Is Cades Cove closed? Great Smoky Mountains National Park affected by government shutdown
Empty campsites at the Cades Cove Campground on the first day of the federal government shutdown at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Oct. 1, 2025.
The federal government shutdown means most roads and trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are open but some services visitors expect will not be available.
One of the most important things to know for visitors is Cades Cove, one of the most popular sites in the park, is closed. The 11-mile loop road is not accessible by car but hikers and bicyclists have gone around the barrier at their own risk.
Services inside the loop like the visitors center near a cluster of historic buildings is closed. The popular picnic area at the entrance to Cades Cove also is listed among the closures.
The other sites listed as closed are the Chimneys Picnic Area and Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg.
For other services, the National Park Service posted this about the shutdown: "National parks remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown. However, some services may be limited or unavailable."
Is Cades Cove campground open?
The Cades Cove campground is not listed among the closures.
"Depending on agency operations, if you have a reservation at a location that closes and your reservation is canceled, you'll receive an email with more information. Some locations will be closed and will not provide an email update. Please check the agency webpage or contact local offices directly for the latest information."
How long will the government shutdown last?
Democrats have no idea how long the day-old government shutdown will last. Talk to Republicans, they say. Ask Republicans, and they point the finger back at Democrats. They're the ones, GOP leaders say, who have the leverage in Washington to turn the lights back on.
Federal workers across the country, from national park staffers to financial regulators, are being furloughed, jeopardizing government services that Americans rely on. Employees deemed "essential," such as those in the military and law enforcement, will stay on the job without pay.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is Cades Cove closed? Great Smoky Mountains National Park affected by government shutdown
