Author Archives: admin

Ramsey Cascades Trail

  Take a hike with Elizabeth, Jill and their pals to Ramsey Cascades! It’s a tough one, but well worth it to see those beautiful cascades! Click here to watch! Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls.

Hike the Smokies Challenge: Day Hiking & Wildlife

  The next video has been posted on the Hike the Smokies Challenge page. This new video is about day hiking and wildlife, specifically how to avoid dangerous encounters with bears. Check it out! Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls.

Scenes of Summer

  The park is a busy place in the summer. Life abounds and park visitation soars. Native shrubs and wildflowers make a beautiful show. Waterfalls and streams cool the warm summer air. Enjoy the start of summer with this scenic trip to Cataloochee and the music of Bill Mize. Click here to watch! Closed captioning [...]

Mama Bear and Three Cubs

  Last week, I had the privilege of watching a mother bear and her cubs feeding and playing across the field in Cades Cove, entertaining a gathering of Cove visitors. With their considerable distance from the loop road, the bears seemed hardly aware of our presence and carried about their business comfortably–the large mama bear [...]

Hike the Smokies Challenge Videos

  Earlier this year, I put together a video for the park’s Hike the Smokies Challenge. It’s a neat program the encourages people to get out and hike and record their mileage. You can get a cool pin for hiking 100, 250 and 500 miles! Check out the video to learn important information about being [...]

Hike to Charlies Bunion

  What a view! The 8-mile roundtrip hike to Charlies Bunion will reward you with a broad view of the Great Smoky Mountains that you won’t forget. And when you are done, you can say you’ve hiked on the Appalachian Trail! Click here to see what it’s like. Closed captioning is available for this video [...]

Walking with Wildflowers on the AT

  A short walk on the Appalachian Trail offers displays of earlier spring flowers and specimens that grow only at the highest elevations. Click here to see what’s blooming on top of the Great Smoky Mountains. Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the [...]

What Bears Do…

  So many of you are sharing your great bear pictures with us on our Facebook page! Well, here’s a short clip I captured while driving through the park this week. This bear is doing what they always seem to be doing when I see them–EATING. The bear was leisurely grazing amongst the ferns and [...]