With Autumn here again the Great Smokies will soon be awash in Fall’s magical colors. There is truly no place as grand and breathtaking as Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Fall foliage in the Smokies brings thousands of visitors to the mountains every year for the chance to experience mother nature’s artwork up close.

With over 500,000 acres within the park boundaries there’s no shortage of wonderful locations to view the changing of the leaves in the Great Smokies. Keep in mind of course that the Fall color begins in the higher elevations first and works its way down the mountains so if you’re one of the fortunate ones and you’re able to make more than one trip to the Smokies during leaf season you’ll be able to experience Fall’s grandeur in a multitude of gorgeous spots. Here’s a few of the best locations to do some leaf-peeping in the Smoky Mountains…..

If you’re a photographer and looking for that classic Smoky Mountains vista shot, or just someone who loves breathtaking views, then you should drive up U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) and head for Clingman’s Dome, the Oconaluftee Valley Overlook which is just across the line in North Carolina, or even the Blue Ridge Parkway near Cherokee. All offer beautiful views of the mountains. Clingman’s Dome is an especially popular spot to catch sunsets in the Fall. There are numerous other pullouts and overlooks on 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee that offer great views and just driving the road itself during the Fall is a very pleasant experience provided you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam.

Cades Cove is the most popular destination in the Smoky Mountains anytime of year but in the Fall it’s truly bustling at the seams so you should make every effort to get there at first light or wait until late in the afternoon in order to avoid the worst of the traffic jams. The cove with it’s numerous historic buildings scattered about make a wonderful addition to any Fall scene while the horses grazing in the pastures surrounded the Autumn hues also seem even more majestic in the Fall. If you leave the cove via the Rich Mountain Road be sure and stop at the Overlook along the way for a gorgeous view out across Cades Cove.

Tremont, near the beginning of the road up to Cades Cove and just past the Townsend Wye, is my personal favorite any time of the year. For photographers, spots for stream photography in the Tremont area are too numerous to document. Just stop at any of the number of pulloffs along the Tremont road and look for inspiration. At the final curve before you reach the gravel parking area at the end of the road is a classic location captured in many Smoky Mountain photos. Here’s one sample…

Continue on to the parking area and head across the iron bridge, stopping to admire the view of the Middle Prong of the Little River on your left and right. The trail, known as the Middle Prong Trail, proceeds on alongside the stream while a smaller, un-named trail forks off to the left. The Middle Prong Trail is a wonderful hike any time of the year but in the midst of Autumn it’s magical. There are several cascades and small waterfalls along the trail that make you want to sit and gaze for a while. The Tremont area is rarely crowded and it’s always an enjoyable spot to visit.

I’ll take a look at other locations in the coming days as Fall continues to approach.

What are some of your favorite places to experience Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains? Leave your comments here and at the Great Smokies Forum.