After wrapping up a week-long photography workshop in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, I headed southwest for a solo weekend in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Based in the town of Cherokee – in the heart of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation – I had more time to explore waterfalls, fall foliage, ridgetop overlooks, and beautiful hiking trails.
I have hundreds of photos to sift through; for now I’ll share just a few. Read on!
Much to my surprise, the park’s elk were a frequent sight, browsing peacefully in roadside meadows while tourists (like me) gawked. Below is a photo of a bull elk who walked toward me, then past me, while I was standing alongside a river photographing a woman fly-fishing upriver.
David Kotz 
5 thoughts on “Smoky Mountains”