Day 8 of Wilderness Wildlife Week 2014 Schedule in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

This is it! The last day of Wilderness Wildlife Week concerts, classes and workshops in the Pigeon Forge LeConte Center and free guided hike by local experts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now here and the weather has warmed up just in time so that some can take advantage of those free hikes today.

Yesterday was another in a series of fun and educational days in Pigeon Forge and between leaning about snowflake photography, Blount count gunsmiths in the 1800's, the furnace from the original ironworks at the old Mill in Pigeon Forge, the history of Sparks Lane in Cades Cove, and traditional Cherokee Stories there was something for everyone as Wilderness Wildlife Week.

Today's demonstrations and classes and concerts at the Wilderness Wildlife Week will be well worth the entrance fee of FREE!

Today's must see Wilderness Wildlife Week programs include the photography workshop with Kendall Chiles, Don McGowan and Warren Bedell, Wildlife and Nature Photography by Harry Dunn, Helping the Brookie by Mike Bryant and for serous photographers the class Better Landscape Photos Using Manual Settings presented by local fine art and commercial photographer Eric Gebhart.

Plenty of park roads remain closed this morning with most expected to reopen today and tomorrow. None of today's free guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park should be affected by any of these closures other than the Cades Cove bus tour which must stick to the paved roads as Hyatt Lane and Sparks Lane are both closed due to high water.

All in all, the last day of Wilderness Wildlife Week for 2014 will be fantastic!

Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule
Day 8: Saturday, February 1st 2014

• 9 – 10am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Creating Camera Clubs that Click. Presented by Pat Gordy. Taking place at room North 3.
• 9 – 10am: Fall Creek Falls and the Mid Cumberland Recreation Area Video Presentation. Presented by Stuart Carroll. Taking place at room South 3.
• 9 – 1 pm: The Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Photography Workshop. Presented by Kendall Chiles, Don McGowan and Warren Bedell. Taking place at room North 2.
• 9:30 – 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Aquatic Insects 101. Presented by Matt Green. Taking place at room South 2.
• 9:30 – 11 am: Take a Liken’ to Lichens. Presented by Kris Light who will lead an outdoor expedition to locate lichens in their natural habitat after covering the different types of lichens in Tennessee. Taking place at room South 1.
• 9:30 – 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Painting the Smokies. Limited to 10, ages 18 and older so you must pre-register at Information Desk. Participants must bring own brush #6 or #8 flat. Presented by Dick Ensing of Dutchman’s Loft. Taking place at room South 4B.
• 10 – 11 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Public Accessible Waterfalls of East and Middle Tennessee. Presented by Keith Garnes. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Intro to Digital Photography from Camera to Printing. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place at room North 3.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: The Spirits of Cades Cove Video Presentation. Presented by Mike Meldrum. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Special Kids Track. Wilderness Wildlife Week Tall Tales for Young and Old. Limited to 40 so you must pre-register at Information Desk. Observers welcome. Presented by Mary Phillips. Taking place at room South 3.
• 11 – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Old Fly Patterns of the Smokies. Presented by Don Kirk. Taking place at room South 2.
• 11:30 – 12:30pm: Wildflowers of the Southern Highlands Video Presentation. Presented by Jack Carman of Wildflowers of Tennessee. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• Noon – 1 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Wildlife and Nature Photography: Tricks and Techniques. Presented by Harry Dunn. Taking place at room North 3.
• 12:30 – 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Backcountry Cooking. Presented by Craig Haney. Taking place at room South 2.
• 12:30 – 1:30pm: Pilgrimage: A Pathway to Discovery. Presented by J. Greg Johnson. Taking place at room South 3.
• 12:30 – 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Pioneer Toy Making. Presented by Roy Henson. Taking place at room South 4A.
• 1 – 2pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Old Time Radio Days. Presented by Tony Thomas. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 1:30 – 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Black and White: Give Your Photographs a Timeless Appeal. Presented by Karen Jones. Taking place at room North 2.
• 2 – 3pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Wildlife Hot spots in the Southeast Video Presentation. Presented by Kate Marshall. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 2 – 3pm: Learn to Play Washboard and Washtub Bass. Presented by Boogertown Gap. Taking place at room South 1.
• 2 – 3pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Tenkara Comes to Tennessee. Presented by Jason Sparks. Taking place at room South 2.
• 2 – 3pm: A Year in the Life of a Bear. Presented by David Whitehead. Taking place at room South 3.
• 2 – 3pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Special Kids Track. Mystery Hour: Kids Create Your Own Mystery. Limited to 25 so you must pre-register at Information Desk. Presented by Jean Leigh Claudette. Taking place at room South 4B.
• 2:30 – 3:30pm: The Bear Facts Video Presentation. Presented by Mike Meldrum. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 3 – 4pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Better Landscape Photos Using Manual Settings. Presented by Eric Gebhart. Taking place at room North 2.
• 3 – 6pm: Photography Contest Pickup Taking place at room North 1.
• 3:30 – 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Backyard Bird Habitat: Never Too Young, Never Too Old. Presented by Glenna and WC Julian and Tammy and Olivia Browning. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 3:30 – 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Indicators for Better Nymph Fishing. Presented by Steve Vorkapich. Taking place at room South 2.
• 3:30 – 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Nature Writing for Love and Money, Part 2. Presented by Rob Simbeck. Taking place at room South 3.
• 4 – 5pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Capturing Wildlife with a Remote Infrared Camera. Presented by Joel and Kathy Zachry of Great Outdoors! Adventure Travel. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 4 – 5pm: Special Kids Track. Blue and the Grey: Civil War Soldier’s Life. Limited to 25 so you must pre-register at Information Desk. Presented by Mike Meldrum. Learn about the life of a soldier when the Civil War needed young folks to enlist for the Union or Confederacy. Taking place at room South 4B.
• 4 – 6pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! What Separates a Snapshot from a Fine Photograph and How They are Judged. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place at room North 3.
• 4:30 – 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Nature in Photoshop. Presented by Larry Perry. Taking place at room North 2.
• 5 – 6pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! High Navigation of the Trout Streams. Presented by Fred Turner. Taking place at room South 2.
• 5 – 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! A Tribute to the States. Presented by Hills-N-Hollows. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• 5:30 – 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! Songs and Stories from the Cabin Porch. Presented by Tony Thomas. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 6:30 – 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about Smokies Fly Fishing! Helping the Brookie. Presented by Mike Bryant. Taking place at room South 2.
• 7pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! To Be Announced. Presented by Ken Jenkins. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 1

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 2

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 3

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 4

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 5

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 6

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 7

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 8

Day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week 2014 in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Mother Nature may have made the Smokies even more magical with a little more snow, however for those wanting to take one of the guided hikes today the outlook is fairly grim as most roads in the Great Smoky Mountains national park are closed right now including Newfound Gap Road, Little River Road and Laurel Creek Road cutting off all access to Cades Cove.

So far the only guided hikes in and around the GSMNP that could take place would be the 6 mile hike in the Sugarlands to the Rock House, the 8 mile hike to Ramsey Cascades, the tour of the Railroad Museum in Townsend and maybe the Owl Prowl.

Luckily it toast warm inside with no chance of snow and ice so Wilderness Wildlife Week will go on as placed in the Le Conte Center in Pigeon Forge.

Some of yesterdays favorite Wilderness Wildlife Week programs included the talk by Dr Don Linzey on panthers in the Smokies, the working with wildflowers photography workshop, and the exciting story of Doc Henderson Versus the White Caps in the Smokies.

Today's must see Wilderness Wildlife Week demonstrations include a program on a landmark anyone who comes to the Smokies knows: A History of the Towers in Clingmans Dome by Marci Spencer.

Today there is also a great program on the Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier presented by award winning local park volunteer Robin Goddard who grew up with the women, Nighttime and Low light Photography presented by renowned local photographer Eric Gebhart and don't miss the final special program of the day by presented by Ken Jenkins.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule
Day 2: Sunday, January 26th 2014

• 8:30 – 9:30am: Sunday Morning Sing-Along. Presented by Tony Thomas. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 9 – 10am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Travel Photography: Beyond the Postcard. Educational and entertaining program featuring a theme-based travel photography with diverse locations such as Tennessee, Scotland, Costa Rica, Switzerland and more. Presented by Tom and Pat Cory. Taking place at room North 2.
• 9:30 – 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Lewis and Clark in US History, Part 1. Presented by Peter Seifert. Taking place at room South 2.
• 9:30 – 10:30am: Marking Time: A Guide to the Historical Markers in East Tennessee. Presented by Fred Brown. Taking place at room South 3.
• 9:30 – 11:30am: World Class Stream Small Mouth Bass. Presented by Greg Ward. Taking place at room South 1.
• 10 – 11 am: Wildflowers of the Smokies Video Presentation. Presented by Jack Carman of Wildflowers of Tennessee. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Creating a Wildlife Habitat for Every Season Video Presentation. Presented by Regina Garr of Birds-I-View. Taking place at room North 3.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Wildlife and Nature Photo Trips: What to Take? Presented by Harry Dunn. Taking place at room North 2.
• 10:30 – 11:30am: Weather Signs. Presented by Ila Hatter of Wildcrafting with Ila. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 11 – Noon: Smoky Mountain Llama Treks. Learn about llamas and their cousins and see pictures of llamas along hikes by Smoky Mountain Llama Treks. Presented by Steve Garrett. Taking place at room South 2.
• 11 – Noon: Discovering the Gray Fossil Site. Learn how the Gray Fossil Site was discovered and a see some of the fossils found from there in upper East Tennessee. Presented by Harry Moore. Taking place at room South 3.
• 11:30 – 12:30pm: Birds the Word. Presented by Doug Elliott. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 11:30 – 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! To Be Announced Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• Noon – 1 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! 2013 Scenic City International Photography Exhibition Video Presentation. Presented by Pat Gordy. Taking place at room North 3.
• Noon – 1 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Where and When to Photograph in the Smokies. Presented by Roger Trentham. Taking place at room North 2.
• Noon – 1 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! Out of the Dark, Part 2. The history of how one amazingly heroic deputy sheriff rescued his community from committed by nightriders in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. Presented by Tom Davis and the Graveyard Hosts: Don Williams. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 12:30 – 2 pm: Learn Clawhammer Banjo, Part 2. Limited to 10 so you must pre-register at Information Desk. Participants must bring own five string banjo tuned in the key of G. Presented by Boogertown Gap. Taking place at room South 4B.
• 12:45 – 1:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Lewis and Clark in US History, Part 2. Presented by Peter Seifert. Taking place at room South 2.
• 1 – 2 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! Smoky Mountain Old Time Gospel Singing. Presented by Tony Thomas. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• 1 – 2 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! History of the Towers in Clingmans Dome. Presented by Marci Spencer of the Appalachian Bear Rescue. Taking place at room South 3.
• 1 – 3:30pm: Casting a Fly Rod: Bring own rod if possible. Presented by Greg Ward. Taking place at room South 1.
• 1:30 – 2 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! Old Harp Singing School. Presented by David Sarten. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 1:30 – 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Natural Wonders of the Southern Appalachians Video Presentation. Presented by Harry Dunn. Taking place at room North 3.
• 1:30 – 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Range of Light: Capturing the Mood of the Smokies. Presented by Jerry Whaley. Taking place at room North 2.
• 1:30 – 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Southern Bears of Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida Video Presentation. Presented by Kate Marshall. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 2 – 3 pm: Our Smokies Heritage! Old Harp Singing. Presented by David Sarten. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 2:30 – 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! A Sunday Morning in the Smokies. Presented by Hills-N-Hollows. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• 2:30 – 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Special Kids Track. Bodacious Cartooning for Kids. Limited to 100 so you must pre-register at Information Desk and please remember to bring paper and pencils! Presented by John Rose, Snuffy Smith Cartoonist. Taking place at room South 2.
• 2:30 – 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Bugs and Blooms. Learn about the diverse native flora and associated insects of the Southern Appalachians, as well as their functional importance. Presented by Leon Bates. Taking place at room South 3.
• 3 – 4 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! A House Divided: The Civil War in Knoxville and East Tennessee. Presented by Fred Brown. Taking place at room North 3.
• 3 – 4 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Improving Your Photographic Vision. Presented by Bill Fortney. Taking place at room North 2.
• 3 – 4 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Goodness of Gander. hear about the story of good people helping Americans on our nation’s worst day, September 11, 2001, and hear how the people of Gander, Newfoundland hosted 6,500 people for 4 days on 1 hour’s notice. Presented by Rosemary Deitzer. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 4 – 5 pm: Advanced Possumology: Possum Lore, Stories, Natural History and More. Presented by Doug Elliott. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section B.
• 4 – 5 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about our Smokies Heritage! Elkmont’s Lem Ownby: Sage of the Smokies. Presented by Carroll McMahan. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• 4 – 5 pm: The Beauty and History of Switzerland Video Presentation. Presented by Shannon Harris of Alpine Adventure Trails and Tours. Taking place at room South 3.
• 4:30 – 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Digital Photo Editing. Presented by Richard Iceland. Taking place at room North 3.
• 4:30 – 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Seasons and Weather: Watching the Smokies Change. Presented by Jerry Whaley. Taking place at room North 2.
• 4:30 – 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep, Where Do All Our Bears Sleep? Presented by Joel and Kathy Zachry of Great Outdoors! Adventure Travel. Taking place at room South 2.
• 6 pm: Tuesday Hike Signups Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section C.
• 6 – 7 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program about the Smokies Through a Camera Lens! Nighttime and Low light Photography. Presented by Eric Gebhart. Taking place at room North 2.
• 6 – 7 pm: Our Smokies Heritage! The Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier. Presented by Robin Goddard Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.
• 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! To Be Announced. Presented by Ken Jenkins. Taking place at the Greenbrier Hall Section A.

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 1

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 2

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 3

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 4

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 5

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 6

2014 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for Day 7

Peak Fall Leaf Season in Cades Cove Part of the Great Smoky Mountains

There is no questioning that this weekend will be the peak leaf season for Cades Cove Tennessee, which is the most visited part of the most visited park in the United States: The Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Yesterday when driving around and hiking in Cades Cove you can clearly see that there are a few days to go before all the leaves colors into brilliant shades from the mountain peak to the valleys and even before getting to the valley, brilliant fall color can be seen on any road or trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Cades Cove Fall Peak Color

As you can see by the picture I just took in Cades Cove above, there is still plenty of green but also some very brilliant fall color!

We have not had any real precipitation for quite a while in the Smokies and the next 2 days we are guaranteed to get some. This should make what leaves are very green last longer on the trees and as long as the winds stay low, only blow of the poorer colored brown leaves so we can see the brighter fall colors in the trees even better.

Little River Road has some must see spots as soon as you leave the Gatlinburg Area on the way to see the fall color in Cades Cove. The fall color is at peak along the Laurel Falls Trail which is a very easy paved walkway up to a very pretty waterfall about 3 miles from the visitor center in the Sugarlands.

Just before the Laurel Falls parking area are 2 pull out parking areas with spectacular long range and short range views of the fall color. Be sure to get some pictures here!

When you leave Laurel Falls you go by Elkmont. While not quite yet peak in many areas of Elkmont, spots of the early fall color are already bare so while taking a few boulder shots here in the river would be nice, you do better to push on to Cades Cove where the color is much better.

Past the Metcalf Bottom Picnic area which will be on your right will be a parking area on the left for the waterfall area known as the Sinks. Unless there is no parking left, be sure to spot here and take a few pictures of the leaves and the waterfalls and boulders.

Watch for a rock wall on the left with parking about a 1/2 mile past the Sinks and you will be able to see Meigs Falls which I just took a video of yesterday. As you can see the yellows are getting brighter and so are the reds and oranges around it so by the weekend it will be stunning!

You may want to park along the Townsend Wye on the way to Cades Cove. This very photogenic spot will let you have some great pictures of fall color reflecting in the water along with rocks in the river and the rock wall.

As you continue toward Cades Cove you start to climb up to a Gap which has a pullout. The leaves are around here are just starting to hit peak fall color yesterday and should be great for the weekend.

Once you are in Cades Cove I would suggest taking the Loop Road around all 11 miles. Many of the cabins and churches are past peak, but just look up around the mountains and you will be able to see breathtaking fall color at its finest.

I would also suggest if your car can handle it to take Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove as you are then right in the best fall peak color of Cades Cove and can see great views when looking down into the valley.

Last Weeks of Peak Color for 2013 in the Great Smoky Mountains and Where It is.

The word unusual is what best describes the peak autumn leaf color of 2013. Well pretty, late and long lasting work too. With all that said, I will even throw in unpredictable too.

I have been chasing fall color in the Smokies for 15 years now and so far the pattern has been very clear and predictable. This year's fall starting and peak color has lasted longer than usual in most locations, and most spots are later than usual and surprisingly much is out of synch making it more of a challenge.

The great news for everyone coming to the Great Smoky Mountains to appreciate the fall leaf colors is that the weather has been wonderful with virtually no rainy days and most of the time seasonably warm except when we got a light dusting of snow on the higher elevations along Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

All those sunny warm and dry days, has pushed the leaves to start changing color just a little latter than normal. It has also created more of an islands of color effect where spots of color appear caused by just a few trees close together change color more than large bands of color moving down the mountain at the same time.

Chimneys Overlook Fall Color
 

We have also seen where the fall color start and just stop as seen in the picture above taken at the Chimneys overlook 2 days ago where you can clearly see the tops of the ridge lost their leaves and was in peak last week, yet the lower part of the mountain that should be in peak right now is still in dark greens and yellows.

Normally when the top of this range is red, at least 300-400 feet below, the trees and bushes that change in the fall are very bright yellow and light green too. Clearly this is not the case.

Though peak color is at around 3,000 feet, a few spots such as along the Foothills Parkway Spur which more than 1,000 feet lower have dropped many leaves and have yet to peak color. The same can be seen in Cades Cove, Tremont, Greenbrier and Cataloochee.

Fall Color Middle Prong River Tremont
 

The picture above was taken yesterday at the Middle Prong River in Tremont where many trees have just turned yellow in the past 3 days. The bright reds and oranges are just around the corner.

The hiking trails in Tremont such as the West Prong Ridge Trail and the Lumber Ridge Trail are both very quiet and there is some fantastic color in spots that is only getting better by the day. Highly suggest both of these trails to see fall color and enjoy some tranquility.

The Middle Prong Trail in Tremont is much busier and has better color is spots. The 2 major waterfalls along the trail Lynn Camp Prong Falls and Indian Flat Falls have unusually light water flow, but are still very pretty.

Lynn Camp Prong Falls will be at peak color sometime late this week which may not last long. Indian Flats has mostly evergreens around it so anytime of the year is pretty.

Fall Sunrise in Cades Cove
 

Early mornings are beautiful in Cades Cove as pictured in sunrise this Sunday above. While peak color is working down the surrounding mountains ranges and should be still very bright and pretty into next week in parts, some of the color in the lower elevations never peaked and is surprisingly gone.

Don't get me wrong, with the help of some gentle moisture we could have an absolute riot of color still in Cades Cove as the trees with later colors to come out are still more than 80% green. At this rate we will have color into the second week in November.

Remember, Cades Cove does not open until sunrise to cars, but you are welcome to park At the orientation shelter by the entrance and walk in to watch the sunrise. Sunrise in Cades Cove is magical and before 9 am THIS LAST Sunday I saw bear, coyote, tons of deer and turkey.

The Cataloochee Valley about and 1-1/2 hours from Gatlinburg and its peak fall color is usually about 2 weeks ahead of Cades Cove due to the fact it is so much higher and generally colder as well.

Cataloochee Valley Fall Color
 

As you can see by the picture above taken 3 days ago, its fall leaf color is far from over along the peaks and down the mountainside.

Although the lower elevations along the valley floor are not very bright this year, just look in the distance and up the mountains and hill surrounding the valley and there is still plenty of great fall color to see.

Right now the best hiking trail to get the best fall leaf picture and enjoy stunning long range fall leaf season views is along the Cataloochee Divide Trail right at the park entrance.

Since the Cataloochee Divide Trail is not a loop, you can walk in a few minutes or hike in 10 miles or mile on this very easy trail. Take a break at the overlook with the large rock.

Down in the valley, Cataloochee is one of the best spots to see wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains other than Cades Cove. Of the more than 150 plus elk that live in the Smokies, more than 90 call Cataloochee home.

Elk Rut Cataloochee Valley
 

The elk rut, which is their mating season, is just about over. Some of the elk such as the one pictured above who obviously lost a battle with another elk over a potential mate must be glad their days of fighting will be over next week.

Unlike the peak fall color in Cataloochee the elks mating timetable seems to be right where it should be. You should be able to still get some great elk photos with fall color in the background for at least another week or so. Far later than normal!

So where is the best fall color right now in the Great Smoky Mountains that should also be very bright, colorful and beautiful this coming weekend? the Foothills Parkway West in the photo below from yesterday is the place to go!

Foothills Parkway West Fall Color
 

Not only will the 18 mile long scenic drive thrill you will great colors surrounding you on both side of the road, make use of the pullouts on both sides of the road. The northern pull outs look out past Walland, Maryville, Townsend, Alcoa and all the way out to Knoxville. Best night view in the Smokies.

On the Southern facing pull outs you are looking out at the Great Smoky Mountains national park and in some cases down into Happy Valley as well. In my opinion, some of the best views in the Great Smoky Mountains are right off this roadway and they are never more beautiful than during fall.

Sunrises and sunsets off of the Foothills Parkway West are fantastic. If I could choose just one time, it would be sunrise when the fog can fill the valleys below. Indescribable.

So what is the best part of the fall peak leaf season for 2013? The fact that since it is running so late and lasting so long, that so many more people can enjoy it than usually can.

Where it is usually impossible to take advantage of any special deals on good cabin rentals, because the season should be over, there are still some cabin rentals left at the lower November rates and you can use the coupon below for an additional 10% discount!

Last Minute Cabin Rental Discount
 

2013 Fall Peak Color In The Great Smoky Mountains Has Started!

After losing more than 2 weeks of being able to have full access to everything in the Great Smoky Mountains due to the government shutdown, everything turned around just in a nick of time to be able to catch to beginning of the 2013 fall peak color in the Smokies.

Even with the prospect of a government closure that kept people out of our beloved national park, it did not stop the leaf peepers from coming to the Smoky Mountains and who could blame them?

As a matter of fact it appears that what few regulars who come every autumn to the Smokies to see the leaves change each year that didn't show up were replaced by many new fist time leaf peepers. You just needed to drive through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tennessee to see how busy we were.

With the very wet spring, summer and early fall in North Carolina and now the mild temperatures with mostly sunny days, the fall peak leaf season is generally running a few days late in most areas and the same for Tennessee.

Normally you would expect to see a lot of bright reds at the highest elevations along with some deep maroons of early hardwoods starting to show for days now. Instead, yellows and oranges are still the dominant changing colors and the cooler weather that started last night is just starting to bring out the flame reds.

The Blue Ridge Parkways no has some areas of full peak and the light greens and yellows are as low as the Chimneys Overlook on Newfound Gap Road with full color stating on the Alum Cave Hiking Trail parking.

The vista at both Newfound Gap and the Oconaluftee Overlook just a little south of the Gap on the North Carolina Side is really starting to look beautiful. Further south at the swinging bridges overlooks you can see we have another week to be in real peak.

Fall Color at the Swinging Bridges

By the time you work just another 1,000 feet down in elevation along Newfound Gap Road, you are still predominantly dark and light green.

Little River Road, Lakeshore Road, the Foothills Parkway East and west all still mostly green and when you look up at the peaks in the distance the oranges and reds are getting more prevalent on the ridges every day.

For the most part, Cades Cove does not really have great color yet and the best way to enjoy it is long range looking from Rich Mountain across the valley. The hike to Gregory Bald is fantastic right now and will be for another week up top.

Looking Down at Cades Cove from Rich Mountain

Cherokee Orchard Road behind downtown Gatlinburg and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail have some nice color, but again this is really getting better by the day and will start peaking by the weekend. Be sure to past Grotto Falls and up to Brushy Mountain and the visibility has been good and the vista fantastic.

Cosby, Big Creek, Deep Creek and Elkmont all have spectacular color in spots as you hike up higher and best yet, the weather is amazing for hiking and though it is fairly crowed in the park, many trails are not overrun especially during the week.

The river in Greenbrier is just beautiful and has about 2 weeks of color left in spots. Do not miss out on Ramsey Cascades or the Pinnacles. Though the cascades water flow is light right now, the changing color in the forest is worth and the view from the Pinnacles today was breathtaking.

Greenbrier Tennessee - Pigeon River
 

Bluff Mountain, Ski Mountain and chalet Village all have some color coming in with a ways to go and Brothers Cove which is all decorated for fall looks like it will have some real vibrant color this year.

Be sure to take some pictures on the overlooks on the Gatlinburg Bypass which is a week to peak. The Spur leaves may drop before they hit peak as some have done in other places. If the leaves start falling here, be sure to check out Tremont which should be in peak at that time.

Fall Color in Cataloochee

The fall color will be peaking this week in Cataloochee and the elk are still putting on a show and rutting. Color will last into next weekend.

All said we will have good color this year and so far with real staying power. We may be a few days later than expected due to so many sunny days but then again, those were fabulous days to be outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather in the Smokies.

Related Fall Color Reports for 2013

• Fall 2013 Leaf Season Color for Great Smoky Mountains
• 2013 Fall Peak Color Smoky Mountains National Park
• 2013 Smoky Mountains Leaf Color Peak, Start and End

Latest 2013 Great Smoky Mountains Fall Leaf Color Peak and the Start and End of Fall Color

If you look carefully you will see it. It's happening all around Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and in a few places in Sevierville too. They won't be ready to be turned on for a while, but when they do, boy will they shine!

What am I talking about? The Christmas Winterfest in the Smokies lights of course and you know what it means when they start putting up the Christmas lights in the Smoky Mountains? Fall color is right around the corner!

So far we are having what many feel is one of the nicest later summers and early falls in decades and they few days of rain we have gotten are just what the trees and bushes need to show off the most brilliant fall colors possible.

Temperature highs are still in the mid to low 70's during the days and the upper 50's to 60's which are ideal with the bright sunny days. This current trend will allow leaves to produce the most sugar and staying power for the brightest reds and oranges.

Early predictions for fall color in 2013 are very good and seem to be getting better by the day. The temperature drops have been consistent and steady and huge swings upward which would stress the leaves more have just not happened yet.

This year's Smoky Mountain acorn mast crop is also fairly sub-par, especially in white oaks. Combine this with a very good apple crop and all indications are for a long and brilliant fall peak leaf season for 2013.

So what will be peak fall color for the Great Smoky Mountains this year? Going by the spring wild flowers, bird and insect movement and the elk rut which was about a week late, it looks as though depending on elevation peak will fall from the early part of the last week in October for the valleys and as early as the 2nd week of October from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, sooner for up to 6,000 feet. Above that there is not really any color as you are in more fir environment which stays green year round.

While with a very damp Spring and Summer is behind us, current long term predictions are for an average fall precipitation and potentially cooler than normal temperatures. My opinion is it is just too soon to call it.

Some minor leaf color changes can already be observed at 1,500 feet and higher, dogwoods and sourwoods getting a burgundy to flame red color in a few branches above 3,000 feet today and lighting of the deep greens can be observed on Cove Mountain in Wears Valley, Some spots on Bluff Mountain, Shields Mountain near Dollywood, Mount LeConte and just below the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

I just returned from the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to Mount Mitchell and so far a few bushes in the highest elevations are showing of color but we are a week or more away from brilliant color covering large swathes on Grape Yard Ridge, Looking Glass and the Balsam Mountain area which looks even further away.

Cades Cove and Roaring Fork are also showing no lighting and real fall color yet however there are a few spots high up on Rich Mountain Road the unimproved road between Cades Cove Loop Road and Townsend Tennessee.

You are sure to find nice color from the 1st week in October, great colors the second week and breathtaking the 3 and 4th week. Expect some color to still be good through the first week in November in areas such as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. If conditions continue, it is possible there can be great fall color in some place for 2013 as late as the second week in November. It has happened before and so far the conditions are good for long staying color.

Peak Leaf Color Season Dates In Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains for 2012

Autumn in the Smokies is breathtaking at peak leaf season and it look like our predictions for 2012 fall peak color were right on target and better yet, the weather has so far been conducive to more great color which should be around into November!

Where should you go to see the best fall color right now? Right now, the fall color views are from the very highest elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains. For example , there is still color which can best be seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foothills Parkway near Cosby and the Parkway near Walland and Townsend, and of course, all along Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee.

Just look at the picture of the fall color on Newfound Gap Road above taken yesterday at the Carlos Campbell overlook about 4 miles from the city limits of Gatlinburg Tennessee.

As you can see, there are still plenty of light greens and yellows higher up Mount Le Conte and out into the Greenbrier and Sugarlands valley so there will be plenty of color for weeks to come.

The drive is still nice along the highest parts of Newfound Gap Road US 441 where you can look down to the great color unfolding beneath you. You should be able to enjoy this spectacular view of the peak fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains national park for at least the next 2 weeks.

The best time to photograph the great fall color high up in either the Great Smoky Mountains national park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway with its entrance that is near the brand new Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the first hour and a half after sunrise and before sunset.

Another great place to catch sunrises and sunsets where you can look down on great peak fall color right now is along Clingmans Dome Road and especially at Clingmans Dome itself. The cloud formations along can be breathtaking, throw in some great Smokies fall foliage with bright color and perfect lighting and you have the picture of a lifetime.

Fall Peak Color in Cades Cove

Considered one of the most picturesque places in the Southeastern United States, Cades Cove is an incredibly popular placer to drive, hike or bike the 11 miles to see fantastic fall color. It is also a great place to see our famous black bear, white tail deer, turkey and a host of other wildlife.

Since Cades Cove ranges in elevation from around 1,400 feet on the valley floor to the more than 5,000 feet on some of the peaks that look down into the valley, the peak time to see fall color this year in Cades Code started more than a week ago and there will be very good color visible for the entire month of October.

Give yourself plenty of time to drive around Cades Cove during peak leaf season. The drive that normally takes an hour or 2 can now take 3 to 4 hours. Want to avoid the leaf peepers during peak season in Cades Cove? Come first thing in the morning on weekdays. Best bear sightings at that time too.

If you are looking to photograph great color in Cades Cove around the historical log cabins that dot the valley floor, the best color will start be around next weekend and may hold out for the rest of the month.

As you can see by the picture taken last night near Forge Creek Road in Cades Cove, only the early color changing trees have leaves in full color near the cabins.

Peak Leaf Season in Wears Valley
and The Brothers Cove Mountain Resort

Wears Valley is an area of the Smokies that borders the national park on the Tennessee side and is between both Pigeon Forge and Townsend TN, which is close to Cades Cove.

Both Wears Valley and Cades Cove are very similar concerning geography and when the leaf season falls at peak. The difference is Wears Valley is outside the national park so there are shops, restaurants and of course great cabins for rent in the Wears Valley area.

The most exclusive location in the Wears Valley area is the Brothers Cove resort. This secluded mountainside community looks out at Bluff Mountain, which is not yet at peak and runs from about 700 feet in elevation all the way up to 1,700 plus feet. Color is not in yet and the peak will be around 28th of October.

We will survey next the ridgeline communities such as Chalet Village, Ski Mountain and Ober Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg and Shields Mountain outside Pigeon Forge.

More About Peak Leaf Season in the Great Smoky Mountains:

• Peak Leaf Color Season Dates In Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains for 2012
• Peak Leaf Season Dates For Fall of 2012
• Smoky Mountains Fall Color Season: Where and When To See the Best Leaves In 2010

Fall Color Peak in the Great Smoky Mountains: Where to Go and What to Do Part II

We are at best of peak leaf season right now in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Wears Valley and Cades Cove will be the best places to see the best fall colors for 2012 through this weekend. Starting next week the last round of fall color will start in the leaves as reds and maroons from the hardwoods start to pop.

The highest elevations from about 3,200 feet and above are pretty much done already. The fall color this year was good high up in the Smokies even though we have had very few cold days - at this point just 2 light dustings of snow along the ridgelines and the Blue Ridge Parkway at the highest point. Most days are still in the 70's.

The best color now is at the lowest elevations from around 800 feet to 2,500 - perfect for road trips in and around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains national park. Cades Cove still has color on the valley floor and up the mountainside. The picture below is from Cades Cove this week and yesterday it was in the 70's!

Black Bear are very active right now in the park and surrounding areas and will continue to be until December as they are foraging for acorns to fatten up for their winter sleep. The Deer are getting more active in rut so you can see male deer called bucks sparring - best seen in Cades Cove around sunrise and dusk. The elk rut is winding down fast and will be done by next week.

Along with bright colored leaves, fall means fresh local apples in the Smokies and there as some great places close by to enjoy them. In Pigeon Forge, visit Applewood just off the parkway. Outside Gatlinburg there is Baxter's Orchard on 321. Continue down 321 into Cosby for my favorite place for apples, apple cider and what locals call the best apple pie: Carvers. Their restaurant is top rated too!

Fall color and comfortable weather is a great time to take one of the many zip-line tours in the area. There is a zip line in Dollywood, 2 in Pigeon Forge, 1 outside Gatlinburg and a new zip line in Wears Valley.

Speaking of Dollywood, now is a great time to visit the world class top rated theme park Dollywood where you can enjoy comfortable weather, the Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration taking place until October 29th. The Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration is the biggest Southern gospel festival in the Smokies with free concerts! Rent a cabin and you can buy the cheapest Dollywood tickets around.

Don't have a great place to stay and you want to see the best of the best fall color this weekend? There are only a few cabins left and if you act fast you can get 10% off any cabin rental for this weekend by using discount rental code TLMR10. Click here to search for a cabin to rent. (discount applies to new cabin rentals only)

Fireflies, spring wildflowers, and other Great Smoky Mountains goings on for June.

The 2 major peak months for people to take vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains are July and October. However, June has become more and more popular every year as people have discovered that besides the great late spring early summer weather, there are less crowds, lots to do and nature shows us some spectacular events taking places in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains national park during June (pictured below) is filled with plenty of deer, wild turkey and black bear foraging around with a backdrop of mountains and a foreground of lush green fields with wildflowers still blooming. Drive, bike or hike this 11 mile outdoor cultural museum and nature preserve.

Spring wildflowers and flowering bushes can found throughout various elevations during June even though the season started in April and in many places peaked in May. Mountain laurel are still blooming throughout the park and the 2 native species of Rhododendron and now blooming as well.

To celebrate the great weather, find food and interesting culture found in the Smokies, there are plenty of events going on during spring such as the Cosby In Park Celebration, the Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass Festival in downtown Sevierville, the Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival in Townsend, Dollywood's KidsFest taking place at Dollywood, and 2 true miracles of nature: the synchronous fireflies and peak flowering of hybrid azalea bushes on Gregory Bald overlooking Cades Cove.

One of the most amazing sights the Smokies has to offer tales pace in the Elkmont section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park just outside of Gatlinburg.

During the 2nd and 3rd weeks of June, one of our fireflies performs a natural light show second to none in Elkmont. These fireflies flash on and off in a pattern which allows them to synchronize with thousands of other lightning bugs in sight. The flashing goes on and on and then all at once – darkness, then it starts all over again.

Since the discovery of this phenomenon only a few short years ago, the firefly show in Elkmont has become incredibly popular. So popular in fact, the Elkmont section of the GSMNP closes to motor vehicles. To get there you must take a trolley from the Sugarlands visitor center to Elkmont from June 4th to the 12th.

The Trolleys to the Elkmont firefly show cost $1 per person round trip and start departing at 7 pm. The parking lot and the trolleys fill up fast so it is wise to get there early. No pets allowed and everything you take on the trolley must fit on your lap.

While the synchronous fireflies, which are lightning bugs that all flash and go dark simultaneously can be enjoyable by anyone with little effort, the 11 mile road trip hike up to Gregory Bald to see the heath bald consisting of hundreds of flame azaleas naturally hybridized in a rainbow of colors with stunning 360 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina requires considerably more effort and should only be tackled by those in good shape.

If an 11-mile hike is too much for you, but you still want to see great views and flame azalea bushes from a bald, Andrews Bald with its trail-head at the Clingmans Dome parking area is much more reasonable at less than 4 miles round trip.

Whether you choose to take a trolley into Elkmont to the spectacular fireflies of the Smokies, or sit in a mountain stream or river to cool off, or take an extreme hike the mountain peak where you will find the flaming azaleas blooming at Gregory Bald, you are sure to a have a great time in the Great Smoky Mountains during June.

Related Smokies Blog Stories:
Rare Synchronizing Fireflies Find Confirmed In Brothers Cove Resort in Wears Valley.

Fireflies synchronized light show season starts in Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Synchronous fireflies and admirers about to invade the Great Smoky Mountains national park

Cabins for rent where you can see the synchronized fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains firefly show in Elkmont near Gatlinburg

Elkmont Section of national park yearly visit by synchronized fireflies

Synchronized Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains

Peak Fall Colors Smoky Mountains: Where and When for 2010

If you are looking for the best fall colors set off by a backdrop of stunning mountains such as the Smokies, now is the time to book a leaf peeping trip to the Great Smoky Mountains for the best autumn colors of 2010.

The Great Smoky Mountains encompass such a huge area with lots of different trees showing different colors such as sugar maples, sweet gum, oak, beech, hickory, walnuts, dog wood, tulip poplar and more than a hundred other trees and bushes that will amaze you with their dazzling colors for many weeks.

Some of the best fall colors of the Smoky Mountains are just starting to show in the highest elevations such as the leaves along Newfound Gap Road pictured above in the Great Smoky Mountains national park yesterday. The hot reds, oranges, peach colors and salmons have yet to come out up there.

Just a few days ago, everything was deep green with just a hint of some light greens and a flash of red or deep burgundy from sweet gum and dogwood.

Now the ridgeline's and peaks are highlighted with yellows, reds and oranges which are quickly starting to spread down from little patches to the valleys and hollows throughout the Smokies.

Since the color starts in the higher elevations where it is cooler, the best auto tours to see the leaves change colors right now are along Newfound Gap Road especially above 3,000 feet, the Blue Ridge Parkway which borders the Great Smoky Mountains national park, The Foothills Parkway East by Cosby just outside Gatlinburg, The Foothills Parkways West outside Townsend near Cades Cove past Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley and the infamous Tail of the Dragon.

North Carolina with its slightly higher elevation and cooler temperatures is a about a week ahead in its fall colors than that of the Tennessee side of the Smokies.

Cades Cove in Tennessee has some really good leaf color right now when you look up at Rich Mountain and Gregory Bald however, you may want to take a ride instead this week and next to Cataloochee Valley (Pictured above yesterday) just outside Maggie Valley.

In Cataloochee right now you can see better fall colors, and you can see up close as many a 60 elk in a day during what is now rut season. This is the time of the year when elk which have been introduced back into the area have their mating rituals which include loud bellowing called bugling between the males (bulls) back and forth which echoes in the valleys.

Female elks called cows are still nursing their young calves born this year. The calves still sport their baby spots as their longer winter coat is now growing in. Elk are very social animals that gather and interact with one another within the harem - fascinating to watch and you can get fantastic photographs such as the one taken below last week.

Just as Cades Cove has historic structures, so does the Cataloochee Valley. There are a handful of structures you can explore built in the late 1800's and early 1900's including a church, a schoolhouse and historic home sites.

A 5-mile round trip hike into Little Cataloochee reveals 2 very old log cabins from the 1800's, an apple house and another beautiful church. Al of the hike is right now under a canopy of green and fresh fall colors, which will be peaking next week and should last the month of October.

You will also find in Cataloochee there are miles of hiking trails and some of the best fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains in streams and creeks littered with bright orange and yellow leaves.

The acorn crop which is huge this year is moving lower so seeing black bear in a week or so will be common in the valley. Best time to see the black bear and elk is close to sunrise and the last 2 hours before sunset.

While it is 73 degrees in right now in Gatlinburg, during autumn in the Smokies the weather can change real fast in the Smoky Mountains. Last week there were 2 light dustings of snow on the peaks and the best place to see early snow and the best fall color of any roadway right now in the road off Newfound Gap up to Clingmans Dome.

Up at Clingmans Dome you can also enjoy the Christmassy smell of the fir trees and great views of the national park> You can look down on the cities of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This is also one of the best palaces to watch the sunset or sunrise so make sure to bring a camera!

The Smoky Mountains are always awesome, but this time of year, no one can beat the beauty of the Smokies showing off its fall peak colors. Stay tuned as we track the best of fall colors in the Smokies for you.

Though some of the best cabin rentals in the Smokies have been booked for month, there are a few left and you can take advantage of the last minute rentals 10% discount on some of them right now!

Smoky Mountains Fall Color Season: Where and When To See the Best Leaves In 2010

The secret is out as to the best place to rent a log cabin to see the fall colors - it is the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

Sure, there are other great places to see fall colors such as Vermont, New Hampshire and Michigan, but none of these locations to leaf peep in autumn has such a wide variety of trees that change colors, elevations and micro-climates.

This means instead of having a week or two of great leaf colors every fall, the Great Smoky Mountains leaf season ranges for months! The leaves start to change color in the Smokies in the higher elevations during September and the hardwoods trees such a red oaks will have bright flaming colors in the leaves typically in November - sometimes as late as Thanksgiving!

Why does the leaf season peak last so long on the Smokies and what is the best time to see the fall colors at their peak? The fall color peak varies each year by weather and the peak for each location in the Smoky Mountains can vary by weeks compared to another location a mile or so away.

The weather of a prior spring and summer can change how brilliant the colors will be as well as the lasting power of each leaf with its brilliant color from red to oranges to yellows on a tree or bush. Add into the mix that weather during the fall can contribute to how long the peak color will last during a given year.

Changes is sunlight trigger when leaves "shut off" and go dormant for the winter and the green color in the chloroform inside each leaf in the fall fades and the yellows and orange colors now show through. Less sunlight happens each day in the fall occurs as sunset comes earlier each day and very cloudy or rainy days can trick the leaves in the trees and bushes that change color think its later in the season.

The colder weather that occurs later in autumn turns some fall leaves such as those in oak trees and maple trees changes the sugar that is left in the leaves into bight reds, purple and some salmons. The timing and duration of cold snaps can intensify, accelerate or decelerate these colors coming at the fall peak of these trees.

All of these factors combined as well as the fact that there are more different species of trees that change colors all at different times and at different colors growing in the Great Smoky Mountains and the national park than there are throughout all of Europe. With the 5,000 plus foot variation in elevation and huge differences in sunlight exposure between ridge-lines, hollows and valleys extend what should be a week-long peak for a single species of tree, to 3 or more weeks to see great leaf color in the same tree!

All of these factors together mean there is no single day or week for peak leaf season in the Great Smoky Mountains. What you can count on is a range with the month of October being most brilliant in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area that includes the same basic peak season in Wears Valley, Walden Creek, Sky Harbor, Townsend, Brothers Cove, Caney Creek, Bluff Mountain, Greenbrier, Elkmont, Cades Cove, Pittman Center, Cosby and the surrounding areas in the Smokies.

Going over Newfound Gap to Cherokee, Bryson City , Maggie Valley, Asheville and Waynesville, the peak starts earlier because of a change in elevation and temperature. This way guests who stay in East Tennessee at the earlier part of leaf season in September can take a short drive to see the peak in the mountains and come back home to a cabin surrounded by the lush green privacy!

While leaf season is peaking, the acorn crop is crop is as well which means besides lots of squirrels running around eating and burying acorns this is peak season for seeing black bear in the Smokies looking to out on some extra pounds before winter when they tend to almost hibernate in what is called winter sleep.

While black bear will be active during park leaf season all over the Smokies, the best place to see them will be in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains national park at the first hour or so of daylight and the last 2 hours before sunset. As it gets later in the fall black bear may be active eating acorns and scrounging for other food all day long.

The best place to rent a cabin during the fall leaf season during peak color in the Smoky Mountains depends greatly upon what you are looking for and when you plan on staying on the Smokies. Some people want complete seclusion on their vacation while some want to be high atop a mountain ridge looking out for miles at the fall colors and still others don't want to brave steep roads and driveways and prefer to be close to a river to catch some trout while the weather is still nice.

Besides log cabins for rent in the Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg areas of the Smokes, there are chalets for rent as well. What's the difference between a chalet and a cabin? Cabins have wood walls and ceilings and usually hardwood floors while chalets typically have walls and ceilings that are painted or wallpapered drywall. There are plenty of Pigeon Forge Chalet Rentals as well as those in Gatlinburg.

Another place to see great colored leaves in the Smokies beside the national park is in America's favorite theme park in the Mountains: Dollywood. As a matter of fact, Dollywood if often the people's choice winner of the best theme park in the US and the are plenty of great cabins for rent next to Dollywood. Peak fall colors in and around Dollywood is around the 2nd to 3rd week in October.

Therefore, with so many choices, it may not be easy to find the best place to rent a cabin on the Smokies during peak fall colors by yourself not to mention many a vacation has been ruined by a bad "rent by owner" experience so what should you do? Rent form a reputable cabin rental management company such as American Mountain Rentals or Brothers Cove and you are sure to have a great leaf peeping vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

More About Peak Leaf Season in the Great Smoky Mountains:

• Peak Leaf Season Dates For Fall of 2012
• Smoky Mountains Fall Color Season: Where and When To See the Best Leaves In 2010

Cades Cove Loop Road to Reopen This Weekend to Cars, Pedestrians and Bikes.

It has been almost 2 long months since the Great Smoky Mountains national park has closed the enormously popular Cades Cove Loop Road for a long overdue repaving project that has been planned for years. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and the contracted hustled to collect their early completion bonus so that the park will be opening the 11-mile long Cades Cove Loop this weekend - almost a full month ahead of schedule.

During the time that it was closed, more than 60,000 cars would have normally driven through the Cades Cove Loop during the time to see its historic cabins, churches, gristmill, and barns as well as the abundant wildlife such as deer, bear, coyote, fox, otter, turkey, hawks and so much more. Also closed were numerous popular hiking trails and other connecting roads.

The hiking trails that were closed before will all be open this Saturday at noon: Cooper Road Trail, Abrams Falls Trail and Rabbit Creek Trail off of Cades Cove Loop Road, Indian Grave Gap Trail off of Rich Mountain Road, the Gregory Bald Trail off of Forge Creek Road, the Gregory Ridge Trail and the Hannah Mountain Trail which are both off Parsons Branch Road.

Besides the 11 mile Cades Cove Loop Road, repaving has also shut off all access to Sparks Lane, Rich Mountain Road, Hyatt Lane, Forge Creek Road and Parson Branch Road which will now all be open to pedestrians and bicyclists at dawn on April 24th and to vehicular traffic at noon.

It has been more than 3 decades since the last time that Cades Cove Loop Road was repaved. Because of this, the roadbed and surface was in such bad shape, the entire existing road was ground up, pulverized, and reused, and concrete poured on top of the crushed roadbed and a new layer of asphalt put on top of the concrete bed. This road reclamation process saved time, money and the environment because the old roadway did not have to be carted way and dumped but was effectively recycled.

The new Cades Cove Loop Road does have some significant improvements that were made during the reclamation and repaving this winter although you shouldn't expect the road to be wider or have a designated bike lane. The roadway could not be made wider as that would disturb some of the historical landmarks some of which are fence posts, but you will find a few more small pullouts and far better drainage along the roadway.

Sadly, in order to improve the Cades Cove Loop Road and because of so many significant wind storms this winter, a few dozen old trees had to be removed or they would otherwise be a hazard or, would have prevented some minor road widening.

Drivers will notice that a few places where the Cades Cove Loop dipped down especially near creek crossings, the roadway has been slightly elevated so that low riding vehicles, and longer RVs or buses will no longer bottom out as they have in the past. If shuttle trams are ever used in the future in Cades Cove they should be able to navigate the entire loop now where it was not possible to do so in the past.

Sparks Lane, Rich Mountain Road, Hyatt Lane, Forge Creek Road and Parsons Branch Road will remain unimproved dirt roads as well as the short road from the Cades Cove Loop road to the Abrams Falls trailhead parking area on the back end of the Cades Cove.

The historic Cades Cove Methodist Church normally sits on some fieldstones instead of a solid foundation, but because of the vibrations created by all the heavy equipment used in the Cades Cove valley, special temporary large wood braces were placed under the church to protect it.

Another challenge during the road construction project in Cades Cove included making sure that the constructions environmental impact was minimal, especially to the creeks and 2 swamp wetland areas in the Cove.

Even though there are fairly accurate historical records of where the European settlers in Cades Cove were, the parks archaeologist and his assistant had to conduct shovel test hole surveys along the roadway and where new pull outs would be. This way if there was anything historically significant, it could be preserved before the roadway would cover it up.

When the shovel test holes were made, the soil was first examined for staining which could be a sign of a wooden posts used in a structure or some other human activity. If no staining was noted, the soil was passed through a wooden framed screen and the sifted material checked for artifacts such as those made by Cherokee Indians and the first European settlers who inhabited the park.

Cades Cove not only has the best auto tour in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and stunning scenery, it has the best wildlife viewing in the park, the most historical buildings, many hiking trails, a fantastic picnic area, bicycle rentals, horseback riding, carriage and hay rides, an outdoor amphitheater, and campgrounds.

Because Cades Cove has mountain surrounding the entire valley blocking out light pollution, stargazing at night is unequaled as you are clearly able to see the Milky Way and many other astronomical features that you would be unable to see just a few miles away outside of the park. As you walk through the cove at night which is closed to traffic at dusk, look overhead at the many bats flying around some of which will be the endangered Indiana bats.

The best time for wildlife viewing in the Cades Cove Loop is the same as for the rest of the Great Smoky Mountains national park, the first 1- 2 hours of just after sunrise and just before sunset. Look along the edges of the fields near the treeline for deer and black bear.

Speaking of bear, they can also often be seen up in the trees - especially cherry and persimmon trees when in season and oak trees in the fall when they are looking to fatten up on acorns. Remember to stay at least 150 feet from a black bear or you can get a fine for as much as $5,000!

Now that the construction work is done, the trees are filled with fresh green leaves, there are wildflowers all around the fields and forests in Cades Cove and the black bear are out posing for pictures, it is a perfect time for Cades Cove to be reopened.

The first day Cades Cove will be reopened will be this Saturday April 24th and only pedestrians and bicyclists can use the road on opening day until 12 noon at which time the newly resurfaced Loop Road will be open to everyone.

Sunday the park is closing the Cades Cove Lop Road for the first ever race. The Cades Code Loop Lope will have runners running either the full 11 miles or a shorter loop of just over 3 miles. Access to all of Cades Cove will be limited Sunday morning only to participants that have already registered for the race and Cades Cove will open to everyone by 12 noon.

Come out and see why Cades Cove received more than a million visitors last year many of which have come here many time to enjoy the crown jewel of the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

There are still some cabins for rent close to Cades Cove that qualify for the Last Minute Booking discount!

When is the best time to see fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains?

The Smokies are renowned for having some of the best fall colors when the leaves change in autumn but with as large as the Great Smoky Mountains are where the best place is and when is the best time to see the foliage in peak colors is not a simple answer.

The reason why there is no exact day for the peak colors in 2009 or the perfect places to see the autumn leaves is that there are so many places - hundreds of them to catch breathtaking fall foliage bursting in all the colors of the rainbow.

There are many reasons why the fall colors in the Smokies attract so many people to come see them. One of the most import reasons is that in the Great Smoky Mountains national park there are more than 100 species of trees and hundreds of different species of bushes that all change color.

Since the falls leaves colors during leaf season vary for many reasons and one of the main reasons is which species of trees or bushes are changing as all of the different trees and bushes show a different range of colors. This is what makes the Smokies a great place to see the leaves change as there is a wide range of colors everywhere you look and it is best to go to a few places to see the wide range of fall foliage colors.

Other key factors the effect when the leaves change color in the Smokies as well as the intensity, duration and where to see the change in colors are temperature, moisture, exposure to sunlight and even soil composition.

Since there is a huge difference in elevations from Pigeon Forge Tennessee, Gatlinburg and Cades Cove on the low end to Clingmans Dome, Mount Le Conte and the Blue Ridge Parkway as a higher elevation and where you are in elevation and location will change to surrounding temperatures of the trees as well as exposure to sun, the same species of tree such as a sugar maple tree can display wild vibrant fall colors in some places weeks before it does in others in the Smoky Mountains.

So if you ask when do the leaves start to change colors in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Wears Valley, Cades Cove and all throughout the Great Smoky Mountains national park the answer is they already have started this year in late August!

Look carefully in the Smoky Mountains right now and you will see in the dark green canopy touches of color in a few random leaves in the dogwoods, maples and sourwood trees especially at the higher elevations such as along the Foothills Parkway. But you don't want to come here to just see a few random leaves change color - you want to see the fall colors at their peak in the Smokies!

Count on being able to see fall colors popping out in mid to late to late September 2009 but the real displays will start to be fantastic in October and will still be sowing into November. It is not uncommon to see nice vibrant deep reds and maroons in the hardwoods in the Smoky Mountains such as the oak trees as late as Thanksgiving but you will be far past peak at that time.

So what are the predictions for the 2009 leaf season in the Great Smoky Mountains? Actually the predictions are for an extremely good leaf season in both color and duration if the weather continues to so cooperative!

In the past 2 years in the Smokies there have been record breaking droughts. The lack of water stressed the plants and the colors were actually very good. Temperatures were also much higher during the peaks in summer and even late spring also stressing the tress in bushes in the Smoky Mountains.

Though last year the color of the leaves during the fall season were good, they were lacking in duration and when it would rain, it washed down many leaves prematurely and even though fall leaves are colorful on the ground, for the best impact you want to see is the colorful leaves in peak longer on the trees.

This year 2009 we have made up for the past few years of lack of water and the health of the forests and mountains are fantastic! Add to this cooler than normal temperatures all spring and summer long and you have a recipe for beautiful leaf colors as well as duration where the beautiful brightly colored foliage stays on the trees longer during leaf season along with a greater range of colors all showing at the same time.

Because of the very good weather we have had in 2009 including the cooler than normally temperatures we are experiencing right now in the Smoky Mountains, it is likely that the fall leaf season will start earlier this year and the peak leaf season may run only until the 2nd week in November.

As we had done last year, we will do fall color report updates to let you know where to go to see the best fall colors in the Smoky Mountains and the best places to stay to see the fall colors in 2009. Our updates will also be broadcasted on Twitter and our new Face Book account.

More About Peak Leaf Season in the Great Smoky Mountains:

• Peak Leaf Color Season Dates In Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains for 2012
• Peak Leaf Season Dates For Fall of 2012
• Smoky Mountains Fall Color Season: Where and When To See the Best Leaves In 2010