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Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains (Hiker)
Lodge-Based Photo Workshop
No Current Departures For This Trip
This is a trip that we may consider opening additional departures for, so let us know if you're interested by joining our waitlist.
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Trip Leader(s)
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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 2 - What's This?
Group Size
Up To 0 Guests
Highlights
- Experience peak wildflower season, capturing the vibrant colors and delicate beauty of the Smoky Mountains.
- Abundant wildlife, from majestic black bears and graceful elk to a variety of bird species, adding a captivating element to your photography journey.
- Enjoy the benefits of small groups, fostering an intimate and personalized experience tailored to your needs.
- Indulge in the finest meals and comfortable lodging included in your trip, ensuring a truly enjoyable and stress-free experience.
- Be led by the best in the field, with our experienced and knowledgeable trip leaders who will enhance your adventure with their expertise in photography and the natural wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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:
Step into the Smoky Mountains for a truly wondrous display of life. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee in the southeastern United States, is renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the history of its Appalachian mountain culture.
For photographers, Great Smoky Mountains offers an array of opportunity. Abundant wildlife, like Black Bear, elk and an amazing amount of birds and amphibians are here for the taking. Views, vistas and trees seem to take center stage here, though. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 100 species of tree spread throughout five different forest types including Eastern Hemlock, Mountain Ash and various Maple Trees.
The Smokies area is an exceptional destination to experience the beauty, color, and rebirth of spring. When the last traces of winter melt away, the Park offers idyllic weather and beautiful greenery. Wildflowers are the star of the spring show here. As the Park is home to over 1,500 types of flowering plants (more than any other national park in the country), one can imagine the tapestry that is created across the rolling landscape in mid-to-late March, April, May, and even June.
Each year, autumnal winds bring cooler temperatures to the Great Smoky Mountains, creating its time to shine for photographers. Typically fall is viewed as the end of summer, when life tends to go dormant and die. Here, however, the mountainsides seem to burst into life, appearing as if they are painted with bright contrasting strokes of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and greens.
Landscape photographers will relish in views of misty sunrises from grassy balds overlooking a sea of mountains. Ethereal waterfalls under brilliant leaf covered canopies provide for wonderful composition. There is bewilderment in the amazing variety of plant life in the Smokies. It is truly incredible, no matter what time of year one visits. The trees and plants found here are what granite domes and waterfalls are to Yosemite, or what geysers and wildlife to Yellowstone.
Please note: We are excited to offer both a standard and “hiker” version of this trip for photographers who like to get out and hike! Not sure which one suits you best? Give us a call at 928-478-1521
For photographers, Great Smoky Mountains offers an array of opportunity. Abundant wildlife, like Black Bear, elk and an amazing amount of birds and amphibians are here for the taking. Views, vistas and trees seem to take center stage here, though. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 100 species of tree spread throughout five different forest types including Eastern Hemlock, Mountain Ash and various Maple Trees.
The Smokies area is an exceptional destination to experience the beauty, color, and rebirth of spring. When the last traces of winter melt away, the Park offers idyllic weather and beautiful greenery. Wildflowers are the star of the spring show here. As the Park is home to over 1,500 types of flowering plants (more than any other national park in the country), one can imagine the tapestry that is created across the rolling landscape in mid-to-late March, April, May, and even June.
Each year, autumnal winds bring cooler temperatures to the Great Smoky Mountains, creating its time to shine for photographers. Typically fall is viewed as the end of summer, when life tends to go dormant and die. Here, however, the mountainsides seem to burst into life, appearing as if they are painted with bright contrasting strokes of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and greens.
Landscape photographers will relish in views of misty sunrises from grassy balds overlooking a sea of mountains. Ethereal waterfalls under brilliant leaf covered canopies provide for wonderful composition. There is bewilderment in the amazing variety of plant life in the Smokies. It is truly incredible, no matter what time of year one visits. The trees and plants found here are what granite domes and waterfalls are to Yosemite, or what geysers and wildlife to Yellowstone.
Please note: We are excited to offer both a standard and “hiker” version of this trip for photographers who like to get out and hike! Not sure which one suits you best? Give us a call at 928-478-1521
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 tonight for an orientation and welcome dinner with the group.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 5.5 mile round trip hike, 750 foot elevation gain
Our inn-based Great Smoky Mountains photography tour starts with a pre-dawn drive from Knoxville to the East side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our hike today takes us to one of Smoky Mountain National Park’s most spectacular waterfalls and compliments it with amazing high-country views. Along our hike we will pass through diverse old growth forests that are coming to life with the arrival of spring.
While on this hike we’ll have opportunities to see wildlife such as black bears, deer and elk. Our trail passes beneath Grotto Falls, which is the only waterfall in the Park that you can walk behind. After the falls, we’ll continue to the top of Brushy Mountain, where we’ll soak up views of Mount Guyot, Charlies Bunion, Mount Chapman, Mount Sequoyah and a lot more. Mount LeConte, where the lodge with the same name sits high on its mountain perch, will dominate our view south. This evening we will work on compositions from one of the high vantages in the park and then return to Gatlinburg in the evening.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 5.4 miles, 1350 feet elevation gain
We’ll be once again up early to catch the sunrise on the Great Smoky Mountain divide. Our morning session will be from Newfound Gap. It was here that Roosevelt dedicated the Park with a speech in 1940. Today’s hike takes us along the famous Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion, one of the Park’s most celebrated rock formations. Fantastic views of the endless rolling ridges of the Smokies abound on today’s hike. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with the incredible views as our backdrop before hiking back to the trailhead.
On our way to tonight’s lodging we’ll spend some time photographing Clingman’s Dome (the highest peak in the Park at 6,643 feet) and the Oconoluftee Valley, which is usually a great place to find and photograph elk.
Day 4 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: mileage 4-6 miles with 200 feet elevation gain
We’ll hit the trail early – our goal being the quiet, yet beautiful Cades Cove side of the park. We’ll spend the morning photographing the most iconic part of spring in the Smoky Mountains; the wildflowers. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 types of flowering plants, more than any other national park in the country. After shooting we’ll have a picnic breakfast in the Cades Cove picnic area. This area has excellent opportunities for wildlife, so we’ll keep an eye out for some of the Park’s many types of wildlife (black bear, deer, elk, turkeys, and more).
Today’s official hike is a forested creek-side hike to a stunning waterfall that is arguably the Smokies’ most scenic hike. We’ll keep an eye out for otters as we make our way along the creek, eventually arriving at the most voluminous waterfall in the Park. We’ll relax for a picnic lunch on a beach in clear view of the torrent of water spilling over a sandstone cliff. We’ll spend ample time photographing this waterfall and eventually hike back to the trailhead. A short shuttle
ride to our hotel, a tasty Southern dinner, and a cozy night’s sleep top off another rewarding day of Smoky Mountains exploration.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 8 miles roundtrip, 150 foot elevation gain
Our photograph session this morning will be along a beautiful creek, surrounded by beautiful mist-clad mountains. We’ll spend the morning photographing waterfalls during our hike. Today’s hike is one of the most diverse and in many ways fulfilling as we dive into enjoying all the Smokies’ has to offer!
Our hike takes us past stunning cascades, through forests bursting with an incredible array of wildflowers, plant and animal life, and along charming mountain creeks. Tonight’s dinner – an outdoor evening picnic dinner prepared by your guide – is enjoyed in the stunning Cade’s Cove area after a refreshing shower and a bit of down time at our hotel. We’ll spend time photographing the Cade’s Cove area during dinner.
Day 6 (B)
The final morning of our Appalachian experience will bring us to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and to one of the more breathtaking vantage points in the park, where we’ll look to photograph the surrounding Smoky Mountains at dawn. After our shoot we’ll settle in for a short, yet scenic, ride back to Knoxville.
The ride will give us an opportunity to contemplate all of the natural beauty, phenomenal biodiversity, and fascinating history we’ve had the privilege to explore during our tour of Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Day 1 (Travel Day)(D)
Arrive in Knoxville, TN tonight for an orientation and welcome dinner with the group.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 5.5 mile round trip hike, 750 foot elevation gain
Our inn-based Great Smoky Mountains photography tour starts with a pre-dawn drive from Knoxville to the East side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our hike today takes us to one of Smoky Mountain National Park’s most spectacular waterfalls and compliments it with amazing high-country views. Along our hike we will pass through diverse old growth forests that are coming to life with the arrival of spring.
While on this hike we’ll have opportunities to see wildlife such as black bears, deer and elk. Our trail passes beneath Grotto Falls, which is the only waterfall in the Park that you can walk behind. After the falls, we’ll continue to the top of Brushy Mountain, where we’ll soak up views of Mount Guyot, Charlies Bunion, Mount Chapman, Mount Sequoyah and a lot more. Mount LeConte, where the lodge with the same name sits high on its mountain perch, will dominate our view south. This evening we will work on compositions from one of the high vantages in the park and then return to Gatlinburg in the evening.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 5.4 miles, 1350 feet elevation gain
We’ll be once again up early to catch the sunrise on the Great Smoky Mountain divide. Our morning session will be from Newfound Gap. It was here that Roosevelt dedicated the Park with a speech in 1940. Today’s hike takes us along the famous Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion, one of the Park’s most celebrated rock formations. Fantastic views of the endless rolling ridges of the Smokies abound on today’s hike. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with the incredible views as our backdrop before hiking back to the trailhead.
On our way to tonight’s lodging we’ll spend some time photographing Clingman’s Dome (the highest peak in the Park at 6,643 feet) and the Oconoluftee Valley, which is usually a great place to find and photograph elk.
Day 4 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: mileage 4-6 miles with 200 feet elevation gain
We’ll hit the trail early – our goal being the quiet, yet beautiful Cades Cove side of the park. We’ll spend the morning photographing the most iconic part of spring in the Smoky Mountains; the wildflowers. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 types of flowering plants, more than any other national park in the country. After shooting we’ll have a picnic breakfast in the Cades Cove picnic area. This area has excellent opportunities for wildlife, so we’ll keep an eye out for some of the Park’s many types of wildlife (black bear, deer, elk, turkeys, and more).
Today’s official hike is a forested creek-side hike to a stunning waterfall that is arguably the Smokies’ most scenic hike. We’ll keep an eye out for otters as we make our way along the creek, eventually arriving at the most voluminous waterfall in the Park. We’ll relax for a picnic lunch on a beach in clear view of the torrent of water spilling over a sandstone cliff. We’ll spend ample time photographing this waterfall and eventually hike back to the trailhead. A short shuttle
ride to our hotel, a tasty Southern dinner, and a cozy night’s sleep top off another rewarding day of Smoky Mountains exploration.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
“Hiker” Itinerary: 8 miles roundtrip, 150 foot elevation gain
Our photograph session this morning will be along a beautiful creek, surrounded by beautiful mist-clad mountains. We’ll spend the morning photographing waterfalls during our hike. Today’s hike is one of the most diverse and in many ways fulfilling as we dive into enjoying all the Smokies’ has to offer!
Our hike takes us past stunning cascades, through forests bursting with an incredible array of wildflowers, plant and animal life, and along charming mountain creeks. Tonight’s dinner – an outdoor evening picnic dinner prepared by your guide – is enjoyed in the stunning Cade’s Cove area after a refreshing shower and a bit of down time at our hotel. We’ll spend time photographing the Cade’s Cove area during dinner.
Day 6 (B)
The final morning of our Appalachian experience will bring us to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and to one of the more breathtaking vantage points in the park, where we’ll look to photograph the surrounding Smoky Mountains at dawn. After our shoot we’ll settle in for a short, yet scenic, ride back to Knoxville.
The ride will give us an opportunity to contemplate all of the natural beauty, phenomenal biodiversity, and fascinating history we’ve had the privilege to explore during our tour of Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
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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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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HERE’S THE DEAL
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