Whether it was the splashing of water in LeConte Creek, fall colors, or the park's 75th anniversary celebrations, Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw strong visitation in 2009. NPT file photo by Kurt Repanshek.
Perhaps it was the sour economy that kept folks close to home on their vacations, or maybe it was the lure of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 75th anniversary. Whatever the reason, Great Smoky saw nearly 9.5 million visitors in 2009, which is the greatest turnout in nearly a decade in the park.
The 9,491,436 heads counted in the park last year also marked a 5 percent increase over 2008 visitation, according to park officials.
“The anniversary proved to be an excellent opportunity to showcase the beauty, the history, and the diverse resources of the Smokies,” said park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Several major events in and around the park and the extensive publicity generated by the anniversary helped to bolster travel to this area. We were extremely pleased with this year’s success and the occasion it presented to partner with our tourism neighbors to offer visitors exceptional educational, recreational, and memorable experiences at the Park and communities during this historic year.”
By the end of 2009, attendance at all of the park’s entrances--three main entrances and outlying areas--was ahead of 2008. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, reflected a 6 percent rise; Townsend, Tennessee, recorded a 4 percent gain, and; Cherokee, North Carolina, showed a 4 percent increase. The outlying areas, a combination of 10-plus lesser-used entrances in North Carolina and Tennessee, tallied a 4 percent increase.
“While a good part of 2009’s travel was due to a rewarding anniversary celebration," noted Superintendent Ditmanson, "the rise in entries noted the last two months of the year were most likely driven by motorists who sought an alternative route through the Park along Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) due to a rockslide that closed Interstate 40 at the North Carolina/Tennessee border on October 25.”
According to park records, just four months of declines occurred throughout 2009. The year started out flat in January and then recorded decreases in February (-2%) and March (-6%). April saw the largest increase of the year at 23 percent with succeeding months in May, June, and July reflecting increases (+1 percent, +11, and +12 percent respectively). August saw a 1 percent decline, September was up 3 percent, and October fell 4 percent. Following the I-40 shutdown, November visits were up 9 percent; and December entries rose by 10 percent, even though Newfound Gap Road and other roads were closed intermittently on several occasions over the busy holiday period due to ice, snow, and felled trees on the roadways.
Another noteworthy trend in 2009 was record precipitation measured at the highest elevations, a turnaround from the 2007 and 2008 drought period, the park noted. At the beginning of 2009, monthly precipitation continued below average, but starting in late spring, monthly totals were consistently above normal.
Annual precipitation recorded at Mt. LeConte (6,491 feet) measured a record 104.3 inches (since the National Weather Service started keeping records in 1988), and 20.45 inches above normal. At the Elkmont weather station (2,100 feet), a total of 74.3 inches of rain was recorded. Although not a record, 13.65 inches fell more than normal.
Regardless of the rain, both frontcountry and backcountry camping reflected yearly increases. In Great Smoky’s 10 developed campgrounds, a total of 310,662 camper nights were recorded, a 9 percent increase over 2008. Backcountry camper nights were up 11 percent totaling 79,182.
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Comments
I was one of 9.5 million. Did a 3 day backpacking excursion with my 4 year old son and then spent a couple days at Cade's Cove. I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat as many Cliff bars in one day as he did during a day of backpacking. GRSM is definitely one of my favorite parks near home and sharing it with the youngster made it that much more enjoyable.
No, I was not one of 9.5 million who visited GSMP. Find that a bit hard to believe. What was the source of this information? Was this total number of people counted for one visit, or was it total number of visitors accounted for by each day's visit. I someone is going to ask "WHY?" so I'll explain. If you visit any park, you are either counted as one (1) per visit (Say...you stay four days = 1 visit or 1 person) or you are counted as 1 person on each day of your stay (1 visitor stays four days = 4 visitors). So, is 10 people visit and are counted as one ...that's 10 people, but if 10 people visit for five and are counted each day; that would mean 50 people instead of the original 10. Data can be manipulated to reach whatever agenda is trying to be reached. Personally, I doubt there were actually 9.5 million people in the park last year. I suspect no more than 1/2 of that total were actually there and the number 9.5 was reached by counting each day one person may have stayed.
It really doesn't matter to most, but when you say 9.5 million were in a park one year, you need to be specific. We need to be specific because we need an actual count to figure out such things as how often roads need to be resurfaced, the amount of personnel needed to be hired for sanitation, etc. Manipulation of data is misinformation as far as I'm concerned.
How many of you who visit the park each year and proudly claim to do so, bother to volunteer or offer your time to help keep the park (s) clean? For those who don't know, most National Parks have programs where you can volunteer your services for days or a week at a time. Usually this is prior to the opening or 'heavy' season to clear/clean/repair trails. Many parks offer meals and the tools necessary to complete the work. All it takes is you to sign up, show up and get ready to do some real work so you and others can enjoy the parks/trails for the season.
These groups can be a lot of fun. Yes, there is a lot of work involved, but the 'fun' comes from meeting others, getting to be friends, seeing the park from a perspective you don't normally get to see it, camaraderie of like individuals, and from a sense of accomplishment and knowing you truly played some part in keeping our National Parks the treasures they are. There are many things that need to be done. You don't have to be a lumberjack, 6 ft tall, 200 pounds or a 'gung ho' type of person. All you need to do is be there, let them know what your abilities are and that you are available. You can even get your teens involved in this. What better way to set examples?
Call your nearest National Park for information on what you can do as a volunteer.
AND....when you do visit our National Parks (or any other recreational area)...remember this: LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS !!! Not only that: EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T TOSS WHAT YOU SEE ON THE PATHS, PICK IT UP AND 'HAUL IT OUT'. Remember this when you dispose of things at garbage sites also. What's wrong with keeping a garbage bag in your vehicle so you can take your garbage back home with you?
I carry a plastic bag and a cut off broom stick handle with a nail in the end. As I walk the trails, I pick up anything I see that does not belong there even though I did not put it there. I've found aluminum cans, styrofoam and paper cups sitting in the forks of brush or small trees, gum wrappers and cigarette butts (yes...cigarette butts are garbage/litter...and I don't like to see them), along with plastic bottle caps and so forth. The only thing I do not pick up, is scat (people poop) and the tissue they leave. WHILE we are on that subject.....IF YOU MUST POOP IN THE WOODS...AND WE KNOW YOU MAY HAVE TO.....PLEASE...GET AS FAR OFF THE TRAIL AS POSSIBLE (WITHOUT DAMAGING NATURE), COVER YOUR SCAT/POOP AND PUT YOUR TISSUE IN A PLASTIC BAG TO CARRY OUT OF THE FOREST WITH YOU !!!! Is that such a difficult thing to ask?
Okay...I'm done. I was not one of 9.5 ??????? who visited GSMP last year, but I was one of many who visited (AND CLEANED AS I WENT) the trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hope this provides some of you with information you may not have known about and I hope it inspires you to join one of the many groups who help keep the park/trails you visit clear and clean as well. REMEMBER TO KEEP OUR PARKS CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL !!
Stacie et al,
The visits are tracked by the National Park Service. You can find stats on all parks at this site: http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/. To find the counting methodology employed, go to the park of your choice, and in the box on the righthand side you'll see a link for "How We Count." That document will explain how visitors are tracked in that specific park.
And thanks for your help in keeping the parks clean! It's a never-ending task. Makes you wonder what folks are thinking when you start picking up after them....
My husband and I were 2 of the 9.5 million.
Stacie - I believe you should go visit the Smokies. On a given weekend, whether Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you may soon believe the 9.5 number. It may even feel like they are all there at the same time you are, depending.
You are right, it does take all of us to take care of the parks. Thanks for your efforts and realize your contribution as a good thing.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is within a day's drive of
half of the U.S. population. That's why it gets the most visitors.
But only the roads and visitor centers are crowded, not the trails.
So come on down and hike!
Danny Bernstein
www.hikertohiker.com