Trips: Escape To The Great Smoky Mountains 2020

Steps along the Trillium Gap Trail enroute to Mt. LeConte.

Stairway to Heaven

Steps along the Trillium Gap Trail enroute to Mt. LeConte.

The hike up Trillium Gap Trail leads to Grotto Falls and, miles further, the peaks of Mount Leconte.  In spring it is a walk...

Trillium Gap Trail

The hike up Trillium Gap Trail leads to Grotto Falls and, miles further, the peaks of Mount Leconte. In spring it is a walk through the lush exuberance of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Grotto Falls

Sylvan Glen

Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls is one of the more beautiful waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains, particularly after heavy spring rain.

Grotto Falls Sanctuary

Grotto Falls is one of the more beautiful waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains, particularly after heavy spring rain.

The trail to Grotto Falls passes behind the Falls, especially welcome on hot humid days.

A View Through the Falls

The trail to Grotto Falls passes behind the Falls, especially welcome on hot humid days.

Grotto Falls sits in a beautiful ravine, surrounding by lush growth and stone cliffs.

Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls sits in a beautiful ravine, surrounding by lush growth and stone cliffs.

Springtime Impression, Cades Cove Drive

Spring Impression

Springtime Impression, Cades Cove Drive

The waters of spring are swelling and the moss and young green leaves create a magical sanctuary.

Springtime Along the Roaring Fork

The waters of spring are swelling and the moss and young green leaves create a magical sanctuary.

Moss - covered boulders grace the waters of Roaring Fork.

Roaring Fork

Moss - covered boulders grace the waters of Roaring Fork.

Quiet getaway along the Roaring Fork.  Nestled not far from the craziness of Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork is spectacular with spring...

Roaring Fork Moss

Quiet getaway along the Roaring Fork. Nestled not far from the craziness of Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork is spectacular with spring's moss-covered streams and fall's colors.

Rays of light break through the arriving storm clouds in Cades Cove.

Spring Storm

Rays of light break through the arriving storm clouds in Cades Cove.

Springtime flower in Cades Cove

Spring Yellow

Springtime flower in Cades Cove

Spring Daisies

Daisies

Spring Daisies

A black bear chews on grasses and flowers near one of the old homesteads that dot Cades Cove.

In the Grasses

A black bear chews on grasses and flowers near one of the old homesteads that dot Cades Cove.

A black bear and one of her two year old cubs look up from a meal of grasses and roots.

What Do You Think They Want?

A black bear and one of her two year old cubs look up from a meal of grasses and roots.

After awaking, this black bear mom slowly stretches, yawns and seems to orient herself. In reality, she is keenly aware of everything...

Waking Up

After awaking, this black bear mom slowly stretches, yawns and seems to orient herself. In reality, she is keenly aware of everything going around her and, especially, her three cubs sleeping above.

After awaking from her nap, this large black bear makes her way toward her three young cubs still sleeping above her in this...

Walking the Plank

After awaking from her nap, this large black bear makes her way toward her three young cubs still sleeping above her in this tree deep in the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Fog hovers above the end of the Cades Cove valley.

Lifting Fog

Fog hovers above the end of the Cades Cove valley.

A black bear licks his chops and takes a quick peak from her breakfast feeding.

In the Meadow

A black bear licks his chops and takes a quick peak from her breakfast feeding.

A mother black bear escorts her three young baby cubs down from this tall oak tree when they have spent the night sleeping.

Escort

A mother black bear escorts her three young baby cubs down from this tall oak tree when they have spent the night sleeping.

A sow black bear waits at the tree's base as her cubs slowly make their way down.

Waiting

A sow black bear waits at the tree's base as her cubs slowly make their way down.

A young cub seems plastered to this tree trunk, as he uses his sharp nails for a secure grip as he its slowly backs down this...

Holding On

A young cub seems plastered to this tree trunk, as he uses his sharp nails for a secure grip as he its slowly backs down this tree.

Mom peers between two trees as her cubs scamper down from above.

Between the Trees

Mom peers between two trees as her cubs scamper down from above.

Like a scene from a movie, this large black bear stands watch with her cubs nearby.

Standing Guard

Like a scene from a movie, this large black bear stands watch with her cubs nearby.

A bear cub with a bright blaze on her chest stands in a grassy meadow in search of mom.

Blaze

A bear cub with a bright blaze on her chest stands in a grassy meadow in search of mom.

A young cub peeks warily around the tree where he has been playing.

Peekaboo

A young cub peeks warily around the tree where he has been playing.

Rhododenrons and Laurels begin to fade atop a high ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains just below Newfound Gap

Newfound Rhododendrons

Rhododenrons and Laurels begin to fade atop a high ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains just below Newfound Gap

A large black sow emerges cautiously from the forest's edge.

Emerging

A large black sow emerges cautiously from the forest's edge.

Heavy fog shrouds Hyatt Lane and the Cades Cove valley.

Hyatt Lane

Heavy fog shrouds Hyatt Lane and the Cades Cove valley.