Two hospitalized after boulders slam vehicle in Great Smoky Mountains, park says

Two travelers were injured when tons of rock slid onto a winding road inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the National Park Service.

The two were taken to a hospital and details of their condition have not been released.

It happened around 11:30 a.m. Friday on two-lane Little River Road, and resulted in an 8-mile stretch of road being closed for hours as park rangers assessed the damage.

Photos shared on social media shows the massive slabs of rock fell just past a blind curve and the SUV sustained major front-end damage. Rocks are seen completely blocking one lane of the road.

The two injured were identified as Brad and Virginia Aytes and they “are expected to survive,” despite suffering serious injuries, according to digital creator Jonny Amusement.

Little River Road spans 18 miles and provides access to “overlooks, trailheads, picnic areas, campground access points and even a waterfall,” Smokymountains.com reports.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes 522,427 acres that straddle the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina.

This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Two hospitalized after boulders slam vehicle in Great Smoky Mountains, park says."