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Great Smoky Mountains Synchronous Fireflies
One of the most exciting natural events in the Smokies.
Elkmont Viewing Dates:
Monday, June 3 through Monday, June 10
Every year in late May or early June, hundreds of visitors near Elkmont Campground see the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and are one of only a couple species in North America whose individuals are known to synchronize their flashing light patterns. Since 2006, the National Park Service has limited access to the Elkmont area to the eight days of predicted peak firefly activity. This helps reduce traffic congestion, provides a safe viewing experience for visitors, and minimizes disturbances to these unique fireflies during their two-week mating period.
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Elkmont synchronous firefly viewing dates: Monday, June 3 through Monday, June 10
The lottery opens for reservation applications on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. EDT and closes Monday, April 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
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A total of 1120 vehicle reservations, 140 per night, will be issued through the lottery process. The results of the lottery will be available no later than Monday, May 6. Each reservation allows one vehicle with a maximum of seven occupants to park at the Elkmont viewing location. The number of daily reservations is based on parking capacity and the ability to safely accommodate a large number of viewers on site will minimizing resource impacts.
During the viewing period, access to Elkmont is restricted after 4 p.m. to passenger vehicles with a reservation, registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground, or backcountry campers with a valid permit. Visitors are not allowed to walk or ride bicycles on the Elkmont entrance road or Jakes Creek Road after 4 p.m. due to safety concerns. Overnight parking at Little River Trailhead, Jakes Creek Trailhead, or the Appalachian Clubhouse is not allowed without a valid backcountry permit for backcountry campsites associated with these trailheads.
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Lottery applicants may enter two dates to take part in the viewing opportunity over the eight-day period. The lottery system uses a randomized computer drawing to select applications. All lottery applicants will be charged a $1.00 application fee.
Reservations are non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the date issued. There is a limit of one lottery application per household per season. Regardless of the outcome, all lottery applicants will be notified by email by May 6 if their application was successfully drawn or not.
Successful applicants will automatically be given reservations and a $24.00 reservation fee will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application fee. The $24.00 fee covers the cost of awarding the reservation, as well as on-site portable restrooms, supplies, and nightly personnel costs for managing the viewing opportunity.
Photography by © Firefly Experience
Media Access: To obtain media access for the firefly viewing opportunity, please contact Ashley Courtney at ashley_courtney@nps.gov or 828-506-0637.
Film Permit Access: To obtain a filming permit, please contact Jamie Sanders at jamie_sanders@nps.gov or 865-436-1296.