Conservation
Great Smoky Mountains Closes Newfound Gap Road and Balsam Mountain Campground Amid Hurricane Isaias
U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road shuts down at 8 p.m. Oct 9 and Balsam Mountain Campground closes at 5 p.m. due to strong winds from Hurricane Isaias.
Source: National Park Service · 2026-10-11
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via flickr
The National Park Service announced that beginning Oct 9 at 8 p.m., U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road will be closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park because of expected strong winds and the risk of downed trees and debris from Hurricane Isaias. In addition, Balsam Mountain Campground will close today at 5 p.m. as a safety precaution. Hunters should plan alternate routes and check park alerts before heading into the area, as the closures may affect access to hunting zones and trailheads within the park.
This is a GameTrackr brief based on reporting by National Park Service. Read the full story →