Friday & Saturday | 5:15am – noon
#1 - Sunrise, Valley Fog, and Looking Glass Falls
Starting with the sunrise shoot, we hope to capture morning fog, then an awesome roadside waterfall, concluding with a variety of wildflowers and some additional waterfalls.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Pounding Mill Overlook and Highway 276
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 413.2
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 5:15am Driving time to sunrise 40 mins, return around noon
Activity level: Easy
Restroom facilities: Ranger’s Station
Equipment: Tripod, macro and wide-angle, telephoto lens. A polarizing filter and neutral density filter are helpful.
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Friday & Saturday | 6am – 1pm
#2 - Cataloochee Valley, Elk, and More
This outing offers wildlife, most likely including elk, deer and wild turkeys. Plan to explore this unique section of the Smokies and learn about the history of the valley while photographing the historic buildings, streams and mountain views. The elk viewing with be best in the early morning as they return to the woods when it becomes bright and sunny. Historic buildings include the Palmer and Caldwell houses, barns, church and a school. There are also some hiking trails to provide additional photographic options.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 6:00am Driving time 1 hour 15 mins return 1:00pm
Activity level: Easy
Restroom facilities: Yes
Equipment: Tripod, your favorite lens including telephoto to capture wildlife.
Friday & Saturday | 6am-1pm
#3 - Triple, High, and Hooker Falls
Carpooling is recommended, however not required. Once we arrive the Hooker Falls parking area, upper lot, we will hike .4 miles to the main overlook for Triple Falls. Then proceed down 112 stairs to middle falls viewing area. Capture close up shots of the two upper falls and down river shots of the lower falls. After departing Triple Falls, will return up the 112 stairs and continue an additional .8 miles to High Falls via the High Falls Loop trail. Once we arrive, will descend to view the base of the falls where you will have opportunity to hike, via large rocks, close to the base. Afterwards we will continue up hill to the main overlook, and then proceed to the covered bridge at the top of the falls. Following the High Falls Loop Trail, we will return to the parking lot. On the opposite side of the parking lotis the trail to Hooker Falls. This easy .5 mile hike brings us to the base of Hooker Falls. All trails are wide, packed dirt and gravel, except for the option to the base of High Falls. Total for all three hikes is 4.4 miles with 750 feet of elevation gain. You may choose to visit any or all of the falls, just be sure to let your leader know..
DuPont State Recreation Forest
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 6:00am driving time 45 mins return 1:00pm
Activity level: Moderate (total for all 3 hikes for the falls 4.4 miles)
Restroom facilities: At trailhead
Equipment: Tripod, favorite lens along with telephoto to capture intimate scenes and polarizing filter recommended. Sturdy shoes if hiking to base of the falls.
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Friday & Saturday | 8:15am – 1pm
#4 - Pearson’s Falls & Wildflowers
A wonderful 90 foot waterfall at the end of an easy path lined with wildflowers will be our first stop before exploring the area for additional wildflowers as our time and bloom schedule allows. This area is protected by the Tryon Garden Club and the trail follows Colt Creek up to the falls with a good selection of wildflowers.
Pearson’s Falls & Hwy 176 area near Tryon 2748 Pearson Falls Road, Saluda NC
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 8:15am driving time 45 mins return 1:00pm
Activity level: Easy
Restroom facilities: Near Entrance
Equipment: Tripod, a variety of lens: wide angle, macro for flowers and a zoom will allow you to get big picture or isolate areas of the creek or falls.
Fee: $5 entrance fee
Friday Only | 8am -noon
#5 - Craven Gap Trail for Wildflowers
This is an easy trail with only a few hundred feet of elevation gain. The trail offers opportunities for woodland, wildflower photography, including Lady Slippers, Trillium, Showy Orchids, Wild Geranium and others. Roundtrip hike distance is 2 to 4 miles on an easy trail. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking at the trailhead. We’ll finish up in time for participants to catch lunch at an Asheville restaurant.
Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville Milepost 377.4
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 8:00am driving time 30 mins return at noon
Activity level: Easy to moderate
Restroom facilities: None
Equipment: Tripod suggested but if you prefer handheld for close up or macro. Regular and marco lens, along with a polarizing filter. Hiking boots or sturdy sneakers, layered clothing, long pants and a rain poncho, in case of rain, are recommended.
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Friday Only | 7am – 1pm
#6 - Big Creek in the Smokies
After leaving the hotel, we'll drive an hour to an eastern portion of the great Smoky Mountains National Park. We'll start the morning by parking at the Ranger Station and walk across the road to shoot a series of cascades in the roadside stream, capturing the water as it flows over and around the river rocks. After this stop, we'll continue up the road to the main parking lot for Big Creek. Here we'll have the opportunity to shoot Baxter Creek from a bridge and from the bank. This area is also the trailhead for the Big Creek trail which has abundant wildflowers in the spring. We will venture a short distance up the trail, capturing the trailside flowers. NOTE: This trip will not hike the two miles up to Mouse Creek Falls, that will be the full day Saturday option, but attendees may continue to the falls on their own if they wish. Just be sure to let the trip leader know.
Big Creek Entrance Road, Waynesville NC
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 7:00 am driving time 1 hours return at 1pm
Activity level: Easy
Restroom facilities: At trailhead
Equipment: Tripod, macro and wide-angle lens, along with a telephoto to capture intimate scenes. A polarizing and neutral density filter will give you lots of photographic options.
Friday Only (Sunset) | 4:30pm-9:30pm
#7 - Cowee Mountain Sunset
We will leave the hotel and follow the Blue Ridge Parkway south, making a few stops along the way to capture the stunning beauty of the region. We plan to arrive at Cowee Mountain Overlook about an hour before sunset so we can capture the changing views as the sun prepares to set to the west. After the sunset, so we don’t have to navigate the winding BRP after dark, we will continue down the parkway to the Smoky Mountain Expressway and return via I-40.
Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP), Milepost 430.7
Limit: 20 people
Leave Hotel: 4:30pm driving time 1 hour return 9:30pm
Activity level: Easy
Restroom facilities: None
Equipment: Tripod and your favorite go to lens for landscape/sunset photography. A polarizer filter will help bring out the colors.
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Friday Only (Sunset) | 4:30pm-9:30pm
#8 - Blue Ridge Pinnacle Trail and Craggy Gardens Sunset
A moderate to strenuous hike will take us up to the pinnacle allowing 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. Wildflower and forest photography is abundant along the way. It is a short hike, about .6 miles, but the trail is quite steep. It has roots and rocks and with the steepness, calling this moderate to strenuous. However, you can take your time or turnaround at any point.
After heading back to our cars, we’ll travel back towards Asheville to the Craggy Garden Visitor Center parking area to shoot the setting sun as it descends into the valley.
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 354.8/364.6
Limit: 20 people
Leave Hotel: 4:30pm driving time 1 hour return 9:30pm
Activity level: Moderate to Strenuous
Restroom facilities: At sunset location
Equipment: Tripod and your favorite go to lens for landscape/sunset photography. A polarizer filter will help bring out the colors.
Saturday Only | 7am-5pm
#9 - Big Creek In the Smokies and Mouse Creek Falls
This outing requires an hour drive on I-40 West to an eastern portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participants will want to bring a pack lunch, sufficient water and snacks for the day. We will depart the hotel at 7:00 am and return in time for evening dinner. Carpooling is encouraged but be sure all riders are in agreement as to how far they wish to hike before returning. The 2.0 mile (4.0 miles roundtrip) trail from the Big Creek trailhead to Blue Hole and Mouse Creeks falls is a wide hiking path with a steady but gradual elevation gain of 541 feet; and all downhill on the way back! April is an excellent time for wildflower bloom, including species like Trillium, Dwarf Iris, Wild Geranium, Showy Orchis, and Ferns. The trail parallels the river, gradually getting closer to the same elevation where we can access the river via side trails of just a few yards. For those who continue to Mouse Creek Falls, you will be reward by this two-tiered waterfall as it cascades over large multi-ton boulders into Big Creek. The falls themselves are on the opposite bank but is close enough for wide angle or intimate shots. This hike is a favorite for photographers who love macro wildflower photography, forest scenes and rocky river cascades. There are bathroom facilities at the trailhead but during the hike any "call of nature" will have to be done in a secluded spot amongst the trees. NOTE: This outing is different from the Big Creek Half Day option which will stay along Baxter Creek near the trailhead.
Big Creek Entrance Rd, Waynesville NC
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 7:00 am driving time 1 hours return at 5:00pm
Activity level: Moderate (4.0 miles roundtrip)
Restroom facilities: At trailhead
Equipment: Tripod, macro and wide-angle lens, along with a telephoto to capture intimate scenes. A polarizing and neutral density filter will give you lots of photographic options.
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Saturday Only | 8am – 2pm (with extension to Douglas Falls return 4pm)
#10 - Walker Falls & Roadside Cascades
Awesome waterfalls and cascades and in April, we'll have the bonus of numerous wildflowers to shoot, all from roadside pull-offs so no hiking is involved. Forest Service Road 74 runs nine miles from Barnardsville to a cul-de-sac in the Craggy Mountains. Along this route there are many waterfalls and cascades which we will be stopping at. *At the end of this portion of the trip, you may head back to the hotel or join me on an "extension" to Douglas Falls. There is a moderate half mile hike to Douglas Falls which does involve a couple of tricky sections over slippery rocks, but those continuing will be awarded by great views of the 70-foot waterfall. We suggest bringing adequate water, snacks or a bagged lunch, especially if you are planning to include the Douglas Falls extension. Watch the weather forecast as April can be cool so we suggest wearing layers and having rain protection. Carpooling is strongly recommended due to limited parking.
Barnardsville Area
Limit: 12 people
Leave Hotel: 8:00 am driving time 1 hour return between 2:00 and 4:00pm
Activity level: Easy to moderate
Restroom facilities: None
Equipment: Tripod, macro and wide-angle lens, along with a telephoto for a couple of the more distant waterfalls or to capture intimate scenes. A polarizing and neutral density filter will give you lots of photographic options.
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