Does anyone know if a permit to hike the Great Smoky Mountain National Park can be downloaded at Neal's GAP or any other place before entering the National Park?
_road warrior_Smoky mountain permit
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#1
system
#2
smokies permits.nps.gov. You can get an AT thruhiker permit or a general backcountry permit.
_Bob_
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#3
Thanks Bob. I want to download and print it at Neals Gap or someplace before entering the park. It can only be purchased on-line and is only for 37 days. I need more time so I want to download and print it closer to entering the park.
_Road Warrior_
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#4
There are quite a few places after Neels gap that it could be done. For example any town stop before the SMNP you could go to the library. Like Hiawassee or Franklin for example. I'm sure they'd do it at the NOC, even if it cost an dollar or so. Likewise you could just circumvent this by either carrying a smart phone and keeping the email or taking a photo (of the computer screen) with a digital camera and just presenting the playback image. Your permit is not going to be some official signed copy so the ranger only needs to know your permit number.
_hellkat_
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#5
Don't sweat the 37 day limit. They understand that thru-hikers really have no idea exactly when they will get there due to weather, sickness, trail conditions, etc. Last year due to the snow and ice, by the time I got to the Smokies, my permit was out dated. I came in contact with numerous rangers, no one ever checked my date.
I printed mine at home before I left. Two of my friends printed theirs out at the outfitter in Franklin.
_Journey_
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#6
The outfitter at NOC has a computer set up for going online, paying and printing your permit. Don't worry about it till you get there. HappyTrails.
_Lumber_
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#7
You can get the online permit at either.
1 Hiawassee GA.
2 Franklin NC.
3 N.O.C.
but it looks like to me if their going to do an online permit system they should have a place in Fontana Village set up where a person can go online and get it their, that would be the easiest and most feasible place to do that, but i don’t think you can yet, another thought is the Appalachian Hike Inn in Fontana might have a set up to where you can get it their but thats still a question mark.
_RED-DOG_