The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is actually the most visited National Park in the United States. Fall is a busy time in the park where it brings nature seekers and leaf peepers. Every day we were there the trees changed immensely offering us different views of the mountains. By the end of the trip, the lower elevations were exploding with color and beauty. Our weather was perfect. 60s-70s and sun! Our first day there we drove on the Cades Cove tour. The cove is a flat valley between the ridges. The road is a one way 11 mile loop. One of the first families to settle here was the Joshua Jobe family in 1821. Many families came and cleared the land, and built barns and houses and churches. The Cherokee Indians camped and hunted the land long before they did.
When we first entered the loop we got to see a playful, wandering black bear near the road~
John Oliver place. This cabin was built in the early 1820s and is the oldest log cabin in Cades Cove.
Sitting in a pew of the Methodist church. The minister, who was also a blacksmith and carpenter built this church in 115 days for $115 according to our guide.
The church actually didn't separate its gender like some churches of the time that has the custom of men and women entering different doors and sitting on their respective sides. They just borrowed the church plans from another that did.
Dan Lawson place.
Looking through the sun roof.
So many beautiful colors! We then drove east and then south to reach Clingmans Dome at 6643 feet.
The many layers of ridges of the Smoky mountains.
Here we are taking the steep hike to the observation deck of Clingmans Dome.
Worth the trek!
Many of the trees at this elevation had lost their leaves.
On our way back to the cabin, we spotted another black bear sleeping in the tree.
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