VISIT RESPONSIBLY

The LeConte Center has protocols to accommodate visitors at this time. Please note that mask requirements and some safety protocols are the discretion of event organizers. You will need to check their event pages for more information.

Prior to your visit, please familiarize yourself with these facility guidelines available here.

Are face coverings mandatory in Pigeon Forge?

Face coverings are not required in Sevier County with the exception of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pigeon Forge Mass Transit trolley, per federal guidelines. For the safety of our visitors, employees and residents, Pigeon Forge encourages visitors to comply with the safety recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control listed here. Additionally, please note that individual businesses can require the use of a face covering by all patrons.

Where do I have to wear a mask?

Federal guidelines currently require that face coverings be worn in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on all Pigeon Forge Mass Transit trolleys.

Can a business make me wear a mask?

Yes, private business owners can require masks at individual establishments. Businesses should have signs posted at the entrance indicating that all patrons must wear a mask.

Do kids have to wear face coverings?

Where required, a child 12 years of age or younger are not required to wear a face covering.

Will a face covering actually protect me from Covid-19?

Face coverings have been proven to significantly slow the spread of person-to-person transmission of the Covid-19 virus. The Centers for Disease Control strongly recommends everyone wear face coverings when in public for this reason. Learn more here.

Is proof of a vaccine required by any business in Pigeon Forge?

No business in Pigeon Forge requires a vaccine credential.

All Pigeon Forge Mass Transit routes are operating from 8 a.m. to midnight. at this time. Until further notice, all trolley passengers must wear a mask, per federal guidelines. Please know that parking at Patriot Park is limited due to ongoing construction. Free parking is available in both city parking lots (the River Lot between The Island and the LeConte Center and the Mountain Lot near The Ripken Experience on Jake Thomas Road). Free shuttle service is offered from the River lot. Those who park in the Mountain lot can use the pedestrian bridge to access the nearest trolley stop on Jake Thomas Road for transport to the Pigeon Forge Mass Transit hub at Patriot park.

Please note the Dollywood Splash Country route is currently not running.

Masks are required in all National Park Service buildings and on all forms of enclosed public transportation, regardless of location or vaccination status. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Before visiting, check the park website to determine its operating status and recreate responsibly.

Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are required to wear masks when in visitor centers, cabins, churches, restrooms, and administrative buildings. Please also note:

• Masks are also required at busy outdoor places when physical distancing cannot be maintained. This simply requires that hikers temporarily use a mask while passing others along a trail or when they are outside and within six feet of others who are not associated with their group.
• With 384 miles of roadways and more than 800 miles of trails, the park has ample options for visitors to spread out and enjoy recreational opportunities safely and responsibly.
• Visitors will seldom need to wear a mask outdoors for more than a moment – just long enough to pass someone along a trail. Of course, if they choose to go to a crowded outdoor overlook or a busy trail, they need to be prepared to wear their masks more consistently.
• Park Rangers will continue to exercise discretion for appropriate actions in enforcing this park regulation, just as they do with other park regulations.
• If a person is contacted, park rangers have the legal authority and discretion to make an educational contact or to issue a verbal warning, written warning, or a citation with fines, as appropriate for the situation.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to increase recreational access and services across the park in alignment with guidance provided by the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, White House, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and public health authorities. The health and safety of its visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount.

Currently, the following areas of the Park are accessible to visitors:

Visitor Centers:

• Cable Mill in Cades Cove
• Clingmans Dome
• Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee
• Oconaluftee Visitor Center
• Sugarlands Visitor Center

Campgrounds:

• Cades Cove
• Deep Creek
• Elkmont
• Smokemont

Picnic Areas:

• Big Creek
• Cades Cove
• Chimney Tops
• Collins Creek and Pavilion
• Cosby and Pavilion
• Deep Creek and Pavilion
• Greeenbrier (Pavilion remans closed due to road damage.)
• Metcalf Bottoms and Pavilion
• Twin Creeks Pavilion

The following roads remain closed for motorists, but are open for pedestrians and cyclists. Please park responsibly in public areas when accessing these locations:

• Porters Creek
• Little Greenbrier Road remains closed for motorists, but is open for pedestrians and cyclists. Please park responsibly in public areas when accessing this location.

For updates regarding other current conditions please click HERE.

Veterans Homecoming Parade, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021

For a list of upcoming events at The LeConte Center, please check here

As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation continues to unfold, it is important to understand the facts and rely on credible sources for news and information. For more information about COVID-19, please visit these sites:

• Centers for Disease Control’s Coronavirus
• Tennessee Dept. of Health Coronavirus
• World Health Organization
• National Institutes of Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. It is recommended that everyone take the following precautions:

• Delay travel until fully vaccinated;
• Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible, especially in indoor public spaces.
• Stay home when sick and avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Cover coughs or sneezes with tissues and discard tissues in the trash;
• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Clean frequently-touched surfaces with a disinfectant;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.