Items That Are Banned in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Local Lists Items That Are Banned Across the National Park

Growing up with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in my backyard, I never gave much thought to the rules. I just, you know, went to the park without putting much thought into it. 

I mean I knew what would be considered the park commandments from a young age. You don’t mess with wildlife. Don’t pick flowers or plants. You don’t litter or vandalize. Most of all, don’t do any harm. 

But beyond that? I never considered that such a large, wild place would have a litany of thou shalt nots. Sometimes, you learn the hard way. Other times you learn through someone else’s mistakes. And occasionally you wander through life blissfully ignorant until you get slapped straight in the face by a stray Yahoo search.

Of course, when you start going down the rabbit hole of the park’s banned items, concepts or actions, a lot of them make good sense, like fireworks. I’ve seen fire on the mountain boys, don’t nobody need your gunpowder boomers up in the high mountains? Save those for the parking lot back at the hotel. 

But, my friends, I’m here to provide a service, to help you learn from my mistakes and mistakes made by others. And so, here’s our list of the top 7 items that are banned, or partially banned, in the park. 

1. Alcohol

This is a partial ban. Alcohol is allowed at picnic areas and campsites as long as the person with alcohol is of legal age. You can’t, however, put a six-pack of Bud Light in your backpack and head down the trail to Grotto Falls. Specifically, from the NPS website, alcoholic beverages that have been opened are not permitted in the park except in designated picnic areas, front country and backcountry campgrounds and shelters.

2. Fireworks

This seems self-explanatory. Park officials are wary of objects that travel an indeterminate distance and launch fire in random directions. Add in the fact that wildlife isn’t typically found of shrieking bottle rockets and massive explosions and this one makes a lot of sense. 

3. Traps

Now I doubt that most of you are thinking of doing any trapping while you’re in the mountains. But I guarantee you some boys I went to high school with have pushed the boundaries, trying to bring home a few minks or weasels or whatnot. Since hunting in the national park is prohibited, it makes sense that you don’t need to bring in any traps. 

4. Tools like chainsaws, metal detectors or mineral detectors

Again, another good rule. The Park Service is really on a roll. I mean a big reason the National Park exists is because loggers were felling trees in massive quantities. You’re not allowed to cut down trees in the park or remove metals or minerals you find. So, it stands to reason that these tools are not embraced.

5. Inline skates, skateboards and scooters

Harsh, bro. But you can’t go screaming down the steep mountain roads like a snowboarder in the Rockies. It just creates a whole bunch of safety issues. 

6. Drones

I understand why this is a rule but I also kind of hate it. Drone photography in the park could produce some awe-inspiring images. However, the park service doesn’t need amateur drone operators crashing their expensive equipment all over the park. They can also be disruptive of wildlife behaviors thanks to the noise or their visual presence. You can seek a special permit, but those are chiefly granted for scientific purposes. 

7. Dogs or other pets

This is another limited ban and one that people frequently violate or get up in arms about. With the exception of a pair of trails – the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail – dogs and pets are banned on the park’s trails. Legitimate service animals are not included in that ban.   You can have a dog in the park’s campgrounds, at the picnic areas or walk them along the roadway but they must be on a leash. 

Dogs are banned from the majority of hiking trails for a variety of reasons. Their scent and bark can be disruptive to wildlife. They can chase or frighten wildlife. They can also be identified as prey by some of the park’s larger predators. Per the park’s website, emotional support, therapy, and companion animals, as well as service animals in training, are not service animals and must abide by the regular pet rules. 

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