Getting to Townsend Tennessee. Townsend is easily accessed from one of the most major U.S. Travel routes: Interstate 75 (I-75). About 10 miles south of Knoxville, take the (Eaton, TN) exit for U.S. 321 east from I-75 about 20 miles, to Maryville, TN. Maryville and nearby Alcoa, is where Tyson-McGhee / "Knoxville" Airport is, just off 321 (if you fly in). Continue to follow 321 just under another 20 miles to Townsend. 321 (locally the E. Lamar Alexander Parkway) is "the main drag" such as it is, in Townsend. Unlike nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Townsend has maintained its "small" character, and the traffic and congestion is minimal in comparison to any other nearby area. There is ample lodging there, too. But beware. The town closes down after 9 - 10 p.m. There are a couple nice eating establishments, but get to them before closing time. After learning "the hard way," we began to eat our "evening" meal when possible before going to our sunset shooting location.
The beauty of Townsend is its convenient proximity to what I think are two of the primary attractions in the park for early and late shooting. Just minutes to the west is the Western Section of The Foothills Parkway. Minutes in the opposite (east) direction on 321 brings you to what is locally known as "The Y," where the road splits and heads either toward Gatlinburg and the eastern parts of the park, or Cade's Cove, the other primary attraction near Townsend.
The Foothills Parkway
This National Park Road is divided into two sections. The eastern section is way over on the eastern side of the park (maybe someday to join up with the western section). The entrance to the western section is just over 5 miles from the middle of Townsend. This part of the parkway is further divided (by 321) into two subsections: the "old" western section (southwest of 321) and the "new" eastern section (northeast of 321). They are so designated because the "new" section has only been open for just a few years.
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| Sunrise on the Foothills Parkway - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
Sunrise. Because of the angles, we have found the "old" section best for sunrise shooting and the "new" section best for sunset photography. In both cases, there is only really one specific spot for the best opportunities in my opinion. We have spent numerous sunrises on the old part of the Foothills Parkway. We have also driven and scouted the entire length of that section. There are a number of pullouts facing both east and west along the way. In our opinion, only one of them is worth spending any time at for a sunrise/sunset opportunity. It is the second pullout (from the entrance - to your left) on the east side of the parkway. Google Maps identifies the first one as "Overlook # 1 on its map and identifies the second pulloff (the one you want) as "Foothills Parking." Though you will be tempted to stop there at "Overlook #1, you should continue on the very short distance to the next one. During the season, if there is any doubt, it will be the one with cars already there and shooters and their tripods already set up (unless you are really early and happen to be the first on the scene). My recommendation is to get there early (we usually try to pre-scout a location during daylight), to not only give yourself some time to set up, but also so you don't miss the pre-dawn twilight. Especially if there is fog, some magic can happen even before you spot the sun.
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| Sunset - Foothills Parkway ("new" section) - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
Sunset. On our first trip to the park in October, 2023 we looked and looked for an appropriate sunset shooting location. We only found it at the very end of our week, leaving us just 2 evenings to choose from. Based on resources we had, including a couple books on photographing the park, and visits there by another friend of mine, we were only aware of the "old" section of the Foothills Parkway. In speaking to some local residents, we learned about the new section. We were staying in The Best Western Cades Cove Inn (a central location that we found very convenient). At night, we would drag a chair out to the front smoking area and I would sit and enjoy a cigar. Looking out across 321, we could see occasional headlights way up on the mountain, apparently moving parallel to the highway in front of us. We inquired and were told that it was probably the Foothills Parkway, which we learned, was a relatively new section. We also heard that there might be a look at a sunset up there. The next day we drove it and near the eastern end of the section, there is a massive and impressive bridge that cantilevers off the mountainside. Looking at maps, it looked to us like the sun would set at an angle from there that we could shoot. It did (though we learned that in April, the angle is not as good - we shot it anyway though). From the entrance at Townsend, it is a long and winding drive to the viewpoint. But worth it. It is probably less than a mile from the eastern terminus of the parkway in Wears Valley. While you could drive a main road up to that end, it is perhaps just as winding and in the dark, I think it is a tossup. We have determined it to be easier to return to Townsend just following the parkway back to 321.
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| Twilite - Foothills Parkway ("new" section) - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
The viewpoint here is not identified on Google Maps or any other map I have found. But it is one of those spots where you will know it when you get there. There is a large parking area across from the viewpoint. There is really only a very small pulloff on the "view" side and I recommend parking and walking (carefully) across the road. There is a nice wide sidewalk and a wall all along the bridge there and there are multiple points to set up and shoot. My advice here is to not pack up an leave as soon as the sun disappears behind the horizon. Twilight can produce some wonderful photos. As much as it is a sunset shot, my own favorite shots from here have been made just before sunset when there is fog present and just afterward during the twilight when you can see down into the (lighted) town of Townsend.
Cade's Cove
For most people, Cade's Cove is not only the "main event," but perhaps the only part of the park that many even know of. The cove attracts over 2 million visitors annually. You get there by taking the E. Lamar Alexander Parkway (321) east out of Townsend. At just under 1.5 miles, 321 veers to the northeast, but you will stay straight on "the Townsend Entrance Road" and follow the signs to Cade's Cove. In just over 2 more miles you will come to the "Y." Turn right here onto Laurel Creek Road and follow it all the way to the Cade's Cove entrance gate. The gate opens at sunrise (sadly, not before, though certain days, you may enter on foot or by bicycle) and closes at dusk. Do not be surprised if - no matter how early you are - you run into a long line of waiting vehicles.
Settled by European settlers sometime in the early 18th century, it was likely inhabited (at least part time) by the Cherokee tribes for many years prior to that. By the turn of the century, Cade's was a basically self-sufficient community, with post office, churches, school, numerous homes and farms, and even a small general store. But by 1927, the U.S. Government had established the National Park and was in the process of purchasing the homes and buildings in the park. Despite some pushback (including a few "life - leases"), by 1945, they had been successful at buying up the whole cove and began the process of restoration. Today, there are two churches and a handful of remaining cabin/barn farmsteads that are largely photogenic. Atmospheric conditions make that even more compelling. My shot in the morning fog of the Dan Lawson farm is probably one of my favorite images.
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| Dan Lawson Farm - Cade's Cove - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
Landscape. The Cove is a natural valley situated between the mountains, with a couple nice streams meandering through. Most of the middle of the cove area was farmed and has remained essentially clear. The history here though, is interesting. When settlers first arrived, they cleared much of the land and drained wetlands, changing the ecosystem of the area. At one point the NPS planted the bulk of the fields with a hardy Fescue, and began leasing the land for cattle grazing and for hay production. The Fescue, a non-native species, was a boon for us photographers, as it produced a nice green color and maintained that green through the season, giving us that lush, green carpet for clear shots and nice foregrounds. It also maintained a rather low growth height, giving clear shots of wildlife out in the fields. But sometimes what is good for us is not necessarily "good." The native grasses, though they often turned brown and grew tall, provided a mix of seeds and "feed" for a much more diverse (and probably historically traditional) mix of wildlife. In the early 2000's the service began a program of restoring the natural flora to the cove, which in addition to the items mentioned above, also is hoped to help quell a significant amount of erosion, particularly around the natural streams in the cove.
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| "The Tree" - Cade's Cove - Townsend Tennessee (some suggest this is the most photographed tree in the world) Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
What does this all mean for photographers? I am not sure. I doubt that it will render the park a less popular photographic destination. As most of us know, time alters every scene - iconic or not. A good example is the once full and gorgeous gum tree ("The Pearl Harbor Tree") along Sparks Lane. It still stands, but it is showing its age and is not the photographic opportunity it once presented. The beauty for us photographers is it motivates us to find other photos. My own image, also made on Sparks Lane, was found by just moving on down the road a ways.
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| Sparks Lane - Cade's Cove - Townsend, Tennesee |
The weather created by the lowland between mountain ranges and the seasons act to create even more diversity of shooting conditions. Whether you consider "landscape" photography pure "nature," or (like me), include instances of "the hand of man," there is enough for all. Given the right conditions (foliage, lighting, bloom, etc.) the cabins, barns, churches, and rail fences throughout the park provide photographic opportunity. In the fall, the fall foliage also provides an interesting backdrop.
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| Methodist Church - Cade's Cove - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
In 2025, we came to the park hoping to catch the middle of the Dogwood bloom. We were late, but even so, we were able to find a few instances to photograph. In the fall, the fall foliage also provides an interesting backdrop.
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| Carter Shields Homestead in the Dogwoods - Cade's Cove - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved
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There is one other not-to-be missed landscape opportunity that is not actually "in" the cove, but you do have to drive into the cove in order to get back out for this one. I will cover this in greater detail below, for those who don't already know this, the Park Service created a one-way, single-lane road around the outside edge of the cove. For the most part, when you enter the cove you must follow the loop road all the way around to the exit. However, there are two cross roads and one other way out that is not as well known. The cross roads - Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane are two way and can be used to shorten the loop in some cases. Just before the second cross road (Hyatt Lane) is the Cade's Cove Methodist Church (pictured above). Just past the church you will cross Hyatt Lane and if you keep going on the Loop road a very short distance, you will see the sign for Rich Mountain Road on the right. This is a one-way, gravel road, that goes up the mountain and exits the cove, coming out just west of Townsend. Because it is one-way, once you commit to it there will be no turning back. Two years ago, in 2023, I would have discouraged you from driving Rich Mountain Road. It is a nice drive, but - at least for a landscape shooter - there is very little photographic opportunity there. Many years ago, there was one and in 2023, not knowing better, I spent hours searching for the shot from way up high of the Methodist Church nestled in the trees down in the cove. But I learned the shot was no longer there. But now it is back! So I would now strongly encourage you to seek it out - especially if you are there in the fall when the leaves are in full fall foliage. I happened onto it in 2025 and it caught me completely by surprise. At one time, it was one of the iconic shots of Cade's Cove.
Wildlife. Perhaps the real claim to fame for Cade's Cove is its wildlife. Especially Black Bears. We saw bears in Cade's Cove (including mama and cubs) both times we visited the park. In the spring, they are just "waking" up from hibernation and often have cubs with them. Since cubs stay with the mom for a couple years, they are usually still around in the fall, when they are busy looking for food to sustain them for the winter. I am not a wildlife photographer. Both my travel buddies (Rich Pomeroy and Rich Ennis are though). They specifically looked for wildlife and carried appropriate equipment. Rich Ennis got a very nice shot of a young bobcat up on the new section of the Foothills parkway one morning in April. He also made a couple shots of some birds. I am told that there are bobcats, coyotes and deer up on Rich Mountain Road, and ocassionally down in the cove. We saw deer in the cove. So, we know there is abundant wildllife there. Finding and photographing them is much more of a challenge than the landscape images. The trees and cabins don't move. The wildlife is elusive. Here is a shot compliments of Rich Pomeroy, made when we were there in 2025, just to show the potential.
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| American Black Bear - Cade's Cove - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Richard Pomeroy 2025 - All Rights Reserved |
I alluded to some commentary about The Loop Road. My photographs and commentary hopefully demonstrate that I loved the park and feel that I got some really nice images. Having said that, I am not sure I will ever again visit the park in October. That is too bad, because that is when I think the colors are at their best and things are nicest. At the same time, The GSMNP is perhaps the most out of control, crowed park I have ever visited (I know some of the others - especially Yellowstone and Acadia) can also be pretty congested. But GSMNP was a true circus. The first morning we went to Cade's Cove, we left our hotel well before sunup and when we arrived at (or should I say near) the gate it was still dark. Still, we were in a line of cars that might have stretched at least 1/2 mile, all waiting for the gate to open. Once it finally did, we found ourselves in a big-city-like traffic snarl that essentially was maintained all the way around the loop. We did turn off on Sparks Lane and had a brief reprieve. But upon trying to re-enter the loop drive we were back in that mess. The loop drive is just 11 miles around. driving about 3/4 of it (we turned down Hyatt Lane and did not go back, but rejoined the loop at the end of Hyatt), took us well over 2 hours. We did that several times during the week, having mixed luck but never not in a pretty good line of cars. We had similar experience on the Roaring Forks Nature Trail over in Gatlinburg, and on the road up to Clingman's Dome (where we sat for nearly 2 hours in traffic, waiting for a parking spot in the Dome area to open up). I think it is one of those "bucket list" parks that as a photographer you really need to see. Once. In my mind there are just too many other places I can go to make nice photographs to do it again. As they say: "YMMV."
Tremont
Having spent a fair amount of time in Townsend, I can say it is probably the only place I would stay for a park visit. Indeed, having done other parts of the park, I think you could get your fill of every kind of photography experience you want by staging out of Townsend and never venturing far from it. For me, for a landscape photographer, there are 3 major opportunity categories here: Mountain sunrise/sunsets, Landscape opportunities like exist in Cade's Cove, and "intimate shots," like streams, drops and waterfalls, and wildflowers. Tremont is the the third leg of that experience, and provides much of the latter category. It isn't a specific place as much as it is an area, bounded by a road (logically, "Tremont Road").
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| Middle Prong - Little River - Tremont, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
Directions: You get to Tremont Road by heading again toward Cade's Cove. At the "Y" turn right again onto Laurel Creek Road briefly. Tremont Road will be a left turn less than 1/4 mile past the "Y." Starting out paved, it quickly turns into a gravel road (but well improved and passable by any vehicle). Tremont Road meanders along the "middle prong" of the Little River for about 2 miles to The Great Smoky Mountains Tremont Institute. There is a parking lot there, with a small "museum," and a small canteen. This is the parking lot for the Middle Prong Trailhead and The Spruce Flats Falls Trailhead (more in a minute on this one). From there the road continues as "Upper Tremont Road," for another almost 3 miles, winding along (it will feel further), until the road ends in a very small "loop" parking area. You will cross the river once at a bridge (which may be worth a stop to look at and maybe shoot falls and drops). At the loop parking area, there is a bridge (locals call it "the horse bridge" because there are a lot of riders up that way). You can cross the horse bridge and hike on up a ways. There is a long series of cascades up to where the trail essentially ends. In my opinion, there is no really photography opportunity there and I would not waste the time or energy to hike up there - for photography anyway.
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| Middle Prong - Little River - Tremont, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
We did find a way to scramble down below the horse bridge and make a few shots there. I am not sure it is worth the climb down, as there were many other shots much easier to reach (like the one immediately above). There is also a nice shot of the river to the southwest that can be made from up on the bridge.
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| Little River (from the "horse bridge") - Tremont, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2025 |
But the "best in show" is probably just stopping at various spots along the road near the river. Having done this in spring and fall, I think fall presents better opportunities for context shots, due to the foliage and leaf drop. Because we missed the Dogwood bloom, it is hard for me to say whether these shots might be framed by white dogwood blossoms and look better. We only found one shot that might have been close to that. But this is a place where you scramble and crawl around, setting your tripod close to the ground, water and rocks, and using polarizers and ND filters to get nice water effects with green moss-covered rocks framing things. I got a few I really liked here - like nothing I have been able to get anywhere else. A plus for this, too, was there were virtually no other people! This is not one of the hot spots for tourists. This is worth spending at least 1/2 day.
There are also a couple waterfalls in the area but none are particularly easy to reach and photograph. If you are a waterfall enthusiast, they might be worth it. On the map, there is a waterfall up the trail across the horse bridge that is just over a 3-mile hike in: Indian Flats Falls. There are substantial elevations and the trail can be (while not quite "technical), shall we say "rustic" in places, with the possibilty of navigating mud, standing water, tree roots and rocks (which can be slippery). I have only see a picture which someone had the courtesy to post on the Google Maps app and it looks potentiall photogenic. Also, from the trailhead back at the Institute, you can make the hike up (and then back down - which seems to be a recurring theme in the park) to Spruce Flats Falls. This one is an enigma to me. The website: "Hiking in the Smoky Mountains" describes this as an "easy hike," (yet goes on to describe it in more detail in such a way that makes me wonder what a "difficult" hike might entail: Neither the waterfall nor this spur trail appears on the official park map. Despite being an unofficial trail the route is well defined and very easy to follow. There are a couple of sections, however, where the path becomes very rugged due to rocks and roots. From the junction the Buckeye Trail leads steeply uphill, and soon begins to travel above a series of tent cabins that are used by overnight guests of the institute. At just under two-tenths of a mile you’ll reach another split in the trail. To proceed towards the falls you should turn left here and continue up the hill. Immediately past the split the trail passes an old cistern. Above the cistern you’ll reach a nice perch that offers decent views of Upper Tremont Road below, as well as Bote Mountain and Thunderhead Mountain towards the southwest. At just under a half-mile the trail reaches its highest point, and soon begins descending towards the falls. As you descend the trail becomes progressively steeper and more rugged, especially as you get closer to the falls. At roughly seven-tenths of a mile hikers will finally reach Spruce Flats Falls). Despite being said to be only a 1.4 mile hike roundtrip, it will feel substantially longer and will take a fair amount of time. There are sections that are steeply uphill and there are most definitely rocks and roots that must be negotiated. I will never forget this hike, as I took a spill coming back down to the parking lot which netted me a trip to an emergency medical clinic in Maryville and 3 staples just about my left eyebrow. A close call. Since it came after the hike, we did get some nice images while down there. It is a bit challenging to photograph and definitely calls for a wide-angle lens. I'll let you judge whether it is worth it. If you are a fit and seasoned hiker, it may not be a big deal. But I would certainly not call it "an easy hike."
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| Spruce Flats Falls - Tremont, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
White Oak Sink
There is one last "feature spot" in the Townsend vicinity of the park that is worth mentioning. This is a known spot for wildflower blooms in the spring. Our arrival in late April was really too late for any of the spring blooms the park is known for. Recommendations from locals with knowledge suggest the best time to shoot for is about mid-April. Unfortunately, this meant the ground flower bloom that White Oak Sink is known for was also mostly gone by the time we arrived. This low, wet area between mountain ranges is known for Virginia Bluebells, Blue Phlox, Orchids (Pink Lady's Slipper) and White Trillum, among other flowers. There is also a small, but nice waterfall down there (Rainbow Cave Falls).
Directions: This is 5-mile round trip hike. Plan to take some time getting there and back. The trailhead for White Oak Sink is on Laurel Creek Road (on the way to Cade's Cove), about 3.5 miles from the "Y." From Townsend, turn right at the "Y" and head toward Cade's Cove. In about 3.5 miles, there is a small parking lot on the right side of the road. This is the trailhead for Schoolhouse Gap. The parking lot is small and in season fills up fast. There is no parking on the road shoulder allowed. The next place you can park is a narrow pulloff probably about 1/4 to 1/2 mile further toward Cade's Cove where you can park and walk back. I did that and that walk to and from the car is along the road so be careful walking as well as crossing. It is also noteworthy that during the spring, the Park Service limits the number of visitors who may be in the sink at any given time to some relatively small groups, so you may have to wait once your reach the sink. There are volunteers down there during the day to manage and to identify flowers.
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| White Trillium on the path to White Oak Sink - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2025 |
The Schoolhouse Gap trail doubles as the trail to White Oak Sink for roughly the first mile. It is a relatively wide gravel road with a moderate upward grade. At the mile point you will reach a point where the trail splits. Off to the left is Turkeypen Trail. You do not want this one. Continue straight, for only a very short distance and there will be another point where the trail splits again to the left. This one is not marked or signed. The telltale is that there is a tight 90 degree fence rail designed to keep horses from accessing it. The main trail continues on up and slightly right, but you want to take this smaller, "gated" trail to the left. From here, the going gets much more strenuous. The trail is narrow, muddy in places (in one place you must actually cross a brook and there is no bridge - just a treacherous pile of logs). I goes steeply up and down for the next mile and a half. It will seem like a lot more than that. I didn't make it all the way to the sink because I misjudged the time it would take and had to be back at the trailhead. Plan on a full 1/2 day for this hike. You can see the potential during a good bloom for this place and it is probably well worth the hike.
East of Townsend
The final section of the park that is easily accessed from Townsend is Little River Road (a/k/a Little River Gorge Road). This road winds along the Little River to the East all the way to Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) on the eastern side of the park. Along the way, there are a couple nice waterfalls and hiking trailheads. From the middle of Townsend, once again drive east on Lamar Alexander Parkway, heading toward the Townsend Park Entrance and Cade's Cove. But this time, when you reach the "Y," go left (east) onto Little River Road. The signs will point you toward Gatlinburg. There are any number of scenic turnouts along this road where you could scramble down the banks and find compositions of fast moving water, drops and reflections among the moss-covered rocks.
Miegs Falls
Directions. Just about 4.5 miles from the "Y" you will pass Meigs Falls. There is no parking area, but there is a fairly lone, wide shoulder along the road, opposite the falls. Though it is reasonably well-marked, you could easily drive past it. The falls are a tall drop in Meigs Creek, a tributary running into the Little River from the other side of the river. With the main Little River between you and the falls, there is no real shot close to them. You will need a telephoto lens. My shot here was made with my 70-300mm at 220mm. As you can see, by backing off the full focal length of the lens a bit, I was able to frame the falls with surrounding foliage. As is often the case, foliage near rivers are not often the hardwood species that provide spectacular fall colors, so I cannot really say how this might look during the fall season.
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| Meigs Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved |
The Sinks
At about the 5 - 6 mile mark (from the "Y"), there is a parking area accessing a couple trailheads. There is a small waterfall here, also, where one of the tributary creeks passes under a bridge over a small, but brisk waterfall and drop. Photography of this waterfall presents some challenges, perhaps the most significant of which is the highway bridge running across the top of the frame. I shot it anyway and you can judge for yourself whether it is worth the stop.
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| Waterfall at The Sinks - Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Townsend, Tennessee Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved |
Laurel Falls
Directions. This is hiking destination. The Laurel Falls Trailhead is just over 13 miles from the Townsend "Y." The hike is almost 1.5 miles each way. We have not done it, so my only knowledge here is the photos I have seen by Googling it online. It looks like a nice, and probably photogenic waterfall depending on water flow conditions.
Eastern Sections of the Park (Gatlinburg and Cherokee). The main attraction in the eastern side of the park is probably Newfound Gap Road. Beginning at the northern park entrance at Sugarlands Visitor Center, about 2 miles south of Gatlinburg and going south to Cherokee, North Carolina, it is part of U.S. highway 441. However, a national park road through the park, it is subject to the park-enforced 35 mph speed limit. How you access this part of the park depends on your base of operations. If you are staying in Gatlinburg (something I would not recommend), just follow 441 south out of town. If you are - as we usually do - based in Townsend, Sugarlands is just about 20 miles Townsend "Y" following Little River Road. A slightly longer, but perhaps safer and less nerve-wracking at night or during stormy weather would be to take 441 up through Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge, pick up 321 and take it back to Townsend. It is maybe 5 - miles longer and (mostly) less narrow and winding. The wild card is the traffic in the Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge area. At night it probably isn't too bad. During the daytime, you might want to avoid it like the proverbial "plague."
We have spent very little time in this part of the park compared to the Townsend vicinity. Each trip over there consumed most - if not all - of an entire day. But there are certainly some iconic (must see?) spots that deserve consideration. On the Newfound Gap road there are a number of small, scenic pullouts along the road. They are on both sides. We spent two late afternoons waiting for the light on the scenic viewpoint of note closest to Gatlinburg, The Ben Morton Scenic Overlook. I have seen some sunset photos there that are spectacular. We were not so lucky, with grey, showery conditions both nights. The number of other photographers crowded into the smallish wide area in the road at the overlook tells us we were onto something, however. Weather permitting, it is worth looking at for a sunset location. An added advantage is that whether you eat before or after the sunset, you are very close to Gatlinburg and we have a favorite "cowboy steakhouse/bar right on the very south end of town."
Ben Morton Overlook
Directions. This overlook is 11 miles from The Sugarlands park entrance, and is on your right (facing west). Parking is limited and our experience has been that this is one of the more popular sunset destinations, so plan accordingly. As noted above, our weather was not particularly cooperative for the week we were there in 2025 - at least not for "grand landscape" type images. This was the very best I could "eke" out, but it does give you a feel for the possibilities here. during a better sunset, the sun is said to set just over that little "gunsight" of twin peaks toward the middle of the scene far off in the distance.
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| Ben Morton Overlook - Newfound Gap Road - Gattlinburg, Tenessee Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved |
Newfound Gap Overlook
Directions. This overlook is about 20 miles south of the Sugarlands entrance on Newfound Gap Road, and straddles the Tennesse/North Carolina border. It is a large parking area and one of few stops along the road that has restroom facilities. When it was first opened, it provided sweeping views of the Smoky Mountains to the east and was often considered one of the premiere photo stops - especially at sunrise. Years of (apparently) unmanaged growth (at least from a photographer's perspective) has ensured that this view has significantly diminished and will continue to do so as the years go on - unless there is some selective cutting done. I understand that nature takes its course. But it astounds me to think about the millions that were spent building this (and numerous other) scenic viewpoints, just to let inexorable growth of (often just a very few) trees obscure that view. In October 2020, we could not even get into the viewpoint, let alone find a spot to park. In the spring of 2025 we had better luck with parking, but the combination of grey overcast weather and tree growth led us to conclude this spot is no longer really a desirable photo location.
Clingman's Dome (Kuwohi)
Directions. I am not generally a fan of our current "woke" penchant to tear down things (whatever they symbolize). To me they are our history. Same with name changes to fit the current "sensibilities" of modern folks (often in the significant minority). But this one probably makes some sense. The name "Kuwoki" is the name the Cherokee people gave to this overlook long before Mr. Clingman "discovered it." Anyway, Kuwohi is well up onto the summit of one of the many ranges in the Park. It is accessed by taking Kuwoi Road about 7 miles to a large parking area and trailhead. Kuwoi Road starts just across Newfound Gap Road from the Newfound Gap Overlook parking area. Once probably considered the "Crown Jewel" of sunset and/or sunrise photography in the Newfound Gap, I would suggest that those opportunities are more limited today. First, like the viewpoint down at the Newfound Gap Overlook, very substantial new growth trees have all but obscured the view down into the valley. There is a long sidewalk area on the eastern edge of the parking lot where photographers can set up their tripods. But finding a "shoot through" spot is a challenge. This is the spot to get those layered mountain shots you so often see in books and on line. I was able to make a couple of shots like that in 2023. But you can see that it would have been much easier 20 or more years ago. I am told that there are some higher-up viewpoints but you have to scramble up to them - and know where they are.
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| Smoky Mountain sunset - Clingman's Dome (Kuwohi) - Great Smoky Mountain National Park Copyright Andy Richards 2023 - All Rights Reserved |
The second reason I judge this spot to be "not what it used to be," is a problem with most of the popular and beautiful spots around the world: overcrowding. As I noted at the beginning of this guide, I have doubts that I will ever make the trip to GSMNP again. Spring was a little better. But October was just a total clown (or another perhaps more descriptive term) show. The road (Kuwohi) up to the overlook was jammed with vehicles at literal standstill. We waited in that line for perhaps 1.5 hours. When we reached the top, we learned that this was because the parking lot was completely full and traffic moved only when somebody left. I understand. This is a National Park and was made for all visitors to enjoy. Everyone has the right to be there. But for photographers, it is a bit sad that access is so clogged. It is again, one of those "have to do it once in your life." I get that. We did. Twice.
Cherokee North Carolina
Like Gatlinburg, Cherokee is not technically in the park, but lies just south (about 3 miles) of the park entrance near Oconoluftee Visiter Center. Although a town of only about 1500 inhabitants (the population has declined substantially over the past 5 years from closer to 2,000), it seems bigger. It is pretty obviously set up for tourism, with a Harrah's Casino and resort front and center along the main street through town. In years past, Cherokee was a smaller, slower, and perhaps less "ritzy" version of the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge stretch up on the northern end of Newfound Gap Road. Some accounts on line and by a couple folk with local knowledge, there were lots of "touristy" (and quite possibly even foreign made) "Indian" knick-knacks, like moccasins, wooden tomahawks, and such. It appears - from what I am reading online though, that the town has recently tried to move toward a more modern presentation (there are fast food restaurants, an Ace Hardware, a Food Lion, and other shopping centers with a more high-end focus). They have also built some nicer restaurants, with a local theme. There is not much information available about tourist numbers. But there is quite a bit about the influx of dollars into the community from two sources: tourism and the casino (most accounts suggest well over $100 million annually).
Properly called the Qualla Boundary, The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) purchase some 56,000 plus acres of land around what is not the town of Cherokee and the governmental seat for the EBCI. The EBCI is recognized as a sovereign nation with its own laws and government (subject, of course, to the massively complex U.S. laws concerning "Indian affairs"). held in trust by the federal government. The Qualla Boundary is not a reservation but rather a "land trust" supervised by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. So remember: when you are in Cherokee, you are in another country with its own laws and rules.
You could, of course approach the park from Cherokee, using it a a base of operations. It might well depend on your focus in the park. I have a photographer friend who has spent a lot of time there, photographing wildflowers. It is also right at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are also the Elk at the visitor center, which could quite possibly entertain many hours of photography at times when they are present. Certainly worth a look. I drove up from Florida, and it would have been possible for me to drive to Cherokee from Atlanta, instead of Maryville. In fact, it might be just slightly shorter by mileage.
Oconoluftee Visitor Center
From the state line (Newfound Gap) to the southern entrance to the park at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center, it is another 15 miles. Along the way there are several other scenic overlooks. We never went further than Kuwohi in 2023, but decided to go the rest of the way in 2025, partly to photograph a waterfall and partly to see Cherokee.
Other than a nice set of restrooms and tourist trinket and book sales, there is not a lot at the visitor center for photographers, with one exception. If you are a wildlife shooter, there is a thriving elk herd there, affording some nice shooting opportunities.
Mingo Falls
Directions. I will "clock" the mileage here from the Oconoluftee Visitor Center (you can do the math if coming from the Sugarlands entrance). It is about 6 1/2 miles to the Mingo Falls Access area, which includes a generous parking lot. The Oconaluftee River winds along the Newfound Gap Road all along this area. The large branch that feeds into the main river near the gap road is called Raven Fork. About 1/2 mile south of the visitor center, turn onto Mountains to Sea Trail (heads east). Continue straight for only about 500 feet and then turn left onto Big Cove Road and follow it all the way to the access area.
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| Mingo Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cherokee, North Carolina Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved |
The falls are up a steep incline (there are stairs - partly wooden and partly "natural" pretty much all the way up (the were under repair when we were there in May, 2025). It is about 1/4 mile up, but you will know you climbed some stairs as you catch your breath at the top. At the top, there is a wide, wooden bridge that crosses Raven Branch and from which you can set up to photograph the falls. This one has lots going for it for the photographer. It is easy to get to and has a fairly open shot. It is a particularly tall drop, lending itself to portrait orientation. I used my wide angle and shot vertically. One word of caution. It is a bridge and there is a fair amount of foot traffic from a rather constant stream of viewers. Try to plan your shot around the invariably caused vibrations of the bridge.
That was the only real photography stop we made at this end of the park. If you do venture down there, there is a large handful of restaurants in Cherokee (two of them associated in some way with famous foodies, Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsey - but I would probably avoid them as they are both in the casino and both get relatively low ratings compared to the other choices), including several smokehouses, Asian, and Mexican establishments, and a few grills and breakfast cafes. Oh yeah. .And the latest thing: "brewpubs." We ate in one called Native Brews Tap and Grill. It was quite good. I would recommend it (though I think Google is generous with its pricing notations - we spent more there than in most other places we ate during the week).
THAT's ABOUT all I know about GSMNP. Hope you find it useful. If you have questions, corrections, changes or comments, please feel free to reach out to me via email or comment here! Thanks for reading and good shooting.
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