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Great Smoky Mountains in Autumn
Lodge-Based Photo Workshop
Upcoming Departures
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Trip Leader(s)
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Starting From [Block//Current Price]
Single Supplement: +$640.00
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Deposit: $2,000.00
Start/End
Knoxville, TN / Knoxville, TN
Length
6 Days/5 Nights
Fitness Level
Level 1 - What's This?
Group Size
Up To 7 Guests
Highlights
- Photograph the vibrant colors of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Discover overlooks, vistas, and waterfalls adorned with a brilliant canopy of fall foliage
- Refine your photography skills under the guidance of seasoned photography professionals
- Stay in beautiful, hand-picked lodges surrounding Great Smoky Mountain National Park
- Small group size, limited to only 7 photographers
If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Coordinators are available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:
Embark on an extraordinary adventure through the captivating embrace of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains. Set against the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee, this magnificent national park unveils a breathtaking spectacle of colors, capturing the essence of this vibrant season.
Immerse yourself in a world of photographic wonder as the mountains adorn themselves in a magnificent tapestry of fall hues. Witness nature's palette come alive with vibrant reds, fiery oranges, golden yellows, and a symphony of greens. Each frame becomes a masterpiece as you capture the mesmerizing beauty of this enchanting time.
Lose yourself in the embrace of misty sunrises atop grassy balds, where panoramic vistas reveal the mountains' mystique. Discover hidden waterfalls adorned with a brilliant canopy of foliage, offering captivating compositions that epitomize the magic of autumn. While exploring this natural wonderland, you'll be captivated by the incredible variety of plant life, with majestic Eastern Hemlocks, delicate Mountain Ash, and a tapestry of Maple Trees painting the landscape with their fiery hues.
Our expertly guided photo workshop immerses you in the splendor of this captivating season. Unlock the secrets of capturing the essence of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains under the guidance of seasoned photographers. From mastering the interplay of light to capturing the rich tapestry of colors, you'll refine your skills and create images that evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
Join us on this unforgettable journey to the Great Smoky Mountains and bear witness to the breathtaking spectacle of autumn unfolding before your lens. Capture the beauty, the colors, and the sheer magic of this cherished season, and return home with a collection of photographs that will transport you back to this awe-inspiring landscape time and time again.
Experience the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains in their resplendent autumn glory. Reserve your spot on our guided photo workshop today!
Immerse yourself in a world of photographic wonder as the mountains adorn themselves in a magnificent tapestry of fall hues. Witness nature's palette come alive with vibrant reds, fiery oranges, golden yellows, and a symphony of greens. Each frame becomes a masterpiece as you capture the mesmerizing beauty of this enchanting time.
Lose yourself in the embrace of misty sunrises atop grassy balds, where panoramic vistas reveal the mountains' mystique. Discover hidden waterfalls adorned with a brilliant canopy of foliage, offering captivating compositions that epitomize the magic of autumn. While exploring this natural wonderland, you'll be captivated by the incredible variety of plant life, with majestic Eastern Hemlocks, delicate Mountain Ash, and a tapestry of Maple Trees painting the landscape with their fiery hues.
Our expertly guided photo workshop immerses you in the splendor of this captivating season. Unlock the secrets of capturing the essence of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains under the guidance of seasoned photographers. From mastering the interplay of light to capturing the rich tapestry of colors, you'll refine your skills and create images that evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
Join us on this unforgettable journey to the Great Smoky Mountains and bear witness to the breathtaking spectacle of autumn unfolding before your lens. Capture the beauty, the colors, and the sheer magic of this cherished season, and return home with a collection of photographs that will transport you back to this awe-inspiring landscape time and time again.
Experience the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains in their resplendent autumn glory. Reserve your spot on our guided photo workshop today!
What's Included
- All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
- All transportation during the workshop
- All lodging during the workshop
- All permits and park fees
- Professional photography guiding and instruction
- Gratuity for service staff
What's Not Included
Transportation to and from Knoxville, TN
Meals not listed as included on the itinerary
Lodging outside workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities
Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.
Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (Travel Day)(D)
Arrive in Knoxville, TN for an orientation and welcome dinner with the group.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
Our Great Smoky Mountains In Autumn photography tour begins in earnest with a pre-dawn drive from Knoxville to the east side of the Park. Smoky Mountain is world-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and its Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and our tour will sample from each of these outstanding features.
During our tour, we’ll photograph the best of what makes the Great Smoky Mountains America's most visited National Park. We’ll be surrounded by colorful and diverse old-growth forests, creeks, and waterfalls. Wildlife including Black bear, White-tailed deer, and fox. The largest and perhaps most anticipated animal in the park, tips the scales at nearly 700 pounds, is the elk. This evening we will work on compositions from one of the high vantages in the Park, returning to our accommodations in Gatlinburg for a fantastic dinner and rest.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
Rising early is nothing new on photography tours, and today will be no different for our small group. We’ll position ourselves for a classic Smokies sunrise, this time from the Great Smoky Mountain Divide. Newfound Gap is a 5,000 ft mountain pass near the center of the National Park, just on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. In fact, the state line crosses here. As does the hugely famous Appalachian Trail. It is from this location, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the Park on September 2, 1940. Fantastic views of the endless rolling ridges of the Smokies abound on today’s agenda.
As we transfer lodges this evening, we’ll take time to photograph Clingman’s Dome, which is the highest peak in the Park at 6,643 feet. On clear days views expand over 100 miles. The Oconoluftee Valley, which is usually a fantastic place to find and photograph elk, will also be an exciting stop for us. Formerly the site of a Cherokee village and later an Appalachian community, the valley's bottomland is now the main entrance to the North Carolina side of the Park.
Day 4 (B,L,D)
Cades Cove is a must-visit spot when at Great Smoky Mountain National Park, so for our fourth day together we’ll make a visit. We’ll spend the morning photographing the changing leaves and gorgeous autumn colors of the historic Cades Cove area. This part of the Park is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains, and offers perhaps the best opportunities for wildlife photography. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of Black bear, coyote, groundhog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible.
In order to maximize our time in Cades Cove, we’ll have a picnic lunch while here. This allows for continued photography while we enjoy our wonderful surroundings. Another evening photoshoot from a carefully hand-picked location will preclude a short shuttle ride to our hotel, where a tasty southern dinner and a cozy night’s sleep will top off another rewarding day of Smoky Mountains exploration.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
Our photography session this morning will be along a beautiful creek, surrounded by colorful, mist-clad mountains where we’ll spend the morning photographing waterfalls. Your guide will help you with different techniques used to photograph moving water. Learn how to slow, or freeze water and why you’d choose one over the other.
All of the up-close aesthetics of the Park will be on display for us today, so make certain to have plenty of available memory on your cards.
Tonight’s dinner – an outdoor evening picnic dinner prepared by your guide – will be enjoyed in the stunning Cade’s Cove area after a refreshing shower and a bit of afternoon downtime at our hotel. We’ll spend time photographing the Cade’s Cove area during dinner.
Day 6 (B,L)
Our final day together will begin photographing from one of the most breathtaking vantage points in the park. The colors, layers, and overall beauty of the Smoky Mountains at dawn will be on full display.
We’ll settle in for a short, yet scenic, shuttle back to Knoxville, giving us time to contemplate the natural beauty, invigorating hiking, phenomenal biodiversity, and fascinating history we’ve had the privilege to explore for the past five days.
Day 1 (Travel Day)(D)
Arrive in Knoxville, TN for an orientation and welcome dinner with the group.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
Our Great Smoky Mountains In Autumn photography tour begins in earnest with a pre-dawn drive from Knoxville to the east side of the Park. Smoky Mountain is world-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and its Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and our tour will sample from each of these outstanding features.
During our tour, we’ll photograph the best of what makes the Great Smoky Mountains America's most visited National Park. We’ll be surrounded by colorful and diverse old-growth forests, creeks, and waterfalls. Wildlife including Black bear, White-tailed deer, and fox. The largest and perhaps most anticipated animal in the park, tips the scales at nearly 700 pounds, is the elk. This evening we will work on compositions from one of the high vantages in the Park, returning to our accommodations in Gatlinburg for a fantastic dinner and rest.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
Rising early is nothing new on photography tours, and today will be no different for our small group. We’ll position ourselves for a classic Smokies sunrise, this time from the Great Smoky Mountain Divide. Newfound Gap is a 5,000 ft mountain pass near the center of the National Park, just on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. In fact, the state line crosses here. As does the hugely famous Appalachian Trail. It is from this location, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the Park on September 2, 1940. Fantastic views of the endless rolling ridges of the Smokies abound on today’s agenda.
As we transfer lodges this evening, we’ll take time to photograph Clingman’s Dome, which is the highest peak in the Park at 6,643 feet. On clear days views expand over 100 miles. The Oconoluftee Valley, which is usually a fantastic place to find and photograph elk, will also be an exciting stop for us. Formerly the site of a Cherokee village and later an Appalachian community, the valley's bottomland is now the main entrance to the North Carolina side of the Park.
Day 4 (B,L,D)
Cades Cove is a must-visit spot when at Great Smoky Mountain National Park, so for our fourth day together we’ll make a visit. We’ll spend the morning photographing the changing leaves and gorgeous autumn colors of the historic Cades Cove area. This part of the Park is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains, and offers perhaps the best opportunities for wildlife photography. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of Black bear, coyote, groundhog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible.
In order to maximize our time in Cades Cove, we’ll have a picnic lunch while here. This allows for continued photography while we enjoy our wonderful surroundings. Another evening photoshoot from a carefully hand-picked location will preclude a short shuttle ride to our hotel, where a tasty southern dinner and a cozy night’s sleep will top off another rewarding day of Smoky Mountains exploration.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
Our photography session this morning will be along a beautiful creek, surrounded by colorful, mist-clad mountains where we’ll spend the morning photographing waterfalls. Your guide will help you with different techniques used to photograph moving water. Learn how to slow, or freeze water and why you’d choose one over the other.
All of the up-close aesthetics of the Park will be on display for us today, so make certain to have plenty of available memory on your cards.
Tonight’s dinner – an outdoor evening picnic dinner prepared by your guide – will be enjoyed in the stunning Cade’s Cove area after a refreshing shower and a bit of afternoon downtime at our hotel. We’ll spend time photographing the Cade’s Cove area during dinner.
Day 6 (B,L)
Our final day together will begin photographing from one of the most breathtaking vantage points in the park. The colors, layers, and overall beauty of the Smoky Mountains at dawn will be on full display.
We’ll settle in for a short, yet scenic, shuttle back to Knoxville, giving us time to contemplate the natural beauty, invigorating hiking, phenomenal biodiversity, and fascinating history we’ve had the privilege to explore for the past five days.
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
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Why Choose Backcountry Journeys?
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Explore over 100 worldwide photo tours and workshops tailored to photographers of all skill levels, from iconic U.S. National Parks to Africa's untamed savannahs.
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Join the Backcountry Journeys Tribe, where shared adventures in breathtaking locations foster lasting connections with fellow photographers in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
Testimonials From Our Customers
Julie K.
"I have traveled with Backcountry Journeys (BCJ) several times over the last 4 years to Glacier NP, Costa Rica (2x), Smoky Mountains NP, Joshua Tree, Zion and Bryce NPs, and most recently to Alaska.
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
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Scott S.
"BCJ provides an outstanding experience for photographers of all levels of experience/expertise. Each day's excursion is well planned-out and the guides always have a back-up plan if the weather is less than cooperative.
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
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Katherine P.
"I have now been on 8 trips with Backcountry Journeys. I love traveling with this company, as I am a woman traveling alone, and all I have to do is show up and they take care of everything else.
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
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We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2024