After months of chafing under the restrictions imposed by the spreading coronavirus, I escaped to where I often escape, to my original home park, the Great Smoky Mountains. I took advantage that crowds were still limited and spent time exploring and experiencing the calming effects of the Smokies and some quiet times in Cades Cove, a place that has been way overcrowded for many years.
Trips: Escape To The Great Smoky Mountains 2020
Cades Cove Double Rainbow
The eternal promise - a double rainbow spans the Cades Cove valley after a spring rain.
Sunset on Cades Cove
As the sun sets, Cades Cove and the surrounding mountains are bathed in a warm light.
Emerging Growth
Spring's First Growth.
Late Afternoon on Sparks Lane
Long shadows and the golden light of early evening along Sparks Lane.
Spring Impression in Cades Cove
A dreamy early morning meadow in Cades Cove.
Tree and Fog
As the sun rises, the fog that often settles over Cades Cove lifts and burns off in the warming air.
Late Spring Splendor
Clouds stream across the Valley. Wildflowers fill the pastures. Spring's young leaves emerge on this ancient walnut. Fifty years of memories float by.
Ancient Walnut
An ancient walnut that first greeted me some 50 years ago rises above a field of yellow wildflowers. Time stands still and I am caught up in the memory of all those times I have stood by and under this tree.
Morning Panorama
A panoramic view across the Cades Cove fields and meadow on a spring morning.
Curious Cub
A young cub walks carefully down a fallen log to see where mom has gone.
Primitive Baptist Church
Several churches punctuate the Cades Cove valley and the surrounding mountain landscape, eternal reminders of those who settled in these mountains and struggled daily to survive. Here, Primitive Baptist Church, built in 1827 and named in 1847 by the Cove's settlers to distinguish it from Baptists with other beliefs, catches the first rays of morning light.
Spring's Refresh
Spring Cades Cove Valley View
Spring Oak
Spring Oak in Cades Cove
Spring Resolve
A darkening storm approaches over the mountains surrounding Cades Cove as this solitary tree stands in steady watch.
Storm Over Hyatt Lane
Hyatt Lane and Approaching Storm. Hyatt Lane bisects Cades Cove and provides access to some of the best wildlife habitat in the Cove.
John Oliver's View
Cades Cove Mountain Panorama
Dancing Spring Trees
Spring winds create the appearance of dancing trees.
Cades Cove Spring Growth
Cades Cove Spring Tree
Spring Drive
Cades Cove Road in Spring II
Spruce Flats Waterfall
Spruce Flat Falls in Spring is one of the most beautiful falls in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Spruce Flats Cascades
A gentle cascade streams below Spruce Flat waterfall, located near Tremont in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Spruce Flats Falls
Spring's rains have swelled Spruce Flat waterfalls and the final portions of the trail have been muddy and treacherous. But in the spray of the waterfall, and the fading light of this rainy spring day, there is a sense of peace and tranquility, and a desire to stay just a little bit longer.
Cades Cove's Majestic Oaks
Large oaks hang over the Cades Cove Road as the Road makes its final climb.
Into the Meadow
A large black bear strolls purposefully from the safety of the forest's edge into the meadow where she will graze for much of the morning.
Newfound Gap in Spring
The greens of spring create a beautiful palette atop Newfound Gap.
Turkey Strut
A tom turkey struts his stuff.
Three Toms
Three tom turkeys strut and display their feathers as they compete to woo the attention of some nearby ladies.
Turkey Hunt
A turkey searches for insects on the dew-laden grasses on this spring morning.
Standing Tall
Standing for a better view, a black bear surveys his meadow.
Black Bear Standing
A black bear stands for a better view above the growing grasses in Cades Cove.
Stretching for a Better Way
A young black bear stretches for a clearer view of a distant bear. One of the graver threat to bear cubs is adult male bears.
Standing Bear
A black bear can be hard to see in the fields, except when they sometimes stand to see their surroundings more clearly. Sometimes it is to see if there is danger. Sometimes, it is to see where is mom.
A Mother's Love
Her cubs may soon be sent on their way, but on this early spring morning, a mother black bear mom cozies with her three cubs, licking the dirt and removing the insects and thorns from her cubs. A mother's love never ends.
Showing the Way
A black bear cub rises from her nap and makes her way from her secret hideaway.
Mom Leads the Way
Two cubs slowly make their way from their forest sanctuary toward the meadows where they will resume feeding.
Barred Owl Hunting
A barred owl sits silently above a mountain stream, hunting for small fish and insects. Every ten minutes or so she will spot her next meal and then quickly return to a nearby limb to wait again.
Stairway to Heaven
Steps along the Trillium Gap Trail enroute to Mt. LeConte.
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.
Sylvan Glen
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls Sanctuary
Grotto Falls is one of the more beautiful waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains, particularly after heavy spring rain.
A View Through the Falls
The trail to Grotto Falls passes behind the Falls, especially welcome on hot humid days.
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls sits in a beautiful ravine, surrounding by lush growth and stone cliffs.
Spring Impression
Springtime Impression, Cades Cove Drive
Springtime Along the Roaring Fork
The waters of spring are swelling and the moss and young green leaves create a magical sanctuary.
Roaring Fork
Moss - covered boulders grace the waters of Roaring Fork.
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.
Spring Storm
Rays of light break through the arriving storm clouds in Cades Cove.
Spring Yellow
Springtime flower in Cades Cove
Daisies
Spring Daisies
In the Grasses
A black bear chews on grasses and flowers near one of the old homesteads that dot Cades Cove.
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.
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.
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.
Lifting Fog
Fog hovers above the end of the Cades Cove valley.
In the Meadow
A black bear licks his chops and takes a quick peak from her breakfast feeding.
Escort
A mother black bear escorts her three young baby cubs down from this tall oak tree when they have spent the night sleeping.
Waiting
A sow black bear waits at the tree's base as her cubs slowly make their way down.
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.
Between the Trees
Mom peers between two trees as her cubs scamper down from above.
Standing Guard
Like a scene from a movie, this large black bear stands watch with her cubs nearby.
Blaze
A bear cub with a bright blaze on her chest stands in a grassy meadow in search of mom.
Peekaboo
A young cub peeks warily around the tree where he has been playing.
Newfound Rhododendrons
Rhododenrons and Laurels begin to fade atop a high ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains just below Newfound Gap
Emerging
A large black sow emerges cautiously from the forest's edge.
Hyatt Lane
Heavy fog shrouds Hyatt Lane and the Cades Cove valley.