Spending two full days immersed in the natural splendor of Great Smoky Mountains National Park was nothing short of extraordinary. As a nature photographer, I’m always chasing light, wildlife, and that quiet serenity that lives in wild places — and the Smokies delivered all of that in abundance this spring. Camping at Cades Cove set the stage for an unforgettable 48-hour adventure that included early morning fog, thundering waterfalls, blooming mountain laurel, and even a close (but respectful) encounter with a black bear and her cubs.
My first morning began before sunrise, hiking through the cool mist of Cades Cove. The meadow was blanketed in fog, softening the outlines of deer in the distance and casting a mysterious mood over the winding road. I paused often to capture the interplay of fog and light as it filtered through the trees. That peaceful hush was broken only by the rustling of wild turkeys and the occasional songbird. Every direction offered a frame-worthy moment, making it one of the most photogenic locations I’ve experienced.
From Cades Cove, I made my way to Abrams Falls, a moderate 5-mile round trip hike that was rich with river views and spring wildflowers. The falls themselves thundered into a deep pool, and the surrounding rocks created a natural amphitheater. Photographing this powerful cascade was a rewarding challenge, balancing shutter speed and exposure to bring out both motion and texture in the water. The spring foliage glowed with fresh life — greens so vivid they almost seemed surreal through the lens.
Later that day, I explored the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a narrow, winding road that leads through dense forest and past historic cabins and creeks. One of the highlights here was hiking to Grotto Falls, where the trail actually leads behind the curtain of water. The soft roar of the falls mixed with the scent of blooming mountain laurel and damp earth created a full sensory experience. I captured several long exposures of Grotto Falls surrounded by blooming laurel — an image that truly captures the magic of spring in the Smokies.
The following morning brought one of the most awe-inspiring sights: a mother black bear and her two cubs near the edge of a quiet field in Cades Cove. I kept a safe distance, using a telephoto lens to document their slow movement through the grass. The mother foraged calmly while the cubs playfully batted at each other. It was a moment that demanded stillness and gratitude. I felt lucky to witness it, and luckier still to share it through my photography.
No visit to the Smokies would be complete without a hike to a mountain viewpoint. I chose the Chimney Tops Trail, a steep but relatively short hike that rewards the persistent with panoramic views of the Smoky Mountain range. As clouds rolled through the valley below, sunlight pierced the gaps and cast dramatic shadows across the ridges. Standing atop the Chimney Tops, with my camera in hand, was a high point — both literally and emotionally — of the trip.
Throughout the journey, the blooming mountain laurel stole the show with their clusters of delicate pink and white blossoms dotting the trailsides. These flowers signaled that spring had fully arrived, and their presence added a vibrant contrast to the deep greens of the forest. Photographing them in soft morning light was one of my favorite ways to close out the final day, capturing the fleeting beauty of a Smoky Mountain spring.
Two days wasn’t nearly enough, but I left the Smokies with a full memory card, a full heart, and a renewed appreciation for the wild places that still exist in this world. You can view many of the images from this journey and others on my official photography site: www.dansproul.com. Whether you’re a hiker, a photographer, or simply a lover of nature, I hope my photographs inspire your next adventure into the Smoky Mountains.
