Parson's Branch is supposed to be closed until next year. Park crews have continued to work diligently during the five-year closure to remove downed trees blocking the road and to make needed road repairs to ensure that the corridor was passable for emergency vehicles. Blount County commissioned Cades Cove resident Russell Gregory to oversee construction of the road, which was completed in 1838, to provide access from Cades Cove to what is now Highway 129. The eight-mile, primitive gravel road between Cades Cove and the western boundary of the park along Highway 129 has been closed since 2016 due to hazardous tree concerns. Manchester Evening News - MEN Court News . Parson Branch Road to Reopen in 2022 - Great Smoky Mountains National At times it can be much rougher than the other rock one way roads but that just adds to the adventure for me. Smoky Mountain Parsons Branch Road Opens after a six year closure. Seasonal Road Schedule - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S It will be interesting to see what the road looks like after the work. Its significant not just for me as a former Cades Cove resident and descendant of Russell Gregory, but also for all who love and appreciate the history and beauty of Cades Cove and Chestnut Flats. The 8-mile, one-way, gravel byway, which leads out of Cades Cove to U.S. 129 in Blount County, Tenn., has been closed since it was severely damaged by a . Parson Branch Road exits onto Highway 129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon. The one-way, eight-mile road was closed in 2016 after crews documented more than 1,700 dead standinghemlock trees within falling distance of the road corridor along a one-mile section of the roadway. AlH, Oct 9, 2016 #12 . The rockslide is between Parson Branch and Happy Valley. The road will close for the season on Nov. 13. By Joel Davis [email protected] Joel Davis. P.O. Registration does not imply endorsement. May this road opening serve as a tribute to my 3rd generation great grandfather Russell Gregory and others who literally built it with pick and shovel in hand.. The road is generally open from April to November. Friends of the Smokies provided $100,000, and federal funds paid the remainder. The reopening of Parson Branch Road is certainly special, said Cades Cove Preservation Association member Larry Sparks. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels Great Smoky Mountains National Park Holiday Homes Great Smoky Mountains . This will make a great option to visit the Fontana Dam / Lake area so you won't have to backtrack. That donation was matched by an additional $50,000 from federal funds. Users should be prepared to encounter downed trees or park employee vehicles along this roadway as well. Motorists can have a trail-like experience while driving under a mature forest canopy with nearly 20 stream crosses. May this road opening serve as a tribute to my 3rd generation great grandfather Russell Gregory and others who literally built it with pick and shovel in hand.. more information on current conditions temporary weather and construction related road closures, Vehicle-free access along the Cades Cove Loop Road. TN Parson Branch Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was reopened May 26 after a six-year closure. High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling Parson Branch Road. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113029293', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car is not the best option for this road. Cades Cove Is Open During Repairs To Bote Mountain Tunnel, But Not That Know the status of the park's roads, facilities, and trails before you go. Parson Branch Road to Reopen May 26! Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. Has anyone missed it being open? 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534). Personally, they could have saved half that money by marking the downed trees to be removed with a white blaze, then put up a sign "Free Firewood - U Cut marked trees only" and had a volunteer sit there to oversee the operation. We'll contribute to funds for other projects in the coming years as it is obvious that it makes a difference in what the park can offer when partnering with its two support groups, FOTS and GSMA. Kristina Plaas A 184-year-old mountain road once deemed. Parson Branch Road to Reopen in 2022 - Tripadvisor Although I always enjoyed fording the streams on PBR. The license is not an endorsement by the State. McGoun: Parsons Branch Road proves a primitive, rough road Over this time period, more than half the dead trees have fallen due to natural deterioration and multiple large storm events. Parson Branch Road reopens - Smoky Mountain News Unlike some of the other similar gravel back roads, Parson's Branch isn't all that scenic and definitely not a shortcut to anywhere. The Parkawarded the $150,000 contract to Richmond Tree Experts for the tree removal. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The historic gravel road, originally constructed in 1838, is now reopened to the public after a six-year closure. Parson Branch Road in Smokies to reopen after 6-year closure Parson Branch Road: Open April 14 - November 12, 2023. The road will close for the season on November 13, 2022. The beloved backroad out of Cades Cove has been closed for safety reasons since 2016, when thousands of damaged Eastern hemlock trees were discovered. Parson Branch Road to Reopen in 2022 - Tripadvisor 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. https://www.wate.com/news/smoky-mountains/parson-branch-road-in-smokies-to-reopen-5-years-after-damage-to-trees-made-area-unsafe/. Parson Branch Road is an 8-mile gravel road between Cades Cove and the western boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more information about road closures, please follow SmokiesRoadsNPSon Twitter or visit the park website at, Tribal Council 2021-23 Committee Assignments, Reports from EBCI Office of Internal Audit and Ethics. Once the tree removal work is complete, Park crews will begin working on road clean-up, ditching, and grading of the . A $100,000 donation by Friends of the Smokies allowed the park to remove an additional 800 hazardous trees from along the road. Alternatively, you may use, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Forum, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tourism, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Rentals, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vacation Packages, Flights to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Restaurants near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide. Great Smoky Mountains Natl. The road is targeted for reopening this summer. Hikers can use it to access trails, such as Gregory Bald Trail. Our treasured National Park faces many daunting challenges each year on top of trying to meet routine, operational needs, said Friends of the Smokies Board Chair Sharon Pryse. High clearance vehicles are recommended for use on the road. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Once the tree removal work is complete, Park crewswill begin working on road clean-up, ditching, and grading of the road surfaceto ready it for opening. I am proud to represent the Friends of the Smokies and donors from across the country who respond to help the park address these unplanned and unfunded needs so visitors of today and tomorrow can enjoy these remarkable experiences.. Parsons Branch Road - Smokies Guide Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Thanks. For more information about the operating schedule for roads and facilities in the park, please visit the park website. Motorhomes, buses, vans longer than 25 feet, and passenger vehicles towing trailers are prohibited. The eight-mile, primitive gravel road between Cades Cove and the. More details in this link. The Friends of the Smokies provided critical funding to support the removal of the trees, according to the park. The road is targeted for reopening this summer. Park crews then completed needed road repairs including improving drainage and grading the road surface which required the replacement of 16 culverts and 550 tons of gravel. Park crews originally delayed opening the road in the summer of 2016 due to a damaged, 20-linear-foot section of road caused by an uprooted dead tree. The park service said they anticipate the road to. About Parson Branch Road: A Less Crowded Scenic Drive in the Smoky The historic gravel road, originally constructed in 1838, is now reopened to the public after a six-year closure. The park secured funds for the removal of an additional 800 standing hazard trees along the road corridor from a $100,000 donation by the Friends of the Smokies, and taht donation was matched by an additional $50,000 from federal funds to pay for tree removal. in . Very pleased that it is reopening. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. Parson Branch RD. reopens after 6-year closure - YouTube Parsons Branch Road is 8.0 miles, not 80 miles. I must admit it hasn't the charm of the Rich Mountain Road or Balsam Ridge, but I am glad they're reopening it for those who roam. We dont plan to change that model. GSMNP officials celebrated the reopening of Parson Branch Road with a ri[Read More >>] Spur Tunnel Repairs Begin. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, Tenn. ( WATE) Rain or shine, Parson Branch Road in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park will reopen to visitors on Thursday.