Bear Encounters Prompt Trail Closures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park were closed to the public after visitors encountered aggressive bears in two areas over a weekend. In some instances, bears chased and bit people.

Rangers responded to three incidents involving bears along Ramsey Cascades Trail and three more on Abrams Falls Trail.

Incidents on Ramsey Cascades Trail

On Ramsey Cascades Trail, two bears approached visitors and took two backpacks. A third bear displayed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group.

Ramsey Cascades Trail and Ramsey Prong Road remained closed as of Monday while rangers monitored for bear activity.

Incidents on Abrams Falls Trail

On Abrams Falls Trail, an aggressive black bear bit a visitor who had entered a closed area.

The Abrams Falls Trail and its access road were closed but reopened by Monday after several days without reported bear activity.

Understanding Bear Activity in the Park

Approximately 1,900 black bears live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans parts of North Carolina and Tennessee. The park service states that the combination of high visitation and a thriving bear population increases the likelihood of human-bear encounters.

Black bear activity increases in the park during spring as mother bears emerge from dens with cubs and search for food. The park service notes this is a sensitive time for mother bears and cubs, and getting too close can cause stress and lead to unsafe encounters.

Park Service Guidance for Visitors

Visitors are asked to give bears space, store food and trash responsibly, and be vigilant on trails.

The park service warns against feeding bears, stating it can condition them to seek out humans and human food, endangering both visitors and the animals.

Last summer, the park service reported a growing number of incidents where tourists intentionally fed bears, including one visitor who received a citation for feeding a mother bear and two cubs.