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    Photo story: Spring in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains

    National Geographic Photographer Mac Stone travels to eastern Tennessee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park with his wife and children to experience the beauty of this family-friendly region.

    Hinton and McAllen Stone, ages two and four, gaze up in wonder at a tree on Cosby Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Photographs byMac Stone
    May 22, 2024


    Mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see, fields carpeted in wildflowers, clear starry nights—there's nothing quite like Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in the spring and summer.

    National Geographic Photographer Mac Stone recently traveled to this family-friendly region with his wife, Hannah, and children, McAllen and Hinton, to experience all that it has to offer, from scenic overlooks and trails to sprawling caverns and peaceful campgrounds.

    Mac Stone and his family enjoy early spring views from Foothills Parkway East Overlook #1 near Cosby, Tennessee. The parkway winds for 72 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains and connects multiple counties in the eastern part of the state.
    McAllen walks through a patch of wildflowers along Big White Oak Quiet Walkway, a 0.6-mile loop trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
    Over 1,500 species of flowering plants, including blue phlox and several species of trilliums, grow in the park—more flowering species grow here than any in any other U.S. national park.
    McAllen stands near a creek on Cosby Nature Trail, a flat, 1.3-mile trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that's well-suited for families with young children.
    Hannah and Hinton search for wildlife and signs of spring along Cosby Nature Trail. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 31 known species of salamanders, which often hide under logs and rocks near creeks and streams. In early spring, morel mushrooms are a common sight.



    The Stones walk behind Grotto Falls, a 25-foot-tall waterfall located on Trillium Gap Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Photograph by Andrew Zimmerman
    The Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls is three miles roundtrip and passes through an old-growth forest. Cooler temperatures near the falls reward hikers in summer.
    Photograph by Andrew Zimmerman (Bottom) (Right)
    The Stones enjoy boiled peanuts–a popular Tennessee snack consisting of raw peanuts boiled in salted water–from a roadside stand.
    The Stones tour the "Big Room" at Tuckaleechee Caverns, one of the state's more than 10,000 known cave systems, in Townsend, Tennessee. The cave is often referred to as "the greatest site under the Smokies" and open seven days a week from March through November. Children ages four and under enter for free.
    McAllen and Hinton admire tanks housing jellyfish and rays at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The aquarium offers various immersive experiences, including touch tanks and an underwater tunnel, and makes for a great rainy-day destination.
    Mac relaxes in a hammock while camping with his family at Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont is located approximately six miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and, with over 200 campsites, is the park’s largest campground.
    The Stones make s’mores around the campfire while camping at Elkmont Campground. The campground is open from March through November.
    Photograph by Andrew Zimmerman
    Little River, a favorite of fly fishermen, runs through Elkmont Campground. The river is home to a large population of rainbow and brown trout.
    The Stones gaze up at a starry night sky through the top of their tent at Elkmont Campground. Stargazing is a popular activity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park thanks to low light pollution.

    Related Topics

    • FAMILY TRAVEL
    • OUTDOORS

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