U.S. Forest Service - Cherokee National Forest

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Have you seen an American Red Squirrel on the Cherokee National Forest? Report it.

Upload sightings through the iNaturalist.org or by email sightings to [email protected]

08/28/2026

⚠🐻Bear Safety Alert! 🐻⚠

We’ve received reports of increased bear activity near the Carden’s Bluff Campground on the Cherokee National Forest. As a precaution, the campground will be temporarily closed to help keep visitors safe and minimize bear encounters. We will share an update when the campground reopens.

Practicing bear safety is always important and even more so during periods of increased activity. Always remember to:
Store food & scented stuff in bear‑resistant containers or locked in your vehicle.
Make noise on trails so you don’t surprise a bear. 🔊
Give bears space — back up and let them do their thing. ↩️
Do not feed wildlife. Ever. 🚫
Stay calm, slowly back away, and speak firmly if you encounter a bear.

Do you know what to do if you encounter a bear when visiting the forest? Learn more at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/bears

Cardens Bluff Campground will be closed immediately through 9/1/26, and we’ll re-evalaute on 9/1/26.

08/25/2026

Citico Creek Flood Leads to Ongoing Repairs / Closures

07/24/2026

Road closure alert!
Citico Creek Road is closed from the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road (NFSR 464) to the intersection of Indian Boundary Road (NRSR 345). Localized rain caused damage to Citico Creek Road and minor damage to Indian Boundary Campground. The road was closed due to safety concerns. Crews will continue to assess damage and make changes to the closure area as conditions allow.

07/16/2026

The Cherokee National Forest releases this information in response to recent questions.

In response to recent questions the Cherokee National Forest conducts recreational use, water quality sampling 5-times each month at established swim beaches on the National Forest. The Forest Service closes areas that do not meet recreation water quality standards set forth by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources.
There are no water quality closures on the Cherokee National Forest at this time.

07/16/2026

The Cherokee National Forest plans to reopen Horse Creek Campground Thursday, July 17.

07/16/2026

Why Dry Forests on the Cherokee National Forest are changing and how we're restoring them.

Dry forest plant communities are ecosystems found on dry ridgetops and slopes where fire‑adapted trees and shrubs naturally grow. Across the Cherokee National Forest, they once had a more open, shrubby structure dominated by oak, hickory, American chestnut, and mixed pines. For thousands of years, frequent low‑intensity fires—both natural and set by Indigenous peoples—helped maintain these conditions. But over the past century, fire suppression, land‑use changes, and shifting climate conditions have allowed shade‑tolerant trees like red maple and yellow‑poplar, along with Virginia pine and Eastern white pine, to spread. These changes have created crowded forests with fewer young oaks, shortleaf pine, and pitch pine, and less habitat for wildlife that depends on open, shrubby conditions. To address these issues, the Cherokee National Forest has reintroduced disturbance processes that support fire‑adapted plants and wildlife. In recent years, this work has included stand‑improvement treatments, timber harvests, and an active prescribed burning program that averages more than 15,000 acres of burning each year to help restore and maintain open, resilient dry‑forest communities.

07/14/2026

Roads closed due to recent storm damage:
Hurricane Gap Road (NFSR 31) - Closed on Rollins Road side from MP 1.116 to MP 1.665
Dick Creek Road (NFSR 307) - Closed
HWY 395 Access to Unaka Mountain from Indian Gap

07/13/2026

Horse Creek and Paint Creek Campgrounds are now closed due to recent storm damage. Updates will be posted when available.