jdventer Loc: Wallingford, CT, USA

I'm planning on spending a few days this spring photographing in and around the Shenandoah and Smoky Mountains National Parks. Does any one familiar with the area have any wisdom, advice or suggestion they would like to share.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

You will be near Pigeon Forge, the home of Dollywood. Even if you don't like theme parks, they have a nice narrow gauge railroad collection.

jdventer Loc: Wallingford, CT, USA

Thanks, I didn't know about the collection.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

One of the locomotives is at the Pigeon Forge Visitor Center. Try this:
http://hawkinsrails.net/lagniappe/dolly/dolly.htm

Willy Loc: Alaska

I've been thinking about going there in the autumn for the foliage.
I found this photo guide book in a google search.
I haven't purchased it yet so I can't give an honest opinion but any info is better than no info.

http://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Great-Smoky-Mountains-Photographers/dp/0881508551/ref=pd_sim_b_1

If you scroll down on the Amazon page there are 3 books under "frequently bought together". It looks pretty good to me and I think I'll buy them.

Have a fantabulous time and keep us informed about your experience there.

jeanbug35 Loc: Jonesboro AR

I can tell you for a fact that you will never run out of places to stop and shoot photos. I go to the smokies twice a year and it always amazes me at the beautiful thins to shoot. Cades Cove is really good and if you don't mind hiking there are several waterfalls to shoot scattered through the mountains. You will love it!

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Pick up a waterfall-specific map at a visitor's center, as the standard park maps don't do the falls justice. Abrams Falls and Mingo Falls are well worth the hike.

Newfound Gap: A good spot for photographing the setting sun.
Clingmans Dome: Great at sunrise or sunset.

The road to Elkmont Campground has great river views.

Roaring Fork
A loop drive in the north-central Smokies. Head north out of the park from the Sugarlands Visitors Center.

Little Greenbriar School
You won't see this on many maps. It's on the road to Wears Cove that branches off Little River Road. It's an old schoolhouse in a small clearing in the woods, flanked by an old, rustic cemetery.

The Great Somky Mountains Trail map by the National Park Service for $ 1.00. The trail map is a more detailed map of the park than in the park brochure. If you’re going to be doing any hiking, you need to get the trail map.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association is a non-profit organization authorized by Congress to support the park. They have a series of brochures and maps which supplement the information available from the Park Service. Most of the brochures cost about $ 1.00. Our favorites include:
Cades Cove Tour – has information about many of the buildings and people who lived in the Cades Cove area
Roaring Fork Auto Tour – information about the sites and buildings along the tour
Newfound Gap Road Auto Tour – highlights the views and sites along the main road in the park
Noah ‘Bud’ Ogle Place – guide to the buildings and nature trail on the road to the Roaring Fork Auto Trail
Wildflowers – a map highlighting which trails are best for seeing wildflowers in the park
Waterfalls – a map with information and directions to many of the waterfalls in the park

Bill Campbell and Nye Simmons’ "The Smoky Mountains Photographer’s Guide" is full of detailed information on exactly where the best vistas and views in the park are – and includes suggestions on when to photograph them.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your visit.

Browned

Another good place to photograph is RT. 441 outside of Gatlinburg that takes you to Cherokee NC. There's places to pull off that have great views of the mountains. About half way you will reach the NC state line and has a area to pull off and park to enjoy the view. It's only about 30 miles or so but allow plenty if time because of the speed limit and traffic.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

If in Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline drive will be closed for the winter. Although probably snowed in, a great place to visit is Mt.Rogers, very scenic and rugged.

mickeys Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

beware of snakes and other criters.

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

If you're into vintage iron head over the mountains to Maggie Valley, NC and visit the Wheels Through Time Museum...outstanding!
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/

GarrieD Loc: Richmond, VA

I will assume you are starting in CT and headed South to Virginia to start in the Shenandoah NP. The SNP starts in Front Royal Virginia and ENDS at Afton Mountain where I-64 crosses. After that it is the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to North Carolina and the Smokey Mountains NP. The National Park includes thousands of acres and many miles of hiking trails while the BRP is usually only the width of the road plus a narrow right-of-way on either side. Everything else is private land. Numerous places to stop in the SNP but be sure to at least take in Big Meadows. Take the time to hike (or pay for a ride) down to Hoover Camp, the presidential retreat. Fascinating history, countless photo ops. Watch out for deer as they are almost tame and don't mess with the bears. Take your time and enjoy. Everyone wants to photograph waterfalls but that usually requires a healthy hike. I've hiked just about every trail in the park and I guess you can tell its my favorite place. BTW, watch your speed in spite of what all the other tourists are doing.

RTR Loc: West Central Alabama

Cades Cove in Smoky Mountains NP
Clingman's Dome in Smoky Mountains NP
Skyline Drive Shenandoah NP

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

My favorite spot is the Big Meadows are of Skyline Drive. As long as the road is open, you can stay near a little town called Stanardsville, VA. You are right in the middle of Virginia wine country, near Charlottesville and Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's photogenic home). Near Big Meadows, you can hike the Appalachian Trail to Upper Hawksbill, the highest point in the park (spectacular view of the Valley). Also, Herbert Hoover had a retreat built nearby, called Camp Rapidan. Longer hike, but lots of fun. Also, don't forget to see Dark Hollow falls!

drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

I also vist the Smokys at least once a year and have for the last25+ years and as stated before you will not run out of things to photograph. God most beautiful place on earth.
I don,t know when you are planning on you trip, but there was a landslide of the main ( 441 ) road from Gatlingburg to Cherooke. I will be closed from Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome Rd. to Cherooke. It is open from Cheroole to Smokemont Campgrounds on the North Carlina side. At last check there was no time line as to when it will reopen, but in all likelihood it will be closedthru the summer and fall of this year .