Did you ever catch fireflies when you were a child? If you
did, you probably remember the amazement you felt when you saw the small
marvels flash brightly against a warm summer night sky. You can relive that
wonder or share it with your own children by visiting Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this June. But be warned:
the fireflies in the Smokies are unlike anything you've ever seen!
If you are visiting Pigeon Forge anytime from June 7through June 14, you can
take advantage of the synchronous firefly viewing in the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. These fireflies, a new discovery in the
Smokies, are unique because they flash all together at once. The display of
light is astounding! The popularity of firefly viewing led to the creation of a
trolley service to the Elkmont area of the Smokies to allow visitors to see the
fireflies easily and safely. Visitors who are interested in viewing the
fireflies should know that the trolley service is the only way to access the
Elkmont area from now until June 19 during the evening hours. Beginning at 6
PM, the trolley service offers a round trip from the Sugarlands Visitors
Center near Gatlinburg to
the Elkmont viewing area for a fee of one dollar. Trips to Elkmont will
continue until 9 PM, and the last trip back from Elkmont will leave at 11 PM.
No traffic other than the trolleys will be permitted to travel to Elkmont
during these times. Visitors may bring water and something to sit on, but pets,
coolers, and alcoholic beverages should not be brought into the park. Park
Rangers will be at the site to assist visitors and hand out red cellophane to
filter the white light of flashlights. The fireflies at Elkmont begin to flash
at 9:30 PM.
Although it was once thought that the synchronous fireflies were only found at
Elkmont, the fireflies can be viewed in any area of the Park similar to Elkmont
where a river flows through the low elevations of the park. Similar conditions
are found alongside major roadways in the National Park, so if you would like
to explore on your own, you may find the fireflies in these areas, as long as
you are away from headlights. The numerous marked quiet walkways adjacent to
these roadways are an ideal place to look for synchronous fireflies. If you are
visiting Pigeon Forge
and the Smokies after June 14, you can still see the synchronous fireflies at
higher elevations later in the month. For an experience like nothing else,
visit Pigeon Forge this June and see the synchronous fireflies. For more
information about synchronous firefly viewing in the Smokies, visit the
National Park Service information page about the fireflies.
