park. Photo by Jaimie Matzko.
Keely Knopp

2025 WILDFLOWERS

KEY: ES=Early Stages; JSB=Just Starting to Bloom; Budded; APB=Approaching Peak Bloom; *=At Peak Bloom; BP=Beyond Peak; AG=Almost Gone; VS=Various Stages October OCTOBER 24WEST PRONG TRAIL (TRAILHEAD TO END OF TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS— White Top Aster (BP).  SOME BLOOMS—Blue Asters (BP).  FEW BLOOMS—False Fox Glove (BP), Golden Rod (BP), Mountain Gentian*, White Snake Root (BP).   OCTOBER 20LUMBER RIDGE TRAIL (START TO TOP OF RIDGE): MANY

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February 17, 2025 No Comments

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Great Smokies

Welcome Center

Hours of Operation

(subject to change)

Open year round (closed December 25)


January - February

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

March - November

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
December

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

Physical Address

7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Townsend TN 37882

Contact

865.436.7318 Ext 320