Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

[anil_sud]

<p>I'm interested in travelling to the Smoky Mountains this spring sometime between late April and early June and am looking for advice for shooting. My main interest is landscape but I'm also interested in colour and design.<br>

When is the best time to catch the spring flowers for the most visual variety of color and when in the spring is the best window to catch the smoky layered effect of the receeding mountains. I've resisted travelling there in the fall for the smoke because I hear the traffic is atrocious!<br>

Are there other interesting things to photograph in the spring within a 3-4 hour drive from the national park? I would also like to go to any nearby cities if there is any exciting architecture to shoot - ultra modern architecture intrigues me much in the style of the famous architect Frank Geary. <br>

Any subject is appealing to me if it has great colour and design - buildings/street scenes/city skylines/landscapes/closeups - I'm pretty much open. I will also have about 2 weeks total to shoot not including travel time to get there.<br>

Thanks in advance!<br>

anil</p>

[eric_silvi]

<p>I have made a spring trip to the Smokies several times. I usually like the 3-4 week of April for the wildflowers. But with the time frame that you mention, one warning: check the National Park Service web site for road closures! I think most of them are in May, but there will be road closures involving Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, and Roaring Fork Motor Trail. All of these are very popular areas that most everyone would suggest you visit.</p>

[richard_crowe4]

<p>I am particularly fond of the Cades Cove area since my ancestors settled in that region during the very early 1800's. It is also a beautiful and historic area. Not exactly "modern"architecture but, interesting never-the-less...<br>

<a href="http://www.cadescove.net/auto_tour.html">http://www.cadescove.net/auto_tour.html</a><br>

<a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm">http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm</a><br>

<a href="http://www.mysmokymountainvacation.com/cadescove.html">http://www.mysmokymountainvacation.com/cadescove.html</a></p>

<p> </p>

[john_mcmillin]

<p>I've heard that Asheville, N.C. has a wealth of early -Twentieth Century Art Deco architecture downtown. It's the first city of any size east of the park, so check it out. There's an arts and New Age community feeling that's very unusual in the South.</p>

[richard_duncombe]

<p>I'll second Asheville, I drove down from Mount Washington, Maine along the Appalachians and the Blue ridge area up to The Great Smokies and Georgia, while perhaps being the emptiest and least culturally 'American' from a foriegners point of view, were certainly the most spectacular.</p>

[anil_sud]

<p>Thanks to all for taking the time to respond</p>

[bob_howdeshell]

<p>I guess that I need to be honest in my response to your question. I live 15 minutes from the west (Townsend) entrance to GSMNP, so I have just a little experience. I am in the park 75+ times a year. This may not be the spring to come to the Smokies ... Cades Cove will be closed until the 3rd week in May. This is painful enough as it is but that will mean that folks will be in other, not normally as crowded places in the park.<br>

Additionally the Clingman's Dome Road will be closed until the end of May, as will the Roaring Fork road ... sigh<br>

There are still many wonderful places to see for landscapes, flowers, waterfalls, etc. Some may require a bit of hiking. Spring is always better for the blue mist images, in my opinion. Try the Foothills Parkway vantage and hike up to the fire tower before dawn or at sunset.<br>

Here is a link to the Park road closure information<br /> <br /> http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/road-facility-improvments.htm</p>

[anil_sud]

<p>Thanks Bob for your helpful info.</p>

[paul_wasserman]

<p>Heading to the Smokies for a NANPA workshop next weekend. Thanks to Bob for the heads up about the roads.<br>

I checked the official site and their map says Cades Cove was closed through April 23rd, but you had mentioned it was closed till the 3rd week in May.<br>

Do you know which is correct?</p>