More than 5 million pounds of litter collected this year
 

More than 5 million pounds of litter collected this year

Collections from this year’s N.C. Department of Transportation Spring Litter Sweep totaled more than 1.4 million pounds, far surpassing the…
Read More

Comment

Motorcyclist dies after Smokies crash
 

Motorcyclist dies after Smokies crash

A Guatemalan man died following a motorcycle crash in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, April 18. 
Read More

Comment

 

Hike with Haywood

A series of hikes exploring Haywood County’s many trails is in full swing, with the next one offered Monday, May…
Read More

Comment

 

Weighing the Pigeon’s future: Public hearing spurs robust turnout for and against paper mill permit

State of residence was the most visible dividing line in an April 14 hearing on the proposed terms for a…
Read More

Comment

 

Bryson City teen joins Olympic team with history-making performance

Western North Carolina teenager Evy Leibfarth will represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo this year…
Read More

Comment

 

Parkway gets new superintendent

Tracy Swartout will take over as superintendent for the Blue Ridge Parkway on May 23 following the departure of former…
Read More

Comment

 

Buy national forest passes online

A new online platform now allows visitors to the Nantahala, Pisgah and Croatan National Forests to pay day-use and annual…
Read More

Comment

 

Bear activity high in some areas

The Pisgah National Forest warns visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Black Balsam and surrounding areas…
Read More

Comment

 

Five-year bird survey seeks volunteers

Thousands of volunteer birdwatchers will mobilize this March for the first-ever N.C. Bird Atlas survey, a statewide community science survey…
Read More

Comment

Weigh in on Canton’s paper mill permit
 

Weigh in on Canton’s paper mill permit

An online public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, will take input on terms of a proposed wastewater permit…
Read More

Comment

 

Important Roan Mountain tract now in public ownership

A 91-acre area known as the Roan Mountain Gateway is now in U.S. Forest Service ownership after the Southern Appalachians…
Read More

Comment

 

Art of the invite: Brevard business aims to increase Black participation outdoors

Earl B. Hunter Jr. describes his younger self as a “Good Times kid,” growing up on free lunch and government…
Read More

Comment

 

Become a trail maintainer

Help keep WNC’s hiking trails in shape by joining on of the Carolina Mountain Club’s many ongoing maintenance crews. 
Read More

Comment

 

Weigh in on Waynesville greenway project

A new project in Waynesville involving the Richland Creek Greenway and new park property across Richland Creek in front of…
Read More

Comment

 

Podcast series explores Black Appalachian music

A six-part podcast mini-series exploring the intersection of Black history and Southern Appalachian music through the Great Smoky Mountains Association…
Read More

Comment

 

Park, Gatlinburg Police crack down on litter

A targeted law enforcement effort aiming to combat litter resulted in 37 stops including 25 verbal warnings and 13 citations…
Read More

Comment

Take a stroll at the arboretum
 

Take a stroll at the arboretum

The N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will resume offering guided trail walks this spring, with groups setting off at 1 p.m.…
Read More

Comment

 

Even as a drive-thru, Winter Lights drew high attendance

The first-ever drive-thru Winter Lights experience at the N.C. Arboretum brought record numbers of people to see the bright holiday…
Read More

Comment

Seagrass declining on N.C. coast
 

Seagrass declining on N.C. coast

A recently published report shows significant loss in seagrass along the North Carolina coast. 
Read More

Comment

New StoryWalk in Cashiers
 

New StoryWalk in Cashiers

The new Cashiers Greenway Ramble StoryWalk is now complete, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, April 2, set…
Read More

Comment

 

Year of the cicada: After 17 years, large cicada brood will emerge aboveground

This spring, the eastern United States will play host to one of nature’s great marvels — periodical cicadas, mysterious insects…
Read More

Comment

 

Road closures extended in Greenbrier

A delay in supplies for the Ramsey Prong Bridge replacement project is causing an extended closure for Ramsey Prong Road…
Read More

Comment

 

Invasive mussels found in aquarium products

Invasive zebra mussels have been found in commercially available aquatic moss balls in North Carolina, and consumers who have purchased…
Read More

Comment

 

Read through the woods: Storybook Trail promotes literacy and nature

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park hopes to help visitors experience the Smokies story in a new way thanks to…
Read More

Comment

Revamped Bryson City market to start in May
 

Revamped Bryson City market to start in May

The farmers market in Bryson City is growing, with Swain County Cooperative Extension and the Swain County Tourism Development Authority…
Read More

Comment

 

‘Twice the work’: Farmers report higher-than-expected 2020 sales, but also higher costs

When spring sprung in 2020, so did the Coronavirus Pandemic, forcing farmers to make life-altering decisions in the face of…
Read More

Comment

 

New flower found in South Carolina

A new flower species has been found in a South Carolina county bordering the Western North Carolina mountains, according to…
Read More

Comment

N.C. birds suffering from bacterial infection
 

N.C. birds suffering from bacterial infection

A concerning number of goldfinch and pine siskin birds have been reported dead across the state over the past few…
Read More

Comment

 

Newfound Gap Road named All-American Road

Newfound Gap Road has been designated an All-American Road, joining the Blue Ridge Parkway in claiming a designation that recognizes…
Read More

Comment

 

Wildlife Commission approves rule changes

During its business meeting Feb. 25, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reviewed proposed rule changes and accepted 40 of them. 
Read More

Comment

 

Invasive mussels found in aquarium products

Invasive zebra mussels have been found in commercially available aquatic moss balls in North Carolina, and consumers who have purchased…
Read More

Comment

 

Searching for safe passage: Group works for safer wildlife crossings on I-40

Growing up in eastern Kentucky, Frances Figart loved any chance to glimpse the diverse wildlife species roaming those Appalachian foothills…
Read More

Comment

 

Ozone season begins

The 2021 ozone season began March 1, signaling the resumption of daily air quality forecasts across North Carolina. 
Read More

Comment

 

New operator chosen for livestock market

After 10 years running the WNC Regional Livestock Market, John Queen is retiring from the job, and the WNC Communities…
Read More

Comment

 

Prescribed burns planned

A 175-acre prescribed burn is planned for this week along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Wears Valley to…
Read More

Comment

 

Partnership will promote Black participation in outdoor rec

A partnership between the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and Brevard-based Black Folks Camp Too is expected to…
Read More

Comment

 

Connect to the spirit of the Smokies

The “Spirit of the Smokies” certificate program is starting up again, offered by the University of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field…
Read More

Comment

 

Bring knowledge to your home garden

A series of horticulture classes aimed at home gardeners will be offered in the New Year through Haywood County Cooperative…
Read More

Comment

 

‘A trail for everybody’: YouTuber raises funds for Canton bike park

The first trails at Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Park will be ready to ride before the leaves drop this fall thanks…
Read More

Comment

 

HCC grad wins military honors

A 1995 Haywood Community College graduate has received seven awards for his distinguished assistance to the U.S. military in Afghanistan. 
Read More

Comment

 

Paving begins on park road

A paving project expected to last through the end of November is now underway on the Great Smoky Mountains National…
Read More

Comment

 

Riding high in Jackson: Proposed 35-mile trail system would be East Coast’s highest for bikes

A group of Western North Carolina mountain biking enthusiasts has unveiled plans to bring the highest-elevation mountain bike trail on…
Read More

Comment

 

WNC claims two of 2020’s three most visited National Park units

Despite the pandemic — or perhaps because of it — Western North Carolina was home to two of the nation’s…
Read More

Comment

 

New trail coming to Old Fort

The U.S. Forest Service wants public input on a proposal to build 42 miles of new trails near Old Fort…
Read More

Comment

 

Pandemic changes trail season plans

With the pandemic still very much in effect as thru-hiker season comes around once more, trail season in Franklin will…
Read More

Comment

 

Full closure planned for Cades Cove Loop Road

Cades Cove Loop Road will be fully closed for three weeks in September to allow crews to resurface the popular…
Read More

Comment

 

Video shows impact of Smokies Hikes for Healing

A new video highlighting the Smokies Hikes for Healing program, a hiking series that Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent…
Read More

Comment

 

Get ready for motorcycle season

Hit the open road virtually at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, for author Hawk Hagebak’s humorous take on motorcycling up…
Read More

Comment

 

Groups praise reversal of Trump administration conservation funding policy

Conservation groups are applauding a Feb. 11 order from Acting Secretary of the Interior Scott de la Vega that rescinds…
Read More

Comment

 

More land conserved in Hickory Nut Gap

A recently completed conservation project in Hickory Nut Gap connects to an existing 1,500 acres of conserved land in southwestern…
Read More

Comment

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.