Crews began work on the 6.6-mile trail May 13, with a full trail closure in effect 7 a.m. Mondays to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 15. The trail will be fully open Friday through Sunday of each week, and on federal holidays.

One of the busiest trails in the park, Trillium Gap Trail provides access to the popular Grotto Falls and the summit of Mt. LeConte. There will be no access to Grotto Falls during weekday closures, but visitors can still reach Mt. LeConte by using any of four other trails. 

The trail crew will focus rehabilitation efforts on several targeted locations, working to improve overall trail safety and protect natural resources by improving the tread surface, reducing trail braiding and improving drainage to prevent further erosion. There are several areas along the trail where erosion and small landslides have caused damage and made the trail hard to follow. 

In addition to the work on Trillium Gap, crews will perform critical trail work across the park, including rehabilitation along Deep Creek Trail, Rough Fork Trail, Smokemont Trail and Noah Bud Ogle Trail. 

These rehabilitation efforts, as well as the Trillium Gap project, are funded through the Trails Forever program, a partnership between the park and Friends of the Smokies. Friends has donated more than $1.5 million to support the program, in part through the generosity of the Knoxville-based Aslan Foundation. Trails Forever funds highly skilled crews to reconstruct high-use and high-priority trails, with previous projects including Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Chimney Tops and Forney Ridge trails. 

Volunteer workdays for the Trails Forever program are held Wednesdays, May through August, with prior registration required. Sign up with Adam Monroe, 828.497.1949 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..