Need help planning a trip to the Smokies

[Guest Keal G Seo]

Considering you said you will be on the NC side I would wager that they will be at least semi cool with it. They are listed on opencarry.org as a "Gold Star" open carry state. This is not based off experience in NC but in north AL. AL is also listed as Gold Star, after I moved away from Gulf Shores I was never even stopped for OC...so basing solely off their ratings I wouldn't expect "felony stops".

I'm sure someone has personal experience here though :)

[Guest confidence]

Considering you said you will be on the NC side I would wager that they will be at least semi cool with it. They are listed on opencarry.org as a "Gold Star" open carry state. This is not based off experience in NC but in north AL. AL is also listed as Gold Star, after I moved away from Gulf Shores I was never even stopped for OC...so basing solely off their ratings I wouldn't expect "felony stops".

I'm sure someone has personal experience here though :)

 

Still planning the trip and I don't know the park well enough to know whether I will be on the TN or NC side or both. I will definitely have to brush up on NC law. Cool that opencarry.org lists NC as a Gold Star. (I wonder how they come up with those ratings, exactly...)

[monkeylizard]

I'm pretty sure that NC has open carry without a permit. Some exceptions, but that's mostly true. That's how OPEN CARRY dot org comes up with their ratings and why NC get's the gold star from them. Concealing requires a permit.

 

By and large, unless you're doing some crazy back country trails, it's TN up to Newfound Gap, and NC on the other side of Newfound Gap. the road spur leading up to Clingman's Dome stradles the line.

 

Here's the official park map. Notice that except for a small corner in the western point, the AT follows the state line, so you can use the bright yellow line as your state line guide. If I recall correctly, the parking lot and ranger station/gift shop is in NC but the observation deck on the summit is in TN.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/grsmmap-edit-2.pdf

 

Either way, we have reciprocity with NC and their laws are pretty much the same as ours for what the casual visitor will see.

Edited July 8, 2013 by monkeylizard

[Guest Keal G Seo]

Still planning the trip and I don't know the park well enough to know whether I will be on the TN or NC side or both. I will definitely have to brush up on NC law. Cool that opencarry.org lists NC as a Gold Star. (I wonder how they come up with those ratings, exactly...)

Well allowing OC is part of it but not all of it. I believe Gold Star status has something to do with being in their constitution, restricted carry zones, if no guns signs have the backing of law and a number of other things.

Self Correction: Taking a look at the latest map, AL is actually only Friendly status.

For those that don't know opencarry.org has a few categories: Gold Star, Friendly, Licensed Only, Non-permissive and Rural Carry Only. The last only applies to CA though. You can also check all of their other maps for all kinds of things like travel, college carry, restaurants etc. (For you concealed carry guys there is a reciprocity map on USAcarry.com, as OP goes yes NC is one that does reciprocate if you decide to CC.) 

Off topic a little here but Montana is a Gold Star state and that is the first place I ever OCed...at 15 years old. I had my first legal firearm there, a Heritage .22 revolver with the interchangeable cylinders for .22lr and .22Mag. Legal age for OC in MT is only 14 so I wish I had been there a year earlier. :)

[peejman]

OC depends on your appearance.  If you're fairly clean cut, folks will think you're a cop.  You might get a few looks, but that's about it.  Park staff are typically pretty easy going about it.  They know the law allows OC, though some of them don't like it.  I've not heard of any confrontations that got ugly without cause.  If you're hiking, once you get 2 miles past the trail head you likely won't see another person.   Keep in mind that most (maybe all) of the park buildings are posted.

[Guest confidence]

Started a new thread about a nearby B&B question. We are thinking about camping one night and then going to the B&B...

[Ray Z]

It's looking more like it may just be my wife and I. We need the time away!

There is a KOA campgrounds in Pidgin Forge on the way to Dollywood that we stayed at. Very clean, swimming pool, whirlpool. They also have cabins. You would need to call and reserve on well in advance.

[Clod Stomper]

One thing to keep in mind about the GSMNP campgrounds is that there are no showers in the bathrooms. May not be a big deal to your family, but some wives are turned off by that. Any of them are quite nice though. I just did a day visit of Cosby and it is very nice there. Elkmont and Cades cove are some of the more popular, and crowded ones.Alcohol is permitted in the campgrounds, but trust me when I say they will catch you drunk driving. My folks used to camp host and they are very familiar with some of the rangers. DUI busts are one of their top priorities. Carrying with a valid HCP is also permitted in any of the campgrounds or back country trails / sites. New rule this year: ALL backcountry camping requires not only a permit, but also a reservation. The reservation number is on their website.

 

All true.

 

I worked for the Smokies for most of a decade.  Part of that was as a VUA at Elkmont.  Rest of it was in Fire Management.

 

Just curious about who your folks are.  I know a couple from Oak Ridge who were hosts for many years at Elkmont.

 

Will

[Guest confidence]

OC depends on your appearance.  If you're fairly clean cut, folks will think you're a cop.  You might get a few looks, but that's about it.  Park staff are typically pretty easy going about it.  They know the law allows OC, though some of them don't like it.  I've not heard of any confrontations that got ugly without cause.  If you're hiking, once you get 2 miles past the trail head you likely won't see another person.   Keep in mind that most (maybe all) of the park buildings are posted.

 

Yeah, I'm sure all the buildings with federal employees are posted in accordance with federal law. Question though: Are the restrooms posted? Stupid question, but I have heard of such a thing and I have seen some strong arguments in either direction as to whether this would be enforceable.

 

Also, will the federal buildings being off limits become a thorn in the flesh when I am not near my car? Like, I'm trying to imagine maybe hiking down a trail away from my car and happening upon a federal building which my wife wants to go in for whatever reason and not being able to put my piece in the car...?

[Clod Stomper]

It's unlikely that you'll be far from your car if you're near a federal building.  Most tourons just do not want to walk all that far.  

 

With that said, I haven't been to the visitor center at the Dome.  But I'm betting it's close to the parking lot.

[Guest confidence]

Well, thank you to all for the advice. My wife and I decided to go without the kids and spend one night camping in Elkmont and one night at the Blue Mountain Mist B & B. I so appreciate all the help and great advice!

[Guest confidence]

I started a thread on bear spray here, btw.

[analog_kidd]

Unless you are camping out in the back country, I wouldn't worry about bear spray.They usually stay away from the populated areas most folks visit. The rangers take bear sightings very seriously. If there is a bear seen in a campground, they get right on it and trap and relocate the bear. A bear that gets into the habit of eating people food is usually a dead bear. They will try to relocate it once or twice, then it gets put down. The park does not want any bear attacks or people freaked out over their campsite being ransacked.

 

Plus, on the rare occasion I have seen a bear, they have always been about the size of a large German Sheppard, and were very timid.

[10-Ring]

It's unlikely that you'll be far from your car if you're near a federal building.  Most tourons just do not want to walk all that far.  

 

With that said, I haven't been to the visitor center at the Dome.  But I'm betting it's close to the parking lot.

^^^This!  If you can get more than a couple of miles from asphalt it won't seem like you are at a tourist convention!

[peejman]

Yeah, I'm sure all the buildings with federal employees are posted in accordance with federal law. Question though: Are the restrooms posted? Stupid question, but I have heard of such a thing and I have seen some strong arguments in either direction as to whether this would be enforceable.

 

Also, will the federal buildings being off limits become a thorn in the flesh when I am not near my car? Like, I'm trying to imagine maybe hiking down a trail away from my car and happening upon a federal building which my wife wants to go in for whatever reason and not being able to put my piece in the car...?

 

 

You won't just happen upon a federal building in the middle of the woods.  If there's not a parking lot, there's not a building. 

 

In Cades Cove, the campground buildings and visitors center are posted.  The mill, houses, cabins, barns, etc. are not.  I don't recall seeing a posting specifically on a restroom, but when I gotta pee I'm not looking real hard.  Obviously restrooms within other buildings would be posted. 

 

 

I started a thread on bear spray here, btw.

 

 

Any sporting goods or outfitter type store should have it.

 

 

 

Unless you are camping out in the back country, I wouldn't worry about bear spray.They usually stay away from the populated areas most folks visit. The rangers take bear sightings very seriously. If there is a bear seen in a campground, they get right on it and trap and relocate the bear. A bear that gets into the habit of eating people food is usually a dead bear. They will try to relocate it once or twice, then it gets put down. The park does not want any bear attacks or people freaked out over their campsite being ransacked.

 

Plus, on the rare occasion I have seen a bear, they have always been about the size of a large German Sheppard, and were very timid.

 

 

While they do typically stay away, my closest bear encounter was in the Rainbow Falls trailhead parking lot off Roaring Fork.  Mama and 2 cubs rooting through the underbrush literally 3 feet from the asphalt.  We were walking from our car to the trail and spotted them.  I grabbed my 5 yr old and put him in the bed of a pickup that happened to be sitting there.  I had my 2 yr old on my back, bear spray in one hand and hiking pole in the other.  We watched for a couple minutes then moved on. 

 

The park does a good job dealing with problem bears.  I consider the bear spray as applicable to more than just bears.  A couple years ago, some otherwise rude people suddenly got polite when they noticed the can in my hand. 

[monkeylizard]

The restrooms aren't posted. Even at the main center at Sugarlands, the restrooms (not posted) are outside the visitor center (posted). I don't know of any posted buildings that have the restrooms inside.

 

Get your bear spray at any sporting goods store.

 

If you don't have your kids with you, then definitely look over the hiking trail guide I posted earlier. It does a great job of ranking the difficluty so you can find some that are right for you.

 

There's also the casino at Cherokee.

[Guest confidence]

The restrooms aren't posted. Even at the main center at Sugarlands, the restrooms (not posted) are outside the visitor center (posted). I don't know of any posted buildings that have the restrooms inside.

 

Perfect! Nice of them to leave HCPers a way to visit the powder room without disarming. ;)

[monkeylizard]

I don't think that was their intent. More likely, the rangers want to work in a building that doesn't stink of stale urine and turds.

[tnguy]

It's bugging me that you are considering taking a baby tent camping. I think I'd rent a chalet in the Cades Cove area. Great place for wildlife and scenery  

 

Really? Way to get the over-protectiveness in early.

 

It's looking more like it may just be my wife and I. We need the time away!

 

On the other hand, that's a plan to get behind. Being out in the hills and countryside... Quite "stimulating"...

[Guest confidence]

Another child thread about my trip, lol: http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/67597-should-i-take-my-ar-15-with-me-to-gsmnp/

 

:angel:

[Guest confidence]

Thanks everybody for all the great help! I made a separate thread about my trip here:

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/67881-open-carry-at-the-smokies-my-vacation-report/