Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 2012, I traveled to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here is an overview of select images from my trip last fall to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.

 

A waterfall leading into the Little River.

 

A waterfall leading into the Little River.

 

A waterfall leading into the Little River.

 

Fall colors still remain on the banks of the Little River. 

 

Rhododendrons reach over the waters of the Oconaluftee River.

 

Early morning light amongst rhododendrons along the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail.

 

Fresh frost on ferns and other forest floor vegetation.

 

A black bear rubs its back on a tree in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

 

Water rushes down boulders of Alum Cave Creek.

 

Alum Cave Creek.

 

Fresh frost among the forest along Alum Cave Creek.

 

The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail in morning light.

 

Fog fills the valley below the Alum Cave Bluffs.

 

The Alum Cave Bluffs.

 

Alum Cave Creek.

 

A female elk grazes during a rainstorm in late fall. 

 

Historic cabins are part of the farm museum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 

Rhododendrons.

 

Fresh frost on forest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 

Rhododendrons along the trail to Laurel Falls.

 

Fresh frost in the Smoky Mountains.

 

Fresh frost in the Smoky Mountains. 

 

Fog fills the Gatlinburg valley below Clingman's Dome.

 

Sunrise from Clingman's Dome.

 

Sunrise from Clingman's Dome.

 

Sunrise from Clingman's Dome.

 

Sunrise from Clingman's Dome. 

 

Observation Tower at Clingman's Dome.

 

Laurel Falls.

 

Laurel Falls.

 

Laurel Falls.

 

Laurel Falls.

 

Laurel Falls

 

Laurel Falls.

 

Mountains viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

Mountains viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

A mill in Cade's Cove.

 

Ogle's Cabin

 

Mountains viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

A turkey.

 

Mingus Mill.

Gans Creek Wild Area | Columbia, MO

During a recent small snowstorm Missouri received in December, I headed out to the nearby Rock Bridge State Park and hiked the Gans Creek Wild Area section. This area of the park doesn't get the traffic like the Devil's Icebox trail, so it makes it perfect for a secluded hike.

The system of trails is long enough to spend a whole day out there hiking and the beauty is the reward. Gans Creek winds through the landscape, carving numerous steep cliffs and yielding interesting geology.

Although I have hiked the area quite a bit, this hike was great because I was able to get out after a fresh snow before anyone else did. The overcast day didnt give me much dynamic light, but was still a beautiful Missouri landscape to be out in.

In my opinion, winter/fall is the best time of the year to be out in the woods. The lack of foliage allows you to see through the forest and opens up vistas and vantage points. But it also makes it trickier to shoot. You really have to work a scene more to get a great result.

Enjoy!