In October, for fall colors, we are going to spend a week+ in the area around Smoky Mountain National Park. We will be staying for a while in SW Ashville then in Townsend. We want to visit Clingmans Dome, Heintooga Ridge Road, Cataloochee, Roaring Fork, Cades Cove, Biltmore, and Blue Ridge Parkway from SW of Ashland to the southern end. What have we left out? And which things will be the most crowded to avoid on the weekend or hit at sunrise (if possible)? Any advice is appreciated.
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Smoky Mountaiin National Park Advice?
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bkjones88
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Hah, and the doors as well I believe. And what I actually meant is that you can't even get onto the grounds before their normal opening time (looks like that's 8:30). See, the Biltmore Estate is a whole enormous compound that includes not only the house, but a winery, restaurants, hotels, shops, trails, gardens, etc. You can access all of it with a day pass, but only after the gates open at 8:30. If you're staying in a hotel on the Estate, I think (but I'm not certain) you'd be able to get up early and wander the grounds to get your nice sunrise photos of the house before it's swarmed with other tourists (although the best view of the house is facing west anyway).
I took the photo below on a Saturday in February and you can see how many people were there then. Leaf season will be worse. Biltmore is very cool and worth checking out, but be forewarned about the crowds. I've never been on a weekday, but it should be a lot less busy, so I'd avoid the weekend if you can.
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KENTGA
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Reid,
My daughter and I visited Biltmore House last September. They now allow photography is the mansion but no flash--- guess the cell phones won out. Worth the trip. Also there's a botanical just south of downtown Asheville that's worth a visit.
Visit the old village just north of Cherokee (about 2 miles) and then Mingus Mill just up the road on the left.
In Townsend go to Tremont and drive to the end on the dirt/gravel road for some trees and streams.
If you are near Highlands NC there is Sunset Rock and Brevard and Cashiers have a lot of waterfalls. If you like waterfalls Kevin Adams has a book about western NC waterfalls. But like the western US some may not flow as much in the Fall.
I have a jpeg DVD of Asheville and other areas if you would like a copy. PM me with your address and I'll send it to you.
Kentga (from Georgia)
My daughter and I visited Biltmore House last September. They now allow photography is the mansion but no flash--- guess the cell phones won out. Worth the trip. Also there's a botanical just south of downtown Asheville that's worth a visit.
Visit the old village just north of Cherokee (about 2 miles) and then Mingus Mill just up the road on the left.
In Townsend go to Tremont and drive to the end on the dirt/gravel road for some trees and streams.
If you are near Highlands NC there is Sunset Rock and Brevard and Cashiers have a lot of waterfalls. If you like waterfalls Kevin Adams has a book about western NC waterfalls. But like the western US some may not flow as much in the Fall.
I have a jpeg DVD of Asheville and other areas if you would like a copy. PM me with your address and I'll send it to you.
Kentga (from Georgia)
Biltmore is the least important destination on the trip. In fact if it turns out to be too difficult we may skip it. We toured 5 mansions in Newport, RI last fall in about 4 hours. Two were even Vanderbilt properties. It was fun but not worth any excessive issues. The mountains and trees are the reason for the trip.
How crowded is the park and is there anything I can do to avoid it?
How crowded is the park and is there anything I can do to avoid it?
The park is very crowded, but, in my experience, if you walk 15 minutes down any of the the great hiking trails, you'll leave 99% of the people behind.
BTW, a CPL would be a good idea. They don't call them "smokey" for nothing!
Have a great trip.
I can't compare biltmore to any of the mansions in Newport, but don't be so quick to dismiss it.
Regardless, Clingmans Dome is VERY popular since you can drive to it. We hike to Mt. Lecont Lodge every October. Nice hike (I'd recommend Alum Cave Trail), but if you have 2 cars, you can do Alum Cave and The Boulevard. The Boulevard is the longest trail to the lodge, but it easily has the best, sweeping views of the 5 trails going up to (or coming back from) the lodge. Anyway, after coming down off the mountain we've tried to drive to Clingman's dome and the line of cars was so long we finally said eff it and turned around. So if you want to do Clingmans dome, like everything else in a NP, do it early before the late risers get into the park.
Another cool hike in the park is to do part of the AT trail up to Masa Knob I believe. That will give you a great view if the leaves are in color.
Another great hike, although not in the park, is Looking Glass Rock. You can see it from the Blue Ridge and it's a fine view, but the hike is pretty good too.
Mount Mitchell is always popular, what with it being the tallest mountain this side of the Mississippi, but last time I was up there there were a lot of dead trees. Don't know if it's recovered.
But the single most important thing you need to bring is patience, especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you find yourself getting frustrated at the traffic, pull into one of the many overlooks and enjoy the views. No way to avoid the traffic. Sorry, it's just the way it is. And avoid Gatlinburg at all costs! It screams touristy, and believe me, there are a ton of tourists there. Have fun.
Thanks for your detailed advice. Some of your hikes are probably more than I do these days. I'm good for 3-4 miles round-trip if the vertical isn't more than 400-500 feet. My wife can do far less. Looking Glass Rock looks great. We are already planning on Mt. Mitchel on our way down from Blowing Rock. Beside great vistas along the BRP and on Clingmans Dome we also want some places where we can be in among the colorful trees. At least we are willing to pay for less crowds by getting up an hour before sunrise or so if that does the trick. We are staying very near the BRP in SW Ashland, so we can avoid a lot of the city getting to places west. Of course all of this is betting on our timing for the fall colors. A couple of years ago we spent two weeks on Lake George in upstate NY and the colors didn't peak until a week after we left. Last fall we hit Acadia perfectly. Timing is mostly luck for fall colors and wildflowers.
KENTGA
Veteran Member
Reid, I live in metro Atlanta and have been to western NC numerous times. I know I'm going to get some blow back on this but I find miles and miles of BRP slightly boring. Also, to each his own, and I don't care anything about museums but I find the Biltmore House absolutely amazing---- especially since it was built in the late 1800's and they were as ahead of their time as they were. It's amazing and as I said you can make photos on the inside now.
Also, if you like waterfalls buy Kevin Adams Western NC Waterfalls book and if you like old restored villages from a hundred years ago go two miles north of Cherokee NC toward the BRP and visit the Natl Park Service Village.
For Cades Cove get there as soon as you can because it will be crowded.
Kent
Also, if you like waterfalls buy Kevin Adams Western NC Waterfalls book and if you like old restored villages from a hundred years ago go two miles north of Cherokee NC toward the BRP and visit the Natl Park Service Village.
For Cades Cove get there as soon as you can because it will be crowded.
Kent
Thanks Kent. We aren't against Biltmore, it's just not as high a priority as the park. But you may be right and we may be sick of the BRP by the time we are done. The Oconaluftee site is already on our list. BTW, when we leave the area we are heading down to Atlanta by way of Brasstown Bald and a night in Blue Ridge, GA. Then a few nights in Atlanta. I have been a number of times but my wife has never been.
CameraCarl
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Get to Cade’s Cove at least a half hour before sunrise. Even then you will be in a line of cars waiting for the gate to open. Same for Clingmans Dome. You need to get there at least a half hour before sunrise to start looking over for a tripod location. Don’t be afraid to move around. I found my best photos at the far left end of the parking lot.
MikeC-1961
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I'd suggests looking at where the places you want to visit see are located in regards to Townsend TN and Cherokee NC and maybe look into staying in Cherokee. I stayed in Cherokee about 1.5 miles outside the NC entrance to SMNP from 15-19 October last year and had found the traffic to be extremely light in the early morning with the exception of cars parked along the road just before the visitor center from people getting out to watch the Elk.
Things are a little limited as far as place eat.
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KENTGA
Veteran Member
Living in CO I can understand not wanting to see insides of buildings. CO & UT are my two most favorite states. Understand about Biltmore or not but it is a once in a lifetime experience. I'm 76 and as I've gotten older I don't like large cities.
As mentioned, many waterfalls near Brevard, Cashiers and Highlands.
Two things to think about in ATL that are very diverisified---
Duluth Train Museum https://www.train-museum.org/ There are multiple engines, cars and many other attractions if you like trains and train related things.
Old Car City https://www.oldcarcityusa.com/ north of ATL above Cartersville on I-75 in White GA. 4000 cars in the trees in states of decay. Cars are mostly from the 50's, 60,s and 70's. You've never seen anything else like it.
Kent
As mentioned, many waterfalls near Brevard, Cashiers and Highlands.
Two things to think about in ATL that are very diverisified---
Duluth Train Museum https://www.train-museum.org/ There are multiple engines, cars and many other attractions if you like trains and train related things.
Old Car City https://www.oldcarcityusa.com/ north of ATL above Cartersville on I-75 in White GA. 4000 cars in the trees in states of decay. Cars are mostly from the 50's, 60,s and 70's. You've never seen anything else like it.
Kent
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bflood
Senior Member
I haven't been to the North Carolina side of the Smokies for fall shooting. But I can agree that Biltmore can be expected to be crowded on weekends. Mid-week should be better.
On the Tennessee side, Cades Cover (and the Gatlinburg area) will also be crowded on weekends, and seem to get particularly bad if there's a Saturday night UT home game in Knoxville. A lot of the UT faithful seem to like making a day of it, spending the bulk of Saturday in Gatlinburg or in Cades Cove, and then depart for the 7PM game time. It results in having favorable conditions for sunset shots, but gridlock during the day. As has become the norm in so many places all over the country, avoiding weekends has large benefits.
On the Tennessee side, Cades Cover (and the Gatlinburg area) will also be crowded on weekends, and seem to get particularly bad if there's a Saturday night UT home game in Knoxville. A lot of the UT faithful seem to like making a day of it, spending the bulk of Saturday in Gatlinburg or in Cades Cove, and then depart for the 7PM game time. It results in having favorable conditions for sunset shots, but gridlock during the day. As has become the norm in so many places all over the country, avoiding weekends has large benefits.
Last fall we were in Acadia from the 11th to the 18th and the colors were great:
Yup, timing is everything. A year ago in the summer I spent a few days in the Flat Tops in Colorado photographing wildflowers. I went up Coffee Pot Road and spent a day getting great images. Just as I was about to head down the gravel road switchbacks (many), an 18-wheeler comes driving up. He stops and warns me that 6 more are coming behind him. So, of course, I waited a while. The trucks were full of sheep being transported to their summer grazing grounds. Sheep eat everything, especially wildflowers. I made it by one day.
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Yup, timing is everything. A year ago in the summer I spent a few days in the Flat Tops in Colorado photographing wildflowers. I went up Coffee Pot Road and spent a day getting great images. Just as I was about to head down the gravel road switchbacks (many), an 18-wheeler comes driving up. He stops and warns me that 6 more are coming behind him. So, of course, I waited a while. The trucks were full of sheep being transported to their summer grazing grounds. Sheep eat everything, especially wildflowers. I made it by one day.
Thanks Niels. It was a fun trip. Cape Cod afterwards was nice too. I had never been to either before. And I've never been to the Smokies either. We are enjoying checking off places we have always wanted to visit.Thanks Reid,
Love the Eagle Lake photo. Bubble Pond looks low.
Know what you mean by timing: A coworker went to Yosemite last June. Think it was a week or two later, the wildfires hit. Glad you got your wildflower shots.
Niels
I recommend Clingman's Dome at sunset (and after). Also, Roaring Fork Motor trail is lovely. It's a 5 mile loop with many streams, and pulloffs to park. You should google it. It is adjacent to Gatlinburg so, again, traffic may be an issue. In Asheville you simply must visit the Grove Park Inn in either the late afternoon or morning. Google that too.
Gary
Gary
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