Visitors won't be able to access a popular waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park during weekdays for just over a month.
Abrams Falls Trail will close Monday through Thursday each week beginning Aug. 24 through Oct. 1 for maintenance and repair work, according to the park. The work is expected to be completed by Oct. 1.
The trail will be open to hikers Friday through Sunday and on Labor Day (Sept. 7) during construction.
The park suggests these alternate hikes during the Abrams Falls closures:
- Deep Creek Waterfall Loop
- Lynn Creek Waterfall Loop
- West Prong
Why will Abrams Falls Trail be closed?
Beginning Aug. 24, Abrams Falls Trail will close Monday through Thursday each week through Oct. 1 so that crews can replace aging footlog bridges and improve visitor safety.
The project includes:
- Replacing four aging footlog bridges and handrails
- Building new stairs at a steep, slick rock section to improve footing near Abrams Falls
The trail will be closed during construction to ensure
the safety of visitors and employees.
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The project is funded by Friends of the Smokies, which is also supporting rehabilitation work on Bullhead and Deep Creek trails this year, according to the park.
The hike to Abrams Falls is a five-mile roundtrip hike through rhododendron, hemlock, and pine-oak forest to a 25-foot waterfall that flows over a ledge of sandstone into a deep pool.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Popular waterfall trail in Great Smoky Mountains to close for a month
