Smokies Registration

[Red Sky]

Planning a short section hike from Newfound Gap down to Fontana in the spring. I know that I need to register and reserve shelters, but can I drop my permit in a box at the Newfound trailhead?

[TNhiker]

i believe they have taken all the boxes away...

whats the website say about it?

[illabelle]

You just carry your permit with you. Print it out and put it in your pack.

[Christoph]

I'm planning the same section with my brother, late April (NOBO or SOBO to be determined). I believe there's only a drop box at either end. If you print it out and carry it with you, that should suffice, that's what we're planning to do if we decide SOBO is the route we're taking (starting at Newfound Gap).

[HooKooDooKu]

Drop boxes were needed back when you would self-register for permits and not every camp site required reservations.
The drop boxes were needed so the rangers could collect the permits so they could maintain their statistics on back country utilization.

But now that permits are filled out online, the park service gets their back country utilization statistics from the online computer system.

What drop boxes are left are for AT thru hikers because their permits are NOT tied to specific dates. (Once an thru hiker obtains their permit, they have 30 days to enter the park, and once they enter, their permit is only valid for another 8 days).
Thru hiker permits have a tear-off portion that they are supposed to deposit in the drop boxes where they enter the park at either Fontana or Davenport Gap. The rangers collect these tear-off portions to get their date-specific back country utilization statistics for AT thru hiker permits.

[Red Sky]

Drop boxes were needed back when you would self-register for permits and not every camp site required reservations.
The drop boxes were needed so the rangers could collect the permits so they could maintain their statistics on back country utilization.
But now that permits are filled out online, the park service gets their back country utilization statistics from the online computer system.

What drop boxes are left are for AT thru hikers because their permits are NOT tied to specific dates. (Once an thru hiker obtains their permit, they have 30 days to enter the park, and once they enter, their permit is only valid for another 8 days).
Thru hiker permits have a tear-off portion that they are supposed to deposit in the drop boxes where they enter the park at either Fontana or Davenport Gap. The rangers collect these tear-off portions to get their date-specific back country utilization statistics for AT thru hiker permits.

Thanks for the response all. Good info. I'll plan on printing and carrying it!

[Ashepabst]

I usually take a screenshot of the permit so it’s available offline


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[HooKooDooKu]

I usually take a screenshot of the permit so it’s available offline

Your permit is emailed to you as a PDF. So you just have to download the PDF onto your phone.

Note that "unofficially", rangers have accepted digital versions of permits in the past. But they want you print and carry your permit so that you still have it even if your electronics die.