"Chimney Tops could be closed for years following fire"

Smoky Mountain News is reporting that the Chimney Tops Trail could be closed for years as a result of the November wildfires.

Last week Holly Kays from Smoky Mountain News took part in a guided hike, led by Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokesperson, Dana Soehn, in which members of the local media climbed to the summit of Chimney Tops to witness firsthand the devastation brought on by the fire. Soehn told the media representatives that "it could be years before the full trail is open again". Moreover, it could take 80 years before the burned area returns to its pre-fire condition.

Additionally, "the Bull Head Trail, Sugarland Mountain Trail and Rough Creek Trail are all expected to see long-term closures as park staff watch how the slopes and soils stabilize over time."

You can read the full story by clicking here.



Jeff
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