by Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler

Those who head off into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a night or two will have to pay for the privilege beginning in 2013 under a plan approved by the National Park Service.

The proposal, which has drawn a fair amount of controversy, is intended by park officials to help streamline and improve the backcountry permitting process and heighten the presence of rangers in the backcountry.

Great Smoky Superintendent Dale Ditmanson today announced that the plan has been approved by the Park Service's Washington headquarters.

Keep reading this article at nationalparkstraveler.com.