Eagle Wing

“We would appreciate any suggestions for easily accessible light walking to photo-genic points of interest in the Smokies. We would like to travel there, preferably in the next 1-3 weeks but would have to avoid longer walks or much hiking. A PM message, or we can provide an email address, or a phone call would be appreciated“.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

You can hike as little or as much as you want to in the Smokies. Stop at one of the welcome centers and pick up a map. Drive all the roads possible, and you will find areas that you like, be it streams of water or beautiful views. Three places come to mind that you will not want to miss the drive...........Cades Cove, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail just outside of Gatlinburg, and Clingman's dome. Three places to drive to for sure.

DL Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl and Island Park, Idaho

Cades Cove

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Just to the park and drive.

techwolf Loc: Edgewater, Fl

Definitely hit Cade's Cove especially at Sunrise for the colors and late afternoon to early evening as the deer and bears are on the move. Parson's Branch road just past the visitor's center (halfway point on the loop) has a gorgeous stepped cascade/waterfall and I have seen a lot of bears there. Sparks Cut (which allows you to bypass half the loop) has a pretty stream at the hallway point that you can park at and get lovely sunrise pics. Then Tremont and Elkmont are two abandoned logging communities with lots of of old buildings and nice trails. Tremont is especially nice as the Middle Prong Little River runs along the main road to and the main walkway in Tremont...lots of nice cascades and water scenes. Go off the main trail at times and you will find an old 1930's Cadillac and parts of old buildings. As you enter Tremont by the main road you will see the GSM Institute at Tremont Center on the left....there you can get maps. There are several nice trails from very easy to moderately challenging. I would stay clear of Gatlinburg as it is just a tourist trap with the kitsch and quatch and bad traffic. Hwy 321 connects Gatlinburg to Townsend on the west side. 321 then goes west through Walland and then to Maryville. Near Walland is both the Updated Foothills Parkway which is spectacular (its more than spectacular!) north (the new extension) or south (to the Dragon's Tail!). Also near Walland is Tuckaleechee Caverns which is beautiful. In Townsend there are some nice country restaurants (Riverstone and Carriage House Inn are just two of several) . The main road (321 aka Townsend Entrance road) going east enters the park just at the edge of town. It goes a very short way when it tees into the Little Pronge Gorge Road. Left takes you aling the Little River and some nice stop offs and picturest scenes lime Meig Falls, Laurel Falls and the Sinks. If you continue it will take to to the Sugarlands Visitor Center where Little River Gourge road tees into 441 just south of Pigeon Forge and Galinburg. Right takes you to the Tremont entrance (on the left) or continue on to Cades Cove. As you enter Cades cove grab a map at the self-serve center on the left.
In the center of Townsend 321 takes a left (the main road on to the park is now E Lamar Alexander Pkwy which then morphs into Townsend Entrance rd on the east side) and 321 takes you through Wears Valley then to Pigeon Forge.
If you have Google Maps just search for Townsend and start there gojng both left and right. Have fun!

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Are you a photographer???

traderjohn Loc: New York City

"Suggestions for current photogenic locations in the Smoky Mountains"

jtwind

Was just there, lots of places to go. Almost any road along a stream, stop and walk. Cades Cove? That was literally 11 miles of cars, way too many people. This is a busy, busy park! So be prepared.

Bluetick Loc: Flowery Branch, GA

Cade’s Cove for sure but get there EARLY, well before the gate is opened. Lots of photo opportunities, especially morning mist / fog. If you’re a somewhat serious photographer, take your tripod and normal compliment of filters - certainly polarizer and GNDs. If you get frustrated with crowds and deplore waiting on traffic to move, don’t go. Oh, be sure to take that necessary pit stop before you go thru the entrance gate.

tomcat

Linville Falls, Grandfather Mtn, and the Blue Ridge Pkwy are right next door to the Smoky Mts. Take a tour of the Biltmore Estates. The gardens are beautiful this time of year. I would avoid Cades Cove on the weekends.

RickW0589

Locationscout.net has two links to Smoky Mountain landscape locations. If you subscribe (which is free), you can get directions and other information about the sites from the amateur photographer who took the photos. Link 1: https://www.locationscout.net/locations/1760-great-smoky-mountains/spots
Link 2: https://www.locationscout.net/locations/1761-smoky-mountains/spots

NatureRocks

I've spent more than 50 years in and out of the mountains in North Carolina, with some spent in Tennessee. But many of the suggestions here are really good. I'll just add a few ideas that might be helpful.

Biltmore estate in Asheville is a tourist trap, BUT, if you really like good pics of flowers, go to their greenhouses with a tripod. The light is muted by the enclosures and the flowers are just flat amazing! And no wind.

The Blue Ridge Parkway affords incredible vistas, without any real walking needed. And Black Balsam Knob is an easy drive off the BRP and with short walks on essentially level ground, many vistas, butterflies, etc.

The Cashiers - Highlands area is incredible! Second wettest area in continental US -- waterfalls, many rock faces. There are small outdoor shops in either town, where you could get maps to easy walking vistas, and the restaurants are really good -- fairly ritzy area, but mostly nice people and good images. A drive down Whitesides Cove Road gives you incredible images, and you also can access just below the headwaters of the Chattooga River.

Hope you have a great time!

tomcat

I almost forgot about Brevard, at the edge of Pisgah Nat'l Forest. It's home of the white squirrels. If you don't already have a National Parks pass, you probably should get one. I am 70, so I qualified for the Senior pass. Now I no longer have pay admission for anyone in the car.

America the Beautiful Passes (U.S. National Park Service)
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

I agree with Cades Cove on off times. Crowds seem to back up traffic.

You can also try on the East side where many smaller waterfalls run down the rocks. Very pretty and directly on the side of the road.

Cheryl Z

Clingsman dome is my favorite