Spring in the Smokies includes new services
By Scott Brooks
Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will enjoy even more services and facilities this year.
For the first time, LeConte Lodge will offer day hikers and backpackers
an opportunity to buy a prepared bag lunch or have lunch, snacks and
beverages at the lodge.The lodge is accessible only by trail and opened Mar. 23. Reservations are required for lunch in the dining room.
The riding stables at Cades Cove will begin offering wheelchair accessible carriage rides and hayrides this year.
The stable has been doing carriage and hayrides in the past, but the activity will be handicapped-accessible for the first time.
Cades Cove Riding Stable and the Sugarlands Stable opened Mar. 21. Smoky Mountain Riding Stable is already open. The Smokemont Stable opened April 1.
For a second year, Smokemont Stable will offer a horse-drawn wagon ride along the route of the historic Oconaluftee Turnpike.
New facilities at Sugarlands Riding Stable include a modern wood and steel barn for housing horses and a hay shed.
Many of the campgrounds in the Park also opened on Mar. 13 along with a majority of campgrounds and secondary roads.
Clingmans Dome Road opened April 1.
The National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) provides visitors an opportunity to make reservations at many federally-managed recreation areas across the United States.
The system allows campers to reserve specific campsites up to six months in advance.
Group campsites and picnic pavilions can also be reserved up to a year in advance.
Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877)-444-6777.
