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Let There Be Light in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Explore case studies and strategies for managing outdoor recreation in the beloved Great Smoky Mountains National Park, focusing on the popular synchronous firefly event. Learn about impacts, rules, facility development, and education efforts.

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Let There Be Light in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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  1. Let There Be Light in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Managing Outdoor Recreation: Case Studies in the National Parks, 2nd Edition

  2. Horace Kephart George Masa John D. Rockefeller Jr. Congress authorized the park (1926) Great Smoky National Park (1934)  522,419 acres of park land International Biosphere Reserve (1976) UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) Well-known for its biodiversity

  3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

  4. More than 10 million visits in 2015 Popularity of synchronous firefly (Photinus carolinus) event (late May to early June) Vulnerability of bioluminescence Transportation congestion Unauthorized parking

  5. Impacts to resources: Impacts to soil, vegetation, and wildlife Impacts to experience: Crowding Impacts to facilities/service: Attraction sites, trails, roads/parking, interpretative facilities/programs

  6. Management Strategies: Limit use and reduce impact of recreation Management practices: Rationing/allocation; rules/regulations; facility development/site design/maintenance; information/education

  7. Rules/Regulations Only shuttle buses are allowed to access firefly viewing area Cars should be parked at Sugarlands Visitor Center Visitors are not allowed to catch fireflies Visitors are required to stay on maintained trails Visitors are required to pack out trash

  8. Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance Shuttle bus to access firefly viewing area Provided in partnership with the city of Gatlinburg

  9. Rationing/Allocation Only 225 parking passes are allowed each day Lottery system used to allocate parking passes Cost for permit is $1.50/pass, fee for shuttle is $1.00/person

  10. Information/Education Park website Rangers Viewing site Light show etiquette (e.g. covering flashlights, using flashlights only when walking to the viewing site, turning off flashlights after reaching the viewing site, pointing flashlights when walking)

  11. Video Day Hiking and Wildlife (6:22) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ9GzIMGRMw&feature=youtu.be

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