Popular trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be closed - but not for everyone

One of the most popular trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be closed starting May 15 - but not for everyone.

A stretch of Alum Cave Trail will be closed to hikers on weekdays May 15-25 while crews repair a section of trail that was damaged by a fallen tree last year, according to a release from the national park.

Even during the closure, hikers still will be able to access the trail as far as the popular Alum Cave Bluffs.

LeConte Lodge employees and hikers with reservations at the lodge - which is only accessible by hiking - or the backcountry shelter will be exempt from the closure, according to the release. All hikers are advised to pay attention to trail signs and follow the instructions of trail crew members, the release said.

The popular Alum Cave Trail leads to such iconic areas as Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluffs and Mount LeConte. Hikers who do not have reservations at the lodge or shelter and who wish to hike to Mount LeConte can use one of the other trails to the summit.

Here's an alternative: Cades Cove, a top destination in the Great Smoky Mountains, is worth visiting

Updates on the status of trail and road closures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are available online on the parks Current Road, Facility, Trail and Backcountry Updates webpage.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Popular Smokies trail to close for repairs - but not for all hikers