The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not only one of the most beautiful spots in the United States, but it’s also the most visited National Park in the whole country – by a fair margin! No matter the season, the park is usually teeming with visitors from all around the country, entering from Tennessee and North Carolina. But on January 16th, 2024, the number of tourists in the park was…zero. So what could render the Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed for business? It’s the one thing no one can fully plan for – Mother Nature. The region has been roiled by some seriously intense winter weather, so for at least one day, the only way we can enjoy this magnificent park is through pictures and videos. Read on to find out more about this rare and dramatic weather event.

Look at that view! It's not hard to see why the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is so popular.
AppalachianCentrist/Wikipedia
That includes winter, when a pastoral cool falls over the mountains, and sights like Clingman's Dome offer a completely different view.
Scott Basford/Wikipedia
But not today. On January 15th, 2024, hazardous weather conditions swept across the Midwest and South, putting much of the country into a deep freeze.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook

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The park remains closed on the 16th due to extreme cold, heavy snow, and high winds in the region.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook
Most park roads have been closed, and access to trails and other attractions in the parks is prohibited for the safety of guests.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook
The parks will open as soon as weather conditions permit, and the hard-working park crews will restore access to the trails and historic buildings as soon as the roads are cleared.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook

Hopefully, we won’t see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed for long, but in the meantime, let us know what your fondest memories of the park are in the comments section! You can find out more about the current weather events on the National Park Service website, and watch the Facebook page of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for some amazing photos and up-to-the-minute news.

If you’re in eastern Tennessee while the park is closed, there’s still plenty to do around town. Why not dig into some delicious country cooking – the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter’s day – at Mama’s Farmhouse? And if you’re looking for a place to stay, relive those Christmas memories at The Inn at Christmas Place.

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