Great Smoky Mountains 2026

I attended a workshop for 5 days in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and environs. We were a bit too early for the peak fall color, but we did find interesting things to photograph. The weather started out hot but cooled down at the end to near freezing, and we had either clear skies or rain, not much in between. Most of the images were taken with my telephoto lens, something I don’t usually do. It was an excellent trip

Reflections in the Little River near the Townsend Wye

More reflections near the Townsend Wye

Morning light in Cades Cove

Later in the morning in Cades Cove. I liked the layered trees

The view from the Foothills Parkway on a dreary morning

Along the Middle Prong Little River near Tremont

Light in the trees along the river

Along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Not sure what creek that is

Another view along Roaring Fork

A third view along Roaring Fork Nature Trail

A leaf in the LIttle River

Reflections in the Little River

Another cloudy sunrise along the Foothills Parkway

Hillsides seen from Newfound Gap Road (US 441) on a cloudy, rainy day

Another view from Newfound Gap Road

An elk in Cherokee, NC

Another elk the following morning.