Photo Blog

The trailhead for the Pine Oak Nature Trail starts at the back of the Cades Cove Campground. It is a nice little walk, only a half-mile altogether.

The trail starts out by going up a large hill, which will definitely get your blood pumping.

There are a number of arrow signs to guide the way around the loop, which I found very helpful because there were a number of sidetrails coming in, and I wasn’t exactly sure which way to go.

There are some very large pine trees along this trail, definitely. This one is huge.

The trail levels off a little after climbing the big hill, and winds across the top of a little ridgeline that is there. There are a number of fallen trees in this section.

There is a scenic viewpoint along the trail where you can kindof see the field at the entrance to Cades Cove. A good place to stop and rest a little.

There are some really fantastic little sections of forest along this trail. Pine Oak Nature Trail is truly one of the many hidden gems in the smokies.

I am not sure what to think of this strange tree that was along the side of the trail.

Footbridge 1 of 3.

The second footbridge. There is hardly any water at all this time of year.

The last footbridge you cross over before you reach the end of the loop trail.

The trail ends up where you started, after you pass by this section of a little creek named Cooper Branch. Really a great little trail, but I think it definitely seems longer than a half mile!!

The trailhead for the Gregory Ridge Trail starts at the end of Forge Creek Road, on the far side of the Cades Cove Loop Road. Gregory Bald is 5.5 miles and 3000 feet from this trailhead sign.

There are several log footbridges that cross Forge Creek at the start of Gregory Ridge Trail. Watch your step!

Forge Creek is nice little stream. Not enough to swim in, but on a hot summer’s day it is enough to cool off anyway.

This is another of the log footbridges in the first few miles of Gregory Ridge Trail. There are 3 or 4 of them I think.

There are many old growth trees along the trail to Gregory Bald - these old Hemlock trees are dying and shedding their bark due to the hemlock adelgid I think.

After two and half miles or so, you climb onto Gregory Ridge and the forest changes, so that you can see more sky. But just as quickly it changes back again, and your ascent up Gregory Ridge is shadowed by huge trees.

Gregory Bald is a bare field on the top of the mountain near Cades Cove. The field has been here since before records were kept, but nowadays the National Park Service cuts it back from time to time to keep it open

The views of Cades Cove and surrounding mountains from Gregory Bald are unparalled. On this day there was a fair amount of haze with generally low visibility, but it was still a big wow.

I had gotten there a week or so before the azaleas really bloomed, but there were still a few bushes that had bright blossoms on them.

There were yellow, orange, red, and pink shades of flowers, that I saw. The wild azaleas on Gregory Bald are truly a treasure of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The US Geological Survey marker stone on the summit says 4949 feet above sea level. Not an easy walk to get to this position no matter which way you come.

The view of Cades Cove from Gregory Bald is amazing. Go on a clear day if you can.

As I was taking pictures of the wild azalea bushes, this friendly little bunny came up to me and let me take a few pictures of him too.

These are some large old fallen trees that are lying on the edge of the meadow, making interesting shapes.

Anytime I see a large clump of green grass like this, I think it must be an old homestead - this one is pretty close to the top of the mountain, so maybe not.

No doubt that the walk back down from Gregory Bald is long and tiring. But at least it is 98% downhill. The hike to the bald by the Ridge Trail is a tough one, but it is very rewarding too. I plan to go back soon.