The document discusses the rehabilitation of the Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It states that the trail rehabilitation will begin in May 2012 and occur in multiple phases. It will enhance visitor experience while protecting resources, and will use sustainable construction methods. The trail will be closed each work week to ensure crew and visitor safety during the rehabilitation work.

1. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail rehabilitation will begin in May 2012
and is scheduled for multiple phases

2. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail rehabilitation will be completed that enhances the visitors
experience while protecting the resource

3. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail rehabilitation will be achieved utilizing sustainable
construction methods and materials

4. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation - Beginning 2012
May the fun begin!!!!!
Existing eroded, braided, 12 foot wide “trail”

5. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation - Beginning 2012

6. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation - Beginning 2012
Chimney Tops Trail
Phase One

7. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
The resources required to accomplish Phase One:

8. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
The resources required to accomplish Phase One:
• The Trails Forever Park crew with five members for 13PP’s.

9. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
The resources required to accomplish Phase One:
• The Trails Forever Park crew with five members for 13PP’s.
• Four members of the ND trail crew for 1pp to install a new handrail system on the first
bridge crossing the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.

10. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
The resources required to accomplish Phase One:
• The Trails Forever Park crew with five members for 13PP’s.
• Four members of the ND trail crew for 1pp to install a new handrail system on the first
bridge crossing the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
• PLC funded youth crew (type and time frame yet to be determined due to uncertain
funding).

11. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
The resources required to accomplish Phase One:
• The Trails Forever Park crew with five members for 13PP’s.
• Four members of the ND trail crew for 1pp to install a new handrail system on the first
bridge crossing the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
• PLC funded youth crew (type and time frame yet to be determined due to uncertain
funding).
• Volunteers recruited to work alongside Trails Forever Park crew.

12. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request

13. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:

14. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.

15. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.
• The trail serves only as a day use trail with no impacts to overnight users.

16. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.
• The trail serves only as a day use trail with no impacts to overnight users.
• The trail does not serve as a connector to high use trails and/or trail loop hiking
opportunities.

17. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.
• The trail serves only as a day use trail with no impacts to overnight users.
• The trail does not serve as a connector to high use trails and/or trail loop hiking
opportunities.
• The trail is located in very steep, narrow gorge type topography with very dense vegetative
growth, that for long stretches follows the creek.

18. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.
• The trail serves only as a day use trail with no impacts to overnight users.
• The trail does not serve as a connector to high use trails and/or trail loop hiking
opportunities.
• The trail is located in very steep, narrow gorge type topography with very dense vegetative
growth, that for long stretches follows the creek.
• Visitor and employee safety are our highest Park goals and are “the only job that MUST get
completed” C. Daniels-GRSM Safety Officer

19. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Trail closure request
We are requesting that the trail be closed to all public use during the four day work week from
Monday at 7am through Thursday at 5:30pm and re-opened to public use Thursday afternoon
through Sunday evening. The following are the factors that have led to this closure
recommendation:
• The trail has a unique high volume user traffic pattern.
• The trail serves only as a day use trail with no impacts to overnight users.
• The trail does not serve as a connector to high use trails and/or trail loop hiking
opportunities.
• The trail is located in very steep, narrow gorge type topography with very dense vegetative
growth, that for long stretches follows the creek.
• Visitor and employee safety are our highest Park goals and are “the only job that MUST get
completed” C. Daniels-GRSM Safety Officer
• If the trail is closed there are still over 800 miles of fantastic trails for visitors to explore and
enjoy.

20. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Examples of challenges to crew and visitor safety

21. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan

22. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• The Chimney Tops trail would be officially closed to all users each work week from 7AM
Monday through 5:30PM Thursday. This closure will start Monday, April 30 th last through
Thursday, October 18th.

23. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• The Chimney Tops trail would be officially closed to all users each work week from 7AM
Monday through 5:30PM Thursday. This closure will start Monday, April 30 th last through
Thursday, October 18th.
• Informational signs would be posted at all trailheads and junctions that have any potential
to access Chimney Tops Trail.

24. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
The following trails and locations would require posting:
Chimney Tops Trail Trailhead and Jct. with Road Prong Trail
Road Prong Trail Trailhead and Jct. with Chimney Tops Trail
Sugarland Mt. Trail Both Clingmans Dome RD. and Little River RD. Trailheads
Husky Gap Trail Trailhead at Newfound Gap RD.
Little River Trail Trailhead
Cucumber Gap Trail Trailhead
Goshen Prong Trail Jct. with AT
All Kiosks and self-permit stations Park wide

25. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• Public announcements would be made ahead of the closure to all local media outlets
internal and external to the Park.

26. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• Public announcements would be made ahead of the closure to all local media outlets
internal and external to the Park.
• Park staff would be advised of the closure and may be advised to suggest alternative hikes
like the Forney Ridge Trail.

27. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• Public announcements would be made ahead of the closure to all local media outlets
internal and external to the Park.
• Park staff would be advised of the closure and may be advised to suggest alternative hikes
like the Forney Ridge Trail.
• Portable VMS notification needs to be located at the Chimney Tops Parking lot explaining
trail closure.

28. National Park Service
Great Smoky Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior
Trails Forever – Chimney Tops Trail Rehabilitation 2012
Proposed Trail Closure Implementation Plan
• Public announcements would be made ahead of the closure to all local media outlets
internal and external to the Park.
• Park staff would be advised of the closure and may be advised to suggest alternative hikes
like the Forney Ridge Trail.
• Portable VMS notification needs to be located at the Chimney Tops Parking lot explaining
trail closure.
• Trail access will be closed with barricades yet parking lot will still be open to gain access to
closure information, alternative hiking opportunities, and Trails Forever program
information.