October Photo Trip - Cades Cove, GSMNP

Sunday, Deanna and I took our friend Denise on her first trip to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  My dad works in Cades Cove, so I have spent a lot of time there and have been fortunate enough to spot a lot of wildlife.  Deanna and I went a couple years ago and were blessed to see a bobcat, a very rare sight, but no bears.  Well, this time the whole park was on display!  We saw six bears, a couple coyotes, a grey fox, several deer, a dozen or so turkeys, and a pileated woodpecker!  It was an incredible wildlife display!!  I am so happy that Denise was able to see so many things on her first trip.

How many times have I driven Little River Road?  A lot.  How many times have I spotted this waterfall?  Um, I think this was a first!

The Sinks. 

The Loop.

I love goldenrod.  My allergies are not so fond of it.

Don't mind me, just gonna climb down this tree.

I've never seen coyotes in the cove, but this one greeted us almost at the beginning of the loop.

Primitive Baptist Church

I can't pass up an animal that poses for me!

My first grey fox! (Photo cred - Denise Schweers)

Love this cub walking the limbs.

We could actually hear one of the bears crunching its snack of walnuts!

 We had been discussing pileated woodpeckers and how Mike and I saw one at the park on our honeymoon.  While stuck in a bear jam this one flew over our head and landed in a nearby tree! (Photo cred - Deanna)

We drove the loop three times because we were having such a great trip!  As the leaves deepen into their fall colors the park will get busier, but I am ready to hop in the car and head back down there!