A letter to all park neighbors and park visitors from deep within our hearts! 

No tentative reopening date has yet been set for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  We are working hard on a framework for a phased reopening of park trails and facilities which aligns with directives from Federal, State, and Local Health Officers and gating criteria of the Center for Disease Control.

As the phased reopening begins, folks from afar will be visiting.  This could definitely impact the Tri-State area where cases of COVID-19 have been minimal and for which we are all thankful.  Our  phased reopening framework includes safety of park neighbors as well as park visitors and the park team.  Once we begin the phased reopening, park team members will be utilizing personal protective equipment as we fog buildings, clean restrooms, disinfect park vehicle interiors, and continue with our routine responsibilities, which are many and which are very cool.  As we all know,  personal protective equipment is in high demand making quantities very limited.  During this phased reopening, we’ll need to make adjustments and be flexible as we continue to learn from best practices.

This weekend’s warm weather and the opening of businesses and parks in nearby states will indeed tempt to hike Cumberland Gap trails.  Don’t be  tempted!  Rangers continue to patrol and monitor the park and enforce the temporary closure.

Like you, park team members are also missing the park, as many of us working from home.  It’s tough not being able to work in and enjoy the place we love the most.       

We’ll continue to post updates to the park’s Facebook and the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cuga.

As the park reopens in a phased sequence, we suspect we’ll hear you joyfully singing “Happy trails…”  We’ll be right there singing in harmony with you! 

With incredible admiration and a huge thanks for your continued support and understanding –

The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Team, Proudly Serving You and Protecting Your National Park