Over the past decade, I had visited two of the three major National Parks that dominate the north east- Acadia and Shenandoah. The last one on that list was Smokies, one of the most visited National Parks in the country due to its popularity, ease of access and proximity to tourist centers. This made it a foolhardy decision to visit the park in fall, and yet I persisted with this task.
Despite visiting during the peak of Covid infections in the country, the crowds were far worse than I had anticipated. The tourists in the getaway towns of Gatlinburg and Cherokee, threw away any social distancing or sensible mask precautions to the wind. Driving in the long lines of traffic leading in and out of the park, and on its major thoroughfares, proved to be an exercise in patience. Nevertheless, we did find our moments of zen, both along trails that meandered along small creeks doused in blazing yellows, or at the top of Clingmans dome, watching the surreal colors of sunrise and dawn creep across the ranges of blue mountains to the east. In spite of the throngs of tourists, these are memories I would preserve for a while
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
TN USA
A National Park Journey - Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah was my first exposure to the rolling Appalachians, and to my first National Park on the eastern half of the United States. It was a very different experience compared to the parks in the western half. Shenandoah was designed more for the automobile tourist, with beautiful paved parkways that snaked atop ridgelines coupled with generous pullouts for the best views of the blue mountains.
Except for the Appalachian trail, hiking and backpacking seemed to be afterthoughts. And since the Park was established long after the region developed, accommodations consisted of motels and hotels in the various communities that border the park. And in that aspect, it was very similar to its southerly brother - the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I had tried to time my visit, over a decade ago, to see the fall foliage. However, Mother Nature was a fickle beast, and only very small sections of the park showed any hints of color. Nevertheless, it was a memorable trip to visit such a venerated addition to the National Park System.
Shenandoah National Park
VA USA