Great Smoky Mountains National Park Blog by Richard Weisser of SmokyPhotos.com

Although summer draws the most visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, followed closely by hoards of October leaf-lookers, spring is a time of special beauty in the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Since there are only a brief few weeks that are warm enough to allow the emergence of early blooming plants before the leaf canopy darkens the forest floor, the wildflowers appear en masse from mid-March through April.

Although the Park is known for magnificent vistas and enormous peaks, it’s always fun to enjoy the beauty “up close and personal!” And it’s fun to locate as many different kinds of blooms as possible.

My favorite wildflower viewing areas are Deep Creek near Bryson City, the Smokemont area north of the Oconaluftee Visitor’s Center, and the Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail near the Chimneys Picnic Area south of the Sugarland Park Headquarters.

If you have never visited the Smokies in the spring, I urge you to do so! You’ll avoid the crowds and experience a very special time of year in the mountains!

Photos courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com

I have some good friends that spent a long weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At some point, they decided that it would be nice to experience the park up close and personal with a hike to the very popular Abrams Falls in the Cades Cover area of the park.

It’s two and a half miles from the trailhead to the falls, and of course it’s exactly the same distance back to the parking area. And the trail is considered “moderate,” with some elevation changes, and the typical roots and rocks that you have to step over on mountain trails.

Many people that are unfamiliar with hiking mountain trails do not realize how long it can take to walk a mile, and that a five mile trip can be quite strenuous. Many fail to carry drinking water and blister patches and other hiking necessities.

And once you are two and a half miles from the car, there is no way back other than to retrace your steps and to keep your now exhausted body moving. The last mile is always the longest!

Preparation and proper dress are key to enjoying the park in the more remote areas. Dressing appropriately, having good hiking boots and adequate provisions will make the experience enjoyable instead of painful!

I know that next time, my friends will be better prepared. And I hope that their blisters heal soon!

Photos: Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to visit during any season of the year, but winter offers special opportunities not available during the other three seasons.

Due to the fact that the leaves are off of the trees, views are enhanced from nearly every vantage point, and on a clear day in winter you can see an exceptionally long way!

However, if you plan to visit the park in the winter, please be aware that many of the secondary roads are closed during cold weather.

The roads that are seasonally closed include Clingman’s Dome Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Roundbottom/Straight Fork Road, Rich Mountain Roada and  the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

The roads that are open all year (weather permitting) are the Newfound Gap road (U.S. 441,) Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road.

Most roads reopen in late April or early May for the busy summer and fall seasons.

If you plan on visiting the park before then, you might want to consider getting out of the car and hiking. The trails are less crowed and offer a unique beauty in the winter that is unlike any other time of the year.

But don’t plan on seeing any black bears, as they are denning during the winter and will not emerge until the onset of warmer weather! 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park enjoys a rich history of prior human habitation within the contemporary park boundaries.

Unlike the first national parks that were established in the West on lands already owned by the United States Government, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was assembled with the purchase and condemnation of lands owned by private residents and a collection of lumber and mining companies.

Although most of the structures inside the park boundaries were razed at the time the park was created, a select few were allowed to remain as living museums of the historic human heritage of those that lived and worked here prior to the national park establishment.

The photos depicted here are of historic structures currently maintained by the National Park Service in the Cataloochee Valley. At one time, over 1,200 people called this place home.

And they are a testament to those hard working property owners that gave up their land, voluntarily or otherwise, to forever preserve the magnificent beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Photos: Top Right Steve Woody House, bottom: Eldridge Caldwell Barn, Palmer Chapel, Little Cataloochee Church in the Cataloochee Valley,

The flame upon the candlewick
On draughts aflutter pirouette
And waltz and reel to tempo quick
Then lay in wait for Winter’s breath.

                        R Weisser Oct. 2009

As another Autumn foliage season comes to a close, I begin to look back to all of the falls of my past with fond remembrance. It’s always been my favorite season.

Full of color, and football, and the smell of leaves and the tastes of apples and pumpkins! It’s the last hurrah of temperate weather before winter sets it, a time of warm days and cool, crisp evenings. A most pleasant time of year for both dreaming and reflection!

Each fall is different with it's own personality, and presents it's own special touches. As for me, I am going to observe, and taste and savor each offering of the season.

And enjoying every moment of it!

The Abrams Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers one of the best day hikes for those seeking a mountain waterfall experience.

The hike is a pleasant five mile round-trip excursion that takes you alongside Abrams Creek through a deep hardwood and rhododendron forest. The well used trail offers a moderate amount of climbs over root, rocks and ridges, and can be a bit slippery after a rainfall, but should not be too strenuous for the average walker.

The highlight of the trail is the beautiful Abrams Falls. Although the falls are only twenty feet in height, they carry the highest volume of water of any waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

And the combination of large water volume, a beautiful deep pool below the drop, and relatively easy access make Abrams Falls one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Smokies.

Plan at least four hours for the complete trip as you'll want to stop and take photographs along the way. Those not used to trail hiking may also have to pause for brief rests here and there on some of the longer climbs. And of course, you'll want to linger at the falls to enjoy the sight, sound, and smell of this wonder of nature.

To get there from the Townsend Tennessee park entrance, take a right at "the wye" onto Laurel Creek Road. In seven miles, you will enter Cades Cove. The road becomes one way at this point, and you will have to drive five miles to the far side of the Cades Cove Loop. In times of high park usage, this can take up to an hour.

A short road will take you to the Abrams Falls Trail parking area, which can accommodate many automobiles. The trailhead is on the westernmost side of the lot.

Be sure to carry water and other necessities for the four hour round-trip. Also, be prepared to say "hello" to a lot of fellow park visitors, as the trail is heavily used during peak times.

If you only have time to take one hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Abrams Falls Trail is in the top five. It's a great way to experience what the park has to offer up close and personal!

Flutter and flurry and winter's chill
Toss fire-hued petals aloft until
The caress of earth,  then lay in place
For one last show of nature's grace!

                               R. Weisser 2009 

The one question that comes up the most this time of year is this: "Will it be a good leaf season?"

There are many scientific factors that affect leaf color. The amount of sunlight, recent rainfall, temperature and elevation can all affect leaf color.

But if there is one thing that I have learned over all of the years that I have been taking fall foliage photos is this: There is always good leaf color somewhere!

And like any good treasure hunter, I seek to find the caches of color wherever they may be!

It's a ritual of autumn that I have repeated every year for more than I care to remember.

And it's what I look forward to every year!

There is always a lot of confusion about how to correctly spell the word "smoky." Or is it "Smokey?" You see it spelled both ways so often because it is actually the correct spelling of the word either way!

But if you are referring to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is only one official way to spell the word, and that is with no "E" included. Now you can call them the the Smokey Mountains, as do many of the locals, especially on the North Carolina side.

But the more prevalent Tennessee spelling is "Smoky" and was chosen as the official adjective of the park!

Perhaps it was a cost saving measure. The elimination of all of those "E's" over all those years must have saved a small fortune on signage and printing costs. I mean, that could be millions of "E's" saved over all of the years since the park was dedicated.

And when you think about it, it's not smoke at all. It's mist, or fog, or ozone and other greenhouse gases being emitted from the foliage. But the Cherokee named the range Shaconage which roughly translates to the place of blue smoke.

Or it could be equally translate as the place of blue mist, or blue greenhouse gases. Who knows, but it sure is a beautiful place!

Photos courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com, but if you type "smokeyphotos.com it will work just fine!

In mid to late October, the fall foliage colors will peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nearly two million visitors will travel to the Park to experience the most colorful season of the year!

In addition to autumn leaf color, fall is also a great time for wildlife viewing. Visitors are treated to deer, bear and elk in their natural habitats. A lucky few will see wolves, coyotes or bobcats too.

And although the park is crowded, there are still quiet places to get away from all of the hustle and bustle of the myriad of tourists. There are many less traveled trails and nature paths that can bring you face to face with the beauty of creation.

It's my favorite place in the world. It renews my spirit and revitalizes my soul!

Fall foliage photos in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com

It's the official first day of Autumn 2009, and that always get me excited. Fall is my favorite time of year for several reasons.

I love the cooler crisp weather, and the brilliant sunshine dancing on the yellows, reds, oranges and purples of the foliage.

I love the smell of the fallen leaves and the crunching sound when you walk on them. I love the smell of fried apple pies and the sweet and refreshing taste of ice-cold cider.

I love snuggling by a warm fire on a chilly evening and listening to the embers crackling and hissing as they dissipated into ash.

In honor of the arrival of the season, here are some photos from past autumns. I hope that you enjoy them!

In part three of this series The Cataloochee Valley! we learned about an out-of-the-way valley that offers big rewards for those that venture there.

This is a series about accessibility in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I have saved the best for last. Just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and by far the most accessible way to get a true park experience is the The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail!

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a one way five mile auto trail through one of the most beautiful environments in the park. It's a terrific way to get inside the bowels of the geology of the park and see for yourself this ancient place carved from the mountain with the power of flowing water.

It is a cool and moist place, with beautiful forests, some overlooks, and incredible stream views. There are also several preserved historic structures along the route, so you'll want to make sure that you take a self-guided tour brochure with you. (available at the entrance to the trail.)

And although the speed limit is 10 m.p.h. you'll probably take several hours to complete the journey, because there is so much to see and experience. Be sure to roll down the windows and enjoy the fragrant perfume of the water drenched ecosystem around you.

You will also hear the crashing of the stream water over the rocks, and you'll quickly understand how the name "Roaring Fork" came into being! The sounds are incredible and calming, and a wonderful respite from town!

As you near the end of the route, you will come to the "Place of a Thousand Drips," which is an 80 foot waterfall which can very from drips in dry weather to a significant waterfall in wet weather. It's a great climax to your Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail experience!

To get there from Gatlinburg, simply take Airport Road and follow straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then follow the signs to the trailhead.

Photos Top: Roaring Fork, Bottom" "The Place of a Thousand Drips" courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com

In part two of this series The Newfound Gap Overlook! we explored one of the high overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In this chapter, we will visit the beautiful Cataloochee Valley in the Southeast quadrant of the park. And although it takes a little effort to get there, the rewards more than justify the nerve-testing drive along the narrow and windy roads that lead there.

Cataloochee is one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's hidden treasures.

But once you cross the divide and begin to descend into the valley, you leave the modern world behind and go back in time to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. You will encounter open fields, historic structures and graveyards, and extraordinary wildlife viewing!

You first stop should be at the Cataloochee Overlook. From here you can see the entire valley, and the ridges of the Smoky Mountains in the distance.

As you continue down the road, there are several historic buildings that can be approached by auto. They are the Palmer House, Palmer Chapel, The Caldwell house and barn, and the Beech Grove School. All of these building are accessible with a short and level walk.

Beyond the school is the huge open meadow that is the best spot in the park for elk viewing. The elk herd that was reintroduced into the Smokies in the 1990's congregate here and delight the visitors that come to see them.

Early morning or late evening is the best time for elk viewing. You can easily do this from the comfort of your car or better yet, sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck. There is nothing quite like the sound of a bull elk bugling. It's an amazing thing to hear!

To get there take exit 20 of I-40 (U.S. 276 Cove Creek / Waynesville) and look for Cove Creek Road just south of the interchange. From here, you will take Cove Creek Road for a continuous climb over the divide.

The higher you get, the more narrow the road becomes, until it is a single lane gravel road that winds along a precipice. Drive slowly and carefully here, especially around the blind curves. Continue straight until you enter the park and eventually the road is paved again!

In part one of this series "Cades Cove is an accessible area easily toured by auto!" we explored the history and beauty of Cades Cove.

Now we'll travel from the coves to the highlands, for some of the best views in the park that can be seen from the car. The park features many overlooks in the high elevations, each one featuring its own special beauty. But some are more specual than others.

No trip to the park is complete without stopping at Newfound Gap. Sitting on the state line that divides Tennessee and North Carolina, there is a huge parking lot that can accommodate many vehicles.

It was at this very spot that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 1940 "for the permanent enjoyment of the people."

There are incredible views in every direction, looking down the Oconaluftee Valley towards the Plott Balsams of North Carolina or down the west prong of the Little Pigeon River towards the Sugarlands and Gatlinburg Tennessee.

In addition to the spectacular views, the Appalachian Trail crosses here as it continues along the state line on the highest crest of the Smoky Mountains. So you may encounter some intrepid hikers here that may have begun their journey at Springer Mountain Georgia or Mt. Katahdin Maine!

It's easy to get to Newfound Gap. Just take U.S. Hwy. 441 South from Gatlinburg TN or North from Cherokee N.C. As you approach the state line you will see the excellent signage and turnoffs to the parking area.

Newfound Gap is one of the highlights of any trip to the Smokies. Be sure to include a stop there on your next trip to the park!

A friend of mine is visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in October, and asked me about some of my favorite places. He added one caveat ...he needed to see the park sights within limited walking distance from the car.

This caught me a little by surprise, because most people ask about my favorite hiking trails. After thinking about it for some time, I realized that there are many amazing sights that can be seen without the need for hours of hiking along steep trails.

One of the most popular spots in the park is Cades Cove. Cades Cove is a great place to tour by auto. The eleven mile one way loop rode offers sweeping valley vistas, plentiful wildlife and historic structures.

Cades Cove has three historic churches and many graveyards that recall the names of the past inhabitants of the valley. In these quiet places you will find the final resting places of familiar names like Oliver, Cable and Tipton.

Halfway around the loop is a Visitor's Center, where you can get more information about the park and lots of helpful information. There are also restrooms here that are easily accessible.

However, Cades Cove is so popular that traffic can move very slowly, and it can take up to five hours to do the loop during busy time. October is the busiest time, as crowds of visitors strain to see bears amidst the fall foliage.

No visit to the park is complete without a trip around the loop in Cades Cove. From the Townsend entrance, turn right at the "wye" and follow Laurel Creek Road 7 miles until you reach the cove. Arrive early, and plan on spending all day, as there is plenty to see and do!

It has been an interesting and controversial weekend. I have engaged in mental sparring with a lot of people that are much smarter than me, and it has taken its toll!

My ability to move quickly on my feet has diminished with each passing year. It is a new world, completely different from the one I grew up in so many years ago.

The best part the passing of time, though, is that each year the Great Smoky Mountains revert one year more back to a more pristine state. In the nearly forty years that I have frequented the park, the changes are dramatic.

The trees are bigger, the balds are grown over, and the overall look and feel is more natural and serene.

Have a great day!

Photos courtesy of Smokyphotos

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a popular and pleasant diversion from the hustle and bustle of busy downtown Gatlinburg. Although it takes just minutes to get there from the heart of town, the visitor is transported to a completely different time and place!

The fifteen mile, one way loop is not well-suited for those on a tight schedule. You will rarely be able to maintain the 10 mph speed limit, and you will be compelled to stop the car many times to get out and experience the ancient stream bed and the verdant forest.

There are some overlooks with good views, but this trail is more about Roaring Fork itself. It is a world of rocks and moisture and moss and shade loving plants. You are likely to spot a deer, or if you are really fortunate and observant, a black bear!

A few brave settlers once built small hardscrabble farms along this watercourse, and a few structures have been preserved here in an effort to depict what life was like in the time before the national park was established.

But the journey here is about the theater of the forest, the fragrance of the firmament, and the music of the cascading stream. It's a sensory explosion that overwhelms even the most citified sojourner and beckons them to stay and enjoy a long draught of primeval essence!

To get there from Gatlinburg, simply take Airport Road and follow straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then follow the signs to the trailhead.

Photos Top: Roaring Fork, Bottom" "The Place of a Thousand Drips" courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The black bear is the most popular and sought-after photography subject in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park visitors all want to catch a glimpse of the large mammals, and will cast reason and good sense aside in order to land a "trophy" photo.

But black bears are wild animals. The park is not a zoo, but a habitat. A she-bear with cubs is a wondrous sight, but she will defend her offspring with her life, and will attack if she feels threatened.

In 2009, park officials have indicated that extraordinarily large black bear populations have led to an increased number of incidents with visitors. Some back country campsites and trails have been closed as a result.

The good news is that you'll have an excellent chance of seeing a bear during a visit to the park this year. The bad news is that you may become involved in a bear "incident" if you are not wary. Always keep in mind:

1. Bears are large and powerful animals and can cause serious injury or death.
2. Bears are attracted by improperly stored food or improperly disposed of garbage.
3. Bears with cubs are the most likely to act aggressively.
4. Feeding a bear can be a death sentence for the animal. Bears that become "nuisance" bears often have to be destroyed.
5. Keep a respectful distance from bears. You are a guest in their world.
6. Some people just don't get it. Report violators to park rangers.

And finally, make one of the three park visitor's centers your first stop on your next visit. Get the very latest information about active areas and closures. A little information and a lot of common sense go a long way towards a safe park experience.

And you just might save a bear's life by doing so!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

In 1776, about the time our country was declaring it's independence from the throne of England, naturalist William Bartram entered the Cherokee territory alone and on foot. Batram was determined to document as many species of flora and fauna as possible on his expedition.

On one such adventure, he had his first observation of the native Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) and described it this way:

" the clusters of the blossoms cover the shrubs in such incredible profusion on the hill sides, that suddenly opening to view from dark shades, we are alarmed with the apprehension of the hill being set on fire. This is certainly the most gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known" (William Bartram "Travels" 1791)

The Flame Azalea still puts on a spectacular show in June in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Look for the gorgeous plant in open areas in the high elevations of the Smokies.

My favorite areas for viewing the flowers are by car on Balsam Mountain Road, or by hiking to Andrews Bald. The first to second week in June are usually optimal for Flame Azalea blooms, but a week or two later in the highest elevations.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers something special for the visitor in every season of the year. But if you happen to be there in June, head for the high elevations and the Flame Azalea.

It is an unforgettable display of nature's excellence!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com!

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

Near Bryson City North Carolina lies one of the most interesting and least known areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although frequented by locals, the Deep Creek area of the park offers more recreational opportunities than any other place in the park.

Deep Creek is popular in the summer with swimmers and for tubing. Trout fishing is popular here as well, with a valid North Carolina Fishing license.

You may also ride bicycles on the Lower Deep Creek Trail, one of the few trails in the park where they are permitted. There is a fully improved campground and a ranger station as well.

Deep Creek also features three significant waterfalls within a short walking distance of each other. One of the most popular is Indian Creek Falls.

To get to the falls, simply follow the Lower Deep Creek Trail from the parking lot. At about 0.2 miles, you will be treated to the sights and sounds of Tom's Branch Falls, tumbling into Deep Creek!

Continue to the Indian Creek Trail fork at 0.7 miles, Turn right on this trail, and a sign marking the falls is about a tenth of a mile on your left.

On your return trip to the parking lot, you may want to take the half mile side trail to Juney Whank Falls which is taller but has less water volume than Indian Creek Falls.

Deep Creek is a great way to experience the North Carolina side of the Smokies! Be sure to check it out on your next visit to the region!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com!

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The Cherokee people called the Great Smoky Mountains "Shaconage," or "place of blue smoke."  It is a place of remarkable natural beauty, incredible views, and sparkling streams.

It is an ancient place, created by the cataclysmic collision of the continents which forced the formation of the tallest mountains on earth. But because these are also among the oldest peaks on the planet, they have been worn down and eroded over millions of years into their present state.

So although they are no longer the tallest or the biggest mountains in the world, they remain among the most beautiful.

Photos courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com!

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!