Cades Cove - A special place that is a must see for all Smoky Mountain National Park visitors. (my walk highlighted in blue)
Elevation profile for the 8.5 mile Rich Mountain Loop walk
7:45 AM - Waiting in line for the Cades Cove gates to open. Needless to say this is a BUSY place, so plan to spend an entire day.
Cades Cove 8 AM - A cloudy start but I was hopeful it would clear as a front blew through. Unfortunately it didn't.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - The first 0.5 miles are a flat horse trail running parallel to the loop road. The colors were vibrant.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - One of the many maintained fields beside trail
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - A doe and her fawn were in this field grazing, but unfortunately my picture came out blurry.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - One of the maintained fields. Note the line of cars circling the loop already.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Crowds gather to watch the turkeys in the fields on this warm, cloudy, morning.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Golden Fall hues. My tree id skills are weak..so bear with me while I look this one up.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Crossing Crook Arm Branch
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - A natural dam on Crooked Arm Branch
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail/Rich Mountain Loop Trail intersection - Today I'll do the loop counterclockwise, starting with a tough ascent up Crooked Arm Ridge.
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Starts out innocently enough, but before it will be a nice climb
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Climbing up amongst the pine-oak forest
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Looking up a big white pine
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Crooked Arm Falls
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - A crossing of Crooked Arm Branch
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Crooked Arm Branch
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Starting to climb and seeing big colors on the opposing ridge
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Colors across the ridge as I climb
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Now looking south into the Cove. Unfortunately it wasn't very clear today
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Clouds and fog starting to thicken the higher up the ridge I go
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Vibrant color displays on the Smokies peak color weekend
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Vibrant colors
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - More colors on opposite ridges
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Relieved for a short flat spot before more brutal climbing
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - I thought this was neat..Virginia Creeper lends its red to the Fall color party by cloaking this entire tree.
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Maples in striking gold...no way my pictures convey it, so you must go check it out for yourself
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - The maples were absolutely stunning
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Clouds rolling in.
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - I love the white pines and how they capture the fog on their needle tips
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Now it's really clouding up
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - A crooked arm
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - There was a overlook cleared that probably has a great view of the Cove and the main ridge of the Smokies..but this is what I saw today.
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - The trail forks for no apparent reason, but both wind up at the same spot a 50 yards downhill. To the left is the official route.
Crooked Arm Ridge Trail - Spooky rhododendron thickets abound up here
Indian Grave Gap Trail/Crooked Arm Ridge Trail intersection - the majority of the tough climbing is done by this point.
Indian Grave Gap Trail - A small cairn on flat spot beside the trail.
Indian Grave Gap Trail - I bet this trail is nice when it's clear. High walls of rhododendron on the right and views to the left.
Indian Grave Gap Trail - You can't help but act like Linus walking to the pumpkin patch this time of year
Indian Grave Gap Trail - High walls of rhododendron surround you.
Indian Grave Gap Trail - Looking through the fog and clouds
Indian Grave Gap Trail - Some nice flat ridge walking on Rich Mountain
Indian Grave Gap Trail - The forest was stunning despite the low-hanging clouds
Indian Grave Gap Trail - Spectacular golds
Indian Grave Gap Trail
Indian Grave Gap Trail - A Park boundary marker
Indian Grave Gap Trail - Approaching the Rich Mountain Trail intersection.
Indian Grave Gap Trail/Rich Mountain Trail intersection - This was a nice gap covered in leaf litter
Rich Mountain Trail/Indian Grave Gap Trail intersection - Bear danger signs were on all the trail signs, but I didn't see any bears today
Indian Grave Gap Trail - More brilliant golds from the maple trees
Indian Grave Gap Trail - An American Chestnut, once the king of the forest, in bright gold.
Indian Grave Gap Trail - Sugar Maples turning from gold to orange/red
Rich Mountain Loop Trail/Indian Grave Gap Trail intersection - A quick lunch here before the final descent. Unfortunately the front took its time clearing out the clouds.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Heading back down out of the clouds
Rich Mountain Loop Trail
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Not too much of a view today
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Dropping lower, now I could start to see the Smokies main ridge
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Looking into the Cove and at the Smokies main ridge
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - A Cades Cove field
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Beautiful reds and golds on the opposite ridge
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - A believe this is Marthas Branch
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Approaching the John Oliver cabin
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - John Oliver cabin
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - John Oliver cabin. The trail runs behind this popular spot on the Cades Cove loop road.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Now down to the flatlands, the views of the main Smoky ridge were awesome.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - A big difference in the view from a few hours ago.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Wow!
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - You can see why this place is always crowded
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - No view from the top today, but man were the low views great.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Cades Cove
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - The line of cars crawl around and admire the stunning views.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Wow..I had not been here when the color was at peak
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Now back towards the trailhead looking over the horse stables.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Clouds hanging on the high ridges.
Rich Mountain Loop Trail - Another great Smoky trail completed.
Rich Mountain Loop trailhead
Rich Mountain Loop trailhead - A beautiful day in a beautiful place
Cades Cove
Cades Cove Loop Road
Forge Creek Road - Obviously the Henry Whitehead Place
Forge Creek Road - The Henry Whitehead Place
Forge Creek Road - I guess this is Forge Creek
Forge Creek Road - This will be my first trip on Parsons Branch Road, a one way thrill ride if you don't get stuck behind somebody afraid to get their car wet like I did
Parsons Branch Road
NC Hwy 28 - The first look at the sun today at a Fontana Lake overlook
NC Hwy 28 - Clouds still hanging around the high country from a Fontana Lake overlook
NC Hwy 28 - I bet there is no view from Clingmans Dome today
NC Hwy 28 - From a Fontana Lake overlook
Cherokee - The Oconaluftee River
Blue Ridge Parkway - Heading home now, I was treated to more stunning views from the Parkway.
Blue Ridge Parkway - From the Thomas Divide overlook
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway views
