Park rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park responded to an unusually high number of emergencies in March. Rangers are encouraging visitors to take precautions and know their limits when hiking, as rescue is not a certainty.
Great Smoky Mountains is the most popular park in the U.S. and received more than 11.5 million visitors in 2025.
The emergencies that park rangers responded to in March included:
- 18 backcountry search and rescue incidents, including two Tennessee Army National Guard hoist extractions and four technical rope rescues.
- 15 front‑country EMS calls, with four patients transported by UT Medical Center Life Flight.
- Five backcountry 911 calls resolved through phone contact, preventing the need for full rescue responses.
The National Park Service notes that emergencies can happen to even experienced hikers, but many are preventable with the right awareness and preparation. Reducing avoidable risks helps keep park rangers available for the most critical emergencies. Just recently, rangers have provided life‑saving care multiple times, including on April 1, when rangers successfully resuscitated a patient on Kuwohi, the highest mountain in the park.
Hiking in the Smokies carries inherent risks, and trail conditions can change quickly due to natural forces. Swollen streams, washed‑out bridges, downed trees and erosion can all cause dangerous hiking conditions.
The park underscores that visitors are responsible for researching their route and destination, carrying the right gear, having a backup plan, and knowing their limits. It’s always a good idea to share details about plans within the park, as emergencies can happen to anyone.
The park did not immediately respond to questions from the Traveler about what factors may be causing the uptick in emergencies.
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