Helen and I visited six National Parks on our most recent trip, including Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. I’ve said it many times; our National Parks are the greatest gifts Americans have given to ourselves, and we were not disappointed this year.
After returning home and taking a few weeks to readjust, we were itching to return to the wide-open spaces. Fortunately, the most-visited National Park in the country is thirty miles from our front door, and Helen suggested we add the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to this year’s tour. I took the bait.
Peak leaf season is fast approaching in the Tennessee Valley, so we figured that we might have the opportunity for first-class leaf-peeping at the higher elevations. Campground reservations are a tough ticket during leaf season in the Smokies, but our chances might be better if we tried for a Monday instead of a weekend. We guessed right and obtained a great spot along the stream (the last one available) at our favorite campground in Cherokee, NC. In addition to securing a great campsite, the weather was perfect for camping, outdoor adventures, and picture-taking.
There are some excellent hiking trails on the eastern side of the National Park that don’t require hill-climbing. Helen and I always enjoy Deep Creek Trail in Deep Creek Campground near Bryson City, NC. The trail follows the creek and takes hikers to two Waterfalls. Tom’s Branch Falls is the higher of the two, and if the streams are full, the waterfall can put on quite a show. Indian Creek Falls is about a mile up the trail. It is a gentle waterfall but very scenic. Indian Creek Falls always has visitors around the base–or wading in the creek.
On day two of our visit, Helen wanted to hang out in Dora to do some cleaning after our four-month road trip and prepare for our annual church campout. I was just an obstacle to work around when Helen started cleaning, so I grabbed the camera and headed up the mountain to check the leaves out and take pictures. The destination was the overlook at Newfound Gap, an always scenic viewpoint that should be spectacular on this bluebird day.
As I drove past the Visitor’s Center at Oconoluftee, I could not see an empty parking space and had my first clue that the most-visited National Park would live up to its reputation on this day. Cars also lined the roads near the hiking trails, but I found one along the edge of the Oconoluftee River and stopped to take pictures of the stream. Water flowed gently around the rocks, and the falling leaves added just a touch of color to the scene. The hiking trail adjacent to the creek was very inviting, but I wanted to see what awaited me at the top of the mountain.
From the parking area along the creek, I drove steadily up Newfound Gap road to the parking lot at the overlook–a climb of about 3,000 feet. The colors along the road provided a hint as to what I would see at the top. The sky remained a stunning blue.
At Newfound Gap, I had to wait for a parking place to open, but the wait was worth it. We’ve had a substantial amount of rain this fall, and the leaves have clung to the trees a bit longer as a result. Color had begun to fill the leaves, but I guessed they were not yet at their peak. Nevertheless, there was color enough to satisfy this leaf-peeper, and I joined the crowd on the viewing platform and snapped away. What a treat!
After a while, I put the camera down and stood still while taking in the view and filling my lungs with fir and pine-scented air–something we don’t get to do every day, then drove slowly back down the mountain. You could say I was Easin’ Along.
Joe, your pictures are fantastic, you have mastered a great hobby of which it is obvious you enjoy!
RT
Hello, Rod,
That’s quite a compliment coming from a real photographer! Thanks! So glad you checked in–great to hear from you. Hope all is well with you and Sally. Joe
How we love “traveling” with you two! We still have a few “bucket list” National Parks out west to visit. Your travelogues are valuable resources to all of us. Thanks!
👍😍
Hi, Roberta,
If you haven’t been to Glacier or Yellowstone, GO!. The scenery and the wildlife are unforgettable. Bryce Canyon is pretty special too! Thanks for checking in! Joe
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your travels with us!
Hello, Arlene,
Great to hear from you. Thanks for Easin’ Along with us. We’re home for a few months before hitting the road again, but we couldn’t miss leaf season in the Smokies. Have a great week! Joe
Love this post, Joe. Thank you for the “visit” to my home state in its glory!
Hi, Nancy,
So glad you joined us on this visit. The leaves are just now hitting their peak, but we got an eyeful on top of the mountain. Great to hear from you! Say “hi” to Jim, and have a great week! Joe
I’m not surprised that you made time for a trip to see the fall colors. 🙂 Your photos are lovely!
We just returned home after our summer in the mountains. After leaving Lake Toxaway, we spent 10 days at Down By The River campground and loved it. The fall colors were beginning along the Blue Ridge Parkway and we had a fabulous time! Thanks again for the campground recommendation.
Laurel,
I’m so glad that Down By The River worked out for y’all. I keep telling Helen that we should go back, but she loves Cherokee (and the Casino), but I’m hoping to rack up enough points to get my way at least once. The weather should be good for a while on the Forgotten Coast, so enjoy. Give Magnolia a kitty kiss from me and please stay in touch. Joe
National Parks are indeed a gift that we give ourselves.
Visiting six National Parks in one extended trip is incredible!
Your photos are stunning. My favourite part was when you put your camera down and stood still soaking in the beauty around you. What better way is there to Ease Along?!
Good morning, Donna,
National Parks are always a treat, and I’ve never had a bad experience while visiting one. Helen and I visited the Grand Canyon a few years ago and arrived at the Overlook when about six tour busses unloaded just as we arrived. That event tested my patience a bit, but we had a great time nonetheless.
My visit to Newfound Gap was special. Soaking in the sun and pine-scented air is about as exhilarating as it gets. Have a great week! Joe
I have to agree with Donna about the moments you took to breathe in the air and not worry about the view from a lens. Sometimes our souls need a good fix! The Great Smokies are on our list and with you, our nephew and a former colleague living in Tennessee, there a 3 great reasons to head that direction some day! Stunning photos, Joe. Love all the images from the national parks–the best gift John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt gave us! Sounds like you are home safe and preparing for the holidays!
Good morning, Terri,
Please come to Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains sometime. You would love our mountains and lakes, and I promise to show you and Hans a good time. The springtime is good, and the fall is great! We’re home, but going camping with the church this weekend in Big South Fork–always a fun outing. Thanks for stopping by! Joe
loved reading about your trip!
Anne,
Great to hear from you! Thanks for checking in–please come back! Joe