Great Smokies in November

<p>I was scheduled to go on a trip to Great Smokies Nat'l Park in October but my time from work was changed. The time I have available to me now is November 13-18. I still want to go to GSNP because it's been a dream of mine for some time. But is most of the great color gone? Where are the best places to go considering the time of year.<br>

The tour leader of the trip I canceled from offered me a private tour at $500/day. A bit too steep for me. Please act as my tour guide here and send me links and info I can use. Thanks!<br>

Terry</p>

<p>Terry, we just came through the Smokies last weekend (Newfound Gap, Asheville, NC to Gatlinburg, TN via I-40). From what I could see, the colors haven't peaked yet. They just had a couple of nights of freeze warnings up there, which might have sped the process up a bit. I'd say any time in the first couple of weeks of November should be good. You might want to check the NPS website at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm">http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm</a> for a more definitive answer. Hopefully, we'll be back up there next month, too.</p>

<p>The NPS website mentioned by William is an excellent starting point. Purchase books and brocures from their bookstore and study them thoroughly.</p>

<p>That is exactly what I did before going on a June trip to Glacier NP. We played it by ear as to where to walk and hike depending on weather and timing. With some prior knowledge, those decisions were easier. We also studied the natural histoy and I carried a blank journal to add notes of each days adventures and in the back I had printouts of sunrise/set times, bird list, mammal list, etc. The NPS has a never-ending amount of information when doing a search, and I am sure GSMNP also has extensive information.</p>

<p>1. Get or borrow the Bill Campbell and Nye Simmons book "The Smoky Mountains Photographer's Guide", ISBN 0974552607. This book has a comprehensive breakdown of the classic photo locations in the park. http://www.amazon.com/Smoky-Mountains-Photographers-Guide/dp/0974552607<br>

2. Follow status at http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vf22 Happily the leaves are still here, but heading in to November the situation will change.<br>

3. The "what to shoot in GSMNP?" question has been asked numerous times on photo.net and NPN so be sure to search the archives.</p>

 

<p>Terry,<br>

By the time you get there most of the trees will be bare. You will still have a great time and it wont be nearly as busy. There will still be color, just not in the trees. Rivers, creeks, waterfalls, rocks, moss, lichens, plenty of color just have to look a little closer. Have fun.</p>

<p>In the higher altitudes, the forest transitions to evergreen trees, so you won't be looking at a bare forest. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>In the higher altitudes, the forest transitions to evergreen trees, so you won't be looking at a bare forest.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Actually it's both - evergreens and deciduous - and the trees up top are bare. Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap, anything above Alum Cave or the Deep Creek Overlook on the Caroline side look like winter already. I just got back from there today.</p>

<p>Lower down (Chimney trailhead) the leaves are still mostly green, there are still fall asters, and some of the lower mountains are just starting to color - it's a very odd year. So there *ought* to be color when you're here, but it's hard to predict. In normal years I shoot color well into November.</p>

<p>I just got back last night, there is some color now but not much, the leaves above the Chimney's are gone but everywhere else the color is slow to appear. Plus I noticed that what color is there is somewhat drab, this should change over the next week as colder air moves in. You should have color into the first week of Nov and even later is select spots. Lots of water in the streams. My advice is to go with several "goals" in mind, if the first can't be achieved then move on to something else, in other words, be flexible.</p>

<p>Check out the Devil's Triangle/Tail of the Dragon area (easily found online). It's outside the park but well worth a day puttering around for scenery.<br>

From last year, late November, check out<br>

<a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=893032">Mingus Mill, GSMNP</a><br>

<a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=892828">Great Smokies landscape shots</a><br>

<a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=892743">Great Smokies ice structures</a></p>

<p>When I took these last November, it was quite cold, mostly overcast and somewhat rainy a great deal of the time. Some of the better roads in the Park were closed. No matter when, the whole area is a trove of potential photos! Enjoy!</p>

<p>Terry,<br>

I just came back from there...there was a storm on the 23rd or so that took out all the color in the high country. I arrived on the 27th in a hard rain that took out a lot more, but you could find spots...on the 30th there were high winds all night, then rain all day on the 31st; most of the low areas that were left wrere gone by Sat night--Tremont, Cade's Cove, Greenbrier and Cosby were stripped of foliage and had raging rivers. There were a few scenes on Rich Mountain Road and just below the Chimney's, but even they were hard work. Photographers who had been there for a while said autumn color lasted about 4 days this year. I should have heeded advice and not bothered myself, tho there were at least a couple of days at the lower altitudes. <br>

Ray</p>