Great Smoky Mountains

Layer after layer and ridge after ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is renowned for wide diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains,  Fall color change begins above 4,000 feet and progresses to lower levels. Peak color display at mid and lower elevations  occurs between mid-October and early November and includes an amazing diversity of deciduous trees: sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, and hickory. These images were obtained at peak fall color change (October), and at the peak of the spring rebirth (May); 2012 and 2016 respectively.