Photo essay · Tennessee · North Carolina

The Smokies, from ridgelines to valley fields

The views that draw our attention in the Smokies: fog at Morton Overlook, ridges from Kuwohi and the open fields of Cades Cove.

Fog crossing autumn ridges at Morton Overlook
01The fog at Morton Overlook makes us look closely at the outlines of the ridges along Newfound Gap Road.

Photo: NPS Photo. Original · Public domain in the United States; U.S. National Park Service photograph · Resized for this site; some views are cropped.

Mountain ridges from the walkway to the Kuwohi observation tower
02Leave time to pause on the steep paved walk to Kuwohi’s tower. When the clouds lift, there are layers of ridges to follow with your eye.

Photo: NPS Photo. Original · Public domain in the United States; U.S. National Park Service photograph · Resized for this site; some views are cropped.

An open meadow in Cades Cove
03The open fields are part of what draws us to Cades Cove. Give the valley some time from a signed stopping place along the loop.

Photo: NPS Photo / Warren Bielenberg. Original · Public domain in the United States; U.S. National Park Service photograph · Resized for this site; some views are cropped.

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