Great Smokey Mountains (Page 2): I was there two weeks ago. I downloaded an app that took me on a self guided tour. I did not get to any waterfalls as I am not a hiker, but there were...

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

I was there two weeks ago. I downloaded an app that took me on a self guided tour. I did not get to any waterfalls as I am not a hiker, but there were many scenic stops along the route, and I drove up to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

tommymac wrote:

My wife and I are heading to Gatlinburg in a few weeks for capture the fall colors. Since this is our first trip to the area, I am asking those who have been there before for recommendations on best photo locations, including waterfalls, mills, homesteads, etc. We are both in our 70’s and in relatively good health so access to certain areas shouldn’t be too problematic.That being said, are there areas to avoid? We’ll be there for four days, so we’ll have time for a lot of opportunities. Thanks.

Love the Smokies. Cades Cove is a must, but go very early to get in line, like 4:30-5am. Count on 2 hours drive once you’re in.
Clingman’s Dome and Newfound Gap provide excellent photo ops. Especially sunrise from the parking lot at Clingman.

tommymac Loc: Green Bay, Wisconsin

mikeroetex wrote:

Love the Smokies. Cades Cove is a must, but go very early to get in line, like 4:30-5am. Count on 2 hours drive once you’re in.
Clingman’s Dome and Newfound Gap provide excellent photo ops. Especially sunrise from the parking lot at Clingman.

Thank you. Might be tough to convince my wife about a 4:30am start time.🙄

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

tommymac wrote:

My wife and I are heading to Gatlinburg in a few weeks for capture the fall colors. Since this is our first trip to the area, I am asking those who have been there before for recommendations on best photo locations, including waterfalls, mills, homesteads, etc. We are both in our 70’s and in relatively good health so access to certain areas shouldn’t be too problematic.That being said, are there areas to avoid? We’ll be there for four days, so we’ll have time for a lot of opportunities. Thanks.

If you visit Cade's Cove you will be close to the parkway. You may as well get on the Parkway and head towards Ashville. Not to far in you will come to Hwy 19 near Cherokee NC and with a very short drive you will arrive at Soco Falls, a Falls I have yet to visit but really want to. As you travel the parkway you will pass several overlooks many of which will offer great photo ops. At mile mark 451 you will come to Waterrock Overlook which offers great opportunities for both sunrise and sunset shots. If you make it all the way down to the Brevard area you will have passed several great photo ops, in the Brevard area you will come to Hwy 276, if you head south on 276 you will come to both Sliding Rock and Looking Glass falls. Both of these falls are very close to the road but a steep climb down, the good news is that Looking glass has concrete steps leading all the way down to a low observation deck. But to get great photos of any waterfall you will have to actually get down to the river bed and probably get your feet wet. Something to think about as you plan your trip.

Obviously the image below of Soco Falls is not mine, I pulled it from the web so you could see it.

I have not researched TN but I am sure that there are plenty of waterfalls and a few Grist Mills that you can find by spending a little time on the internet. Anyway, good luck on your trip and for sure don't miss the Parkway.

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OhioJoe Loc: Columbia Station

Cades cove is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesdays just so you know

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

tommymac wrote:

Thank you. Might be tough to convince my wife about a 4:30am start time.🙄

Gates open at sunrise. Better chance of seeing wildlife and/or landscape photos in those early hours. You could go later, it just makes entry longer and a slower pace. The road is an 11 mile loop. Well worth the trip. The logjam is in the middle at the grist mill and visitor center. Pays to get there first before parking lot fills and too many people in your shots.

tommymac Loc: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Blurryeyed wrote:

If you visit Cade's Cove you will be close to the ... (show quote)

Thanks so much

Bill_R Loc: Southeastern Wisconsin

Just a heads up............Gatlinburg and the neighboring Pigeon Forge are like the Dells on steroids. That said, you may find a few of the tourist attractions interesting. For instance, some years ago, my wife and I took our kids to the Guinness Book of World Records museum. We personally enjoyed that and our kids did too.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

tommymac wrote:

Thanks so much

What you might want to do today is join two Facebook groups that I belong to that focus on Photography in the Blue Ridge, you will see images of Northern GA, NC, and TN. Most photographers will note where the image was taken and you will see a lot taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Their images will not only inspire you but will give you clues on composition as well as focal lengths that produce the best results.

Nature Photography in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Blue Ridge Mountain Life

Both those groups have pro's that contribute and their work is awesome.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Please read this post from several weeks ago. It will answer many of your questions and give you some good ideas

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-748230-1.html

kcooke Loc: Alabama

That will be a decent time for fall colors in the higher elevations of the park. The park will be congested for sure There’s not much you can do about that. Go to nps.gov and download the park map ahead of time so you can plan your days in the park. Depending on whether you are able to hike the opportunities are endless for hiking. There are lots of good driving routes with pull offs and parking.

You are going to want to go to Cades Cove. Fabulous photo opportunities. You will need to plan for probably a whole day. Depending on where you are staying Do not go into the park through Gatlinburg to get there unless you have to. The traffic is horrendous. If in Pigeon forge Take Wears Valley Road (Highway 321) from Pigeon Forge to Townsend to head into the park and Cades Cove. This will save some travel time. Cades cove is a one way loop that is about 11 miles. There are two cut through roads to make it a shorter loop but you will miss stuff that you’ll want to see. You’ll have many opportunities for photography. Mountains, Scenic landscapes, old home places, churches, all sorts of animals. Think Black bear, deer, owls, horses.
Not sure about when you are going but in the summer the loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays. You can walk it or bike it. We usually bike it. Last time we biked it we saw like 14 bears plus owls and lots of deer. Abrams falls is beautiful there but it’s a 5 mile round trip hike

Also in the Townsend area there is spruce flats falls. It is beautiful. We hiked there last year. Spruce flats falls trailhead is at the tremont institute. It’s a 3 mile round trip hike but it Is kind of brutal. Very rocky and the trail ascends and descends a mountain each way. It’s about an 800’ elevation change. Other areas we like:

Laurel falls
Elkmont area
Old elkmont club and community
Clingman’s Dome
Little river gorge near laurel falls
Newfound gap
Chimney tops

Some of these places you will get to going into the park in Gatlinburg area
Have a great time. I don’t know which way you are coming from but the Blue Ridge Parkway is also outstanding

Settlit Loc: Baton Rouge LA

If you’d like to avoid the crowds around Gatlinburg, I recommend entering the park from a bit to the east, at Twentymile Creek Trail trailhead. The attached snapshot is from a year ago there.

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wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Capn_Dave wrote:

You might be a little early for fall colors although some will start. Like others have mentioned Gatlinburg is not the quaint little mountain town anymore

Fall colors are just starting out here in Colorado. I think all fall colors are going to start earlier now and in the future, compared to the past, due to global warming. This will make it much harder to predict depending on the weather in the month or two before the changing. This year is the third highest number of 90° weather days and is likely to take second place before the year is out. The top five 90° days have all occurred in 2000 or after and seven of the top ten are in that same period. Cade's Cove will be their best bet for scenic fall colors at this time. That and traveling the Blue Ridge Highway to stop for various areas and shots.

linda lagace

tommymac wrote:

My wife and I are heading to Gatlinburg in a few weeks for capture the fall colors. Since this is our first trip to the area, I am asking those who have been there before for recommendations on best photo locations, including waterfalls, mills, homesteads, etc. We are both in our 70’s and in relatively good health so access to certain areas shouldn’t be too problematic.That being said, are there areas to avoid? We’ll be there for four days, so we’ll have time for a lot of opportunities. Thanks.

It is so crowded but you can avoid this by planning wisely to not get stuck in the tourist trap of Gatlinburg. Make sure you see the Cherokee museum and the restored museum village (no one lives there. It has a still. Church. School print shop etc)

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

tommymac wrote:

Thanks so much

Someone suggested that you visit Transylvania county, their tourist advertising line is "land of the waterfalls". If you do plan on making it that far east on your trip maybe send me a PM and I will meet up and spend a day shooting with you and your wife. I live in Sapphire which is a bit west of Brevard. We could do a few falls in the area as well as some Parkway shooting.