Chimney Tops Trail in Smokies, where Gatlinburg fire started, to reopen

Oct. 03--The Chimney Tops Trail near the location where the disastrous Gatlinburg wildfires began will be reopened to the public Friday, the National Park Service announced in a news release Tuesday.

The trail includes a new observation point to replace an area on top of the mountain destroyed in the fire.

'"We are excited to complete the work on the Chimney Tops Trail in time for the fall color season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park," said acting park Supt. Clay Jordan. "We understand that many people have a strong emotional tie to the Chimney Tops Trail and its reopening has been a priority for moving forward in our recovery from the fire event."

No more pinnacle access, trail shorter

That fire, called Chimney Tops 2 as it spread through the Smokies, was first spotted near the summit of the trail on Nov. 23, 2016. The blaze was at first judged to be little more than an acre. Fed by a gale-force wind in historically dry conditions, however, the blaze spread to cover more than 17,000 acres, destroyed more than 2,400 structures in the Gatlinburg area, killed 14 people and caused more than $2 billion in damages.

Before the fire, the trail was popular because a rocky bald area at the summit allowed jaw-dropping views of the Smoky Mountains; that area was among the hardest hit by the fire.

"No longer can you access the pinnacle," said National Park Service spokeswoman Molly Schroer. "Most of the Chimney Tops Trail was not affected, but those pinnacles were heavily damaged. The trail has been shortened (from two miles) to 1.75 miles. We have developed a viewpoint so you can see those Chimney Tops pinnacles from a distance."

The extended closure of the trail allowed the park's trail crew to design and develop a section of the trail which will provide a gathering area for hikers.

The funding for this trail project came through donations to the Friends of the Smokies' Fire Relief Fund. This fund was established in response to the outpouring of public support to aid in the rehabilitation and repair of park areas impacted by the fire, the NPS release stated.

Schroer said the cost of the work was $90,000 and was shouldered by a combination of Friends of the Smokies and National Park Service emergency fund money.

"While the upper section of trail and rocky pinnacles are not safe for visitors to explore at this time, restoring access to the trail allows us to enjoy the rehabilitation investment made to the trail by the Friends of the Smokies' Trails Forever Program in 2014, and also ensures the Chimney Tops Trail will remain a destination for visitors to enjoy a true Smoky Mountain hiking experience," Jordan said.

Don't explore beyond closed-off area

The NPS warned visitors hiking the trail must remain within the open section and not explore beyond the closed area at the trail's termination because of significant environmental damage and safety concerns. The former trail past the closure point continues to slough off the side of the steep slope.

Park staff will be monitoring the closed section of trail and the Chimney Tops throughout the upcoming season as rain, freeze and thaw cycles, and wind events continue to change the landscape, the release stated.

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