Trail Updates

05/20/2026

2:45 pm Update: Russell Field Shelter is now closed due to bear activity. Hikers should avoid this shelter and plan to camp elsewhere, including not stopping here to take a break or eat lunch. Respecting bear-related closures like this one helps bears return to their natural, wild behaviors by removing human food sources.

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05/20/2026

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has added Russell Field Shelter to the bear warning list due to bear activity (NOBO mile 181.1). This means that the shelter is still open for overnight use, but hikers should be extremely careful in this area due to heightened bear activity, take extra care to keep a clean camp, and store all food, trash, and scented items at night on the provided bear cables.

You can protect yourself, other hikers, and the bears by:

• Educate yourself on bear safety and proper food storage before leaving for the Trail.
• Exercise caution in areas with frequent bear activity.
• Properly store all food, trash, and scented items at night in a bear canister. Never sleep with your food or trash.
  • In the park, hikers are required to hang food from the provided bear cables at overnight sites. If you use a bear canister, hang the canister in your pack at night from the cables.
• Keep a clean camp by picking up crumbs and cleaning up spills.
• Pack out all trash and food waste.
• Never leave unsecured food unattended - even for a moment such as a quick trip to the privy or to check out a view.

Please report bear encounters on the A.T. using our Bear Encounter Report form. Early intervention when there's a bear becoming conditioned to human food protects hikers and the bears.