Archived Outdoors

Prescribed burn planned near Cataloochee

out controlledburnA 600-acre prescribed burn near Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will start soon, perhaps as early as next week, and continue intermittently through early November.

The goal of the project is to improve forage and habitat for elk by increasing vegetation on the forest floor. A series of low-intensity burns are planned over a period of years to restore oak woodlands on the area’s upper slopes and ridges, a project funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. 

The burn area is adjacent to Cataloochee on Bald Top and Jesse Ridge. Roads and trails will remain open, though smoke will be visible and some temporary closures of Little Cataloochee Trail will be possible. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.