Update: The National Park Service (NPS) reopened US 441/Newfound Gap Road on September 12, 18 days ahead of schedule!
Late in the evening August 1, 2025, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park responded to numerous reports of a landslide and a road washout on Newfound Gap Road on the Tennessee side of the park between mile markers 12 and 13. US 441/Newfound Gap Road is the only road that directly connects the North Carolina and Tennessee sides of the park.
That evening, the area experienced over 2 inches of rain in 2 hours. This caused Walker Camp Prong creek to swell, and the water washed out part of the roadway. The damage stretches about 125 feet, and nearly the entire of the southbound lane. Shortly afterward a landslide fell onto the road, south of the Alum Cave, causing further damage.
Park officials collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration to determine the structural integrity of the damaged section on August 2. Both agencies are working quickly to complete the required steps of the design, permitting and contracting processes for construction. Repairs will include a new rock wall, erosion controls and replacing the damaged asphalt.
US441/Newfound Gap Road on the North Carolina side of the park from Oconaluftee to Newfound Gap reopened on August 3. This has allowed visitors to access the Newfound Gap Overlook, Kuwohi and other points of interest. Park officials remind visitors to follow detour and closure signs for their own safety.
Current Closures
The Tennessee side of US441/Newfound Gap Road between Sugarlands and Newfound Gap is currently closed and is projected to remain closed through at least early October 2025. Since this article was published the NPS has posted that they anticipate construction to be completed on or before September 30.
The last time there was a washed out was in 2013 on the North Carolina side with damage stretching about 300 feet. The repair work took just under three months to complete.
Areas affected include: the Alum Cave trailhead, the Mount LeConte summit, and the Chimneys Picnic Area. Kuwohi is not accessible from the Tennessee side, but it can be accessed through the Cherokee side.
Where Can You Still Visit?
Planning to visit the park? There are still plenty of other places you can visit. The Meigs Falls pull-off is quite pretty in the fall. The Roaring Fork Motor trail typically has lots of color during the fall as well. The Sinks is a nice waterfall that has good water flow year round. There’s also Cades Cove and the Townsend Wye over by the Townsend entrance that are great places to visit.
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