Synchronous fireflies in the smoky mountains are a phenomenom. Elkmont synchronous firefly 2020 lottery begins april 24. The national park organizes a shuttle service from the sugarlands visitor center to the elkmont area for people to view this phenomenon. Cades cove visitor center great smoky mountains association. The only way to access the area is by using the trolley service provided by the park from the sugarlands visitor center beginning this saturday through the following sunday night june 614. Visitor centers great smoky mountains national park u. Before visiting, please check with individual parks regarding changes to park operations. The visitor center provides information on the park, including maps and other information. Visitors watch the synchronous fireflies at the elkmont campground in the great smoky mountains national park on june 3, 2019. The trolleys will begin picking up visitors from the sugarlands visitor center rvbus parking area at 7 p. Visitors wait to board a shuttle back to sugarlands visitor center during the elkmont fireflies viewing event in the smoky mountains in gatlinburg, tennessee on wednesday, may 31, 2017. Details about the synchronous elkmont fireflies event in.
Sugarlands visitor center hosts author events smoky. Fireflies great smoky mountains national park forum tripadvisor. The ticketed event will take place from tuesday, june 2 through tuesday, june 9. Shuttle service from sugarlands visitor center to the elkmont campground viewing. Synchronous fireflies great smoky mountains national park u. Great smokies campsites for viewing synchronous fireflies.
The number of parking spaces is limited, as is the. The number of parking spaces is limited, as is the capacity of the shuttle system. View the amazing synchronous fireflies in the smoky mountains. The great smoky mountains national park has revealed the viewing dates for its synchronous fireflies at elkmont. Sugarlands visitor center in the great smoky mountains national park. Growing up, chasing fireflies was a popular afterdusk summertime activity. Blue ghost, synchronous fireflies, mating season big. Synchronous fireflies in the great smoky mountains national park. Sugarlands visitor center is located at 1420 old state highway 73 scenic, gatlinburg tn 37738. If you are wondering what to see and do while visiting the park, there is. Top 10 kidfriendly activities in gatlinburg the smoky.
The viewing area and shuttle stop is a natural, outdoor environment with minimal shelter. National park officials have announced the lottery dates and information for the viewing of the elkmont synchronous fireflies. Great smoky mountains national park has a visitor center in the sugarlands area, located just outside gatlinburg, tennessee at the entrance to the park. The lottery period for the 2019 synchronous fireflies official park passes was just announced. Sugarlands visitors center great smoky mountains national. There are several small paved areas at the elkmont shuttle stop where fireflies can be viewed. In fact, if you plan to spend an evening there during the peak flashing season early to mid. The great smoky mountains national park officials have announced the lottery dates and information for the viewing of the elkmont synchronous fireflies. All visitors hoping to view the fireflies during these dates must have a parking pass distributed by the annual lottery. The first trolley leaves sugarlands visitors center at 7pm. Synchronous fireflies great smoky mountains national. Every year, visitors from all over the world travel to the smoky mountains to view our parks wildflowers. When is it that the fireflies take over the treemont area.
Stop at the sugarlands visitor center pigeon forge, tn. Sugarlands was a very nice little visitor center and there were several excellent trails that originated from. This visitor center is located just 2 miles inside the gatlinburg entrance to the park on us441. Synchronous fireflies photinus carolinus are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in great smoky mountains national park. Learning to identify wildflowers is just one way of enjoying the native flora of great smoky mountains national park. The name of these particular fireflies is photinus carolinus and their name means that they light up synchronously. Formerly home to a string of small appalachian communities, the valley is now the location of the great smoky mountains national park headquarters and the sugarlands visitor center. Synchronous fireflies 2020 dates announced condo pigeon. The sugarlands visitor center is the perfect spot to. Great smoky mountains national park officials have announced the dates for the firefly viewing event in elkmont. They are also asked to not catch the fireflies, so leave those ball jars at home, folks.
The light patterns are part of the fireflies mating display, which lasts for about two weeks. My favourite, indian pink, are blooming now at sugarlands visitor center. During that period, which is estimated by park scientists to be the peak time for the fireflies, a parking pass is required for evening access to the sugarlands visitor center parking area and the. Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. In the visitors center, there are several extensive natural history exhibits, a free 20minute film about the national park and an information center. Park announces synchronous firefly viewing dates the. The sugarlands is a valley in the northcentral great smoky mountains, located in the southeastern united states. Capturing video of synchronous fireflies in elkmont has proven difficult for visitors over the years and seeing a video of them doesnt even come close to how amazing the light show looks in person. There are hundreds more familyfriendly things to do in gatlinburg. Has great smoky mountains national park reached its. The national park service will announce the 2015 shuttle dates in late april. Official dates for the shuttle service to the viewing area for this years fireflies event have not yet been announced. At sugarlands, visitors can view extensive natural history exhibits and a free 20minute film about great smoky mountains national park.
Information about naturalistled hikes, campfire programs and other park activities can be obtained at sugarlands as well as at oconaluftee visitor center, near the cherokee, n. The elkmont campgroundtrailhead area, which is conveniently situated a few miles southwest of the sugarlands visitor center, is an especially popular place for firefly viewing. Stop at sugarlands visitor center to view a free 20minute film about the park. Open year round, sugarlands offers public restrooms and telephones, a free 20minute video, exciting plant and animal exhibits, the natural history associations bookstore and gift shop, backcountry permit station, snack machines, seasonal rangerled programs, and a.
Synchronous fireflies in the smokies expected to peak may. How do i get tickets for synchronous fireflies in the smoky mountains. If you book for fireflies, you will want to book a site thats close to section n or. Parking passes are required to see the elkmont fireflies. Park announces synchronous firefly viewing event dates. Much like male humans, male fireflies go to great lengths to impress the ladies. Each year in late may and early june, the fireflies put on a naturally occuring 2 week show in the elkmont viewing area. Four visitor centers are located within the national park at cades cove. Located at the end of clingmans dome road, 7 miles from newfound gap, this visitor center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet.
Great smoky mountains synchronous fireflies the smoky. Great smoky mountains association is hosting awardwinning nature photographer radim schreiber for a book signing and discussion of his book firefly experience, at the sugarland visitor center. Visitors who want to see these bright bugs put on their light display must acquire a parking pass for the sugarlands visitor center and ride the shuttle to the viewing area. Visitors who wish to view the fireflies must acquire a parking pass for the sugarlands visitor center and ride a shuttle to the viewing area. On a recent visit to sugarlands visitor center, we stopped a park ranger on the sidewalk and ended up talking for nearly half an hour. In previous years, the parking passes were a first come, first served basis. Fireflies or lightning bugs as we call them in some parts of the country light up our lives. Sugarlands visitor center hosts author events smoky mountain. Headquarters and the sugarlands visitor center are 2 miles south of gatlinburg, tenn.
But our fireflies didnt blink in unison, which is what makes the fireflies at great smoky mountains national park such a big deal so much of a big deal, that the park has set aside this june 411 for special firefly viewing near the elkmont campground. Located inside the great smoky mountains national park, off us highway 441, the sugarlands visitor center has all the answers to your questions regarding planning your trip to the national park. The park provides shuttles between sugarlands visitor center and elkmont for viewing the fireflies. Sugarlands visitor center archives the official pigeon. Parking passes at sugarlands visitor center for the synchronous fireflies event. You must have a parking pass to attend the elkmont synchronous fireflies event. Posts tagged sugarlands visitor center synchronous fireflies 2020 dates announced. Shuttle service from sugarlands visitor center to the elkmont campground viewing area will go from thursday, may 30 to thursday, june 6. In addition to the free movie, knowledgable rangers, and exhibits, you will find several easy hikes with a trailhead next to the visitor center. Visitors should expect to return to their car 36 hours after arriving at sugarlands. The lottery, for which people enter at a nominal fee, provides a coveted parking pass for shuttle service from sugarlands visitor center during the eight days of. The sugarlands visitor center is the perfect spot to begin your smoky mountain vacation. This article originally appeared online in april 2019. During the 8day shuttle operating period, the elkmont area will be closed at night to all but the shuttle system and.
See the fireflies thursday, june 7ththursday, june 14th. You will go on the date you selected on your application. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park. Below is a video that a visitor took that gives an idea of what the gatlinburg synchronous fireflies look like when they get in sync. The 2020 lottery for seats on the shuttle that runs from the sugarlands visitor center to see the fireflies at elkmont in the great smoky mountains national park will open on april 24 and. Cataloochee valley tours has confirmed synchronous sightings down in the valley, while the city of gatlinburg has partnered with the national park to provide shuttle service between sugarlands visitor center and elkmont nightly through june 12th for viewing. The 2019 dates for the official smoky mountains national park synchronous fireflies event will be announced in late april. Sugarlands visitors center, great smoky mountains national park. Helpful park rangers and park volunteers staff all the visitor centers. Book your tickets online for sugarlands visitors center, great smoky mountains national park. Sugarlands visitor center near gatlinburg smoky mountains. The pass gives you access to the sugarlands visitor center parking lot on the afternoonnight of the event.
It is located two miles south of gatlinburg on us441. Synchronous fireflies elkmont 2020 smoky mountains video. Parking confirmation will be distributed via a lottery on recreation. Each year in late may and early june, the fireflies. The stunning light display we enjoy every summer is actually a show male fireflies put on to attract mates. Sugarlands visitor center is the primary point of contact for visitors entering great smoky mountains national park via gatlinburg, tn. Lying just south of gatlinburg, the sugarlands is one of the parks most popular access points. Feel free to ask questions, get directions, or just chat. Great smoky mountains national park visitor centers. Get passes to the synchronous fireflies light show before. Elkmont synchronous fireflies whispering pines condominimums. The sugarlands is a valley in the northcentral great smoky mountains, located in the southeastern. Please see frequently asked questions about the lottery for more information.
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