Connect With Us
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Instagram

Window to a Secret World

In recent years, round hay bales have replaced the old square ones.

“I wouldn’t trade my time photographing in Cades Cove for anything,” photographer Bill Lea writes in the introduction to his book “Cades Cove: Window to a Secret World,” which explores the quiet beauty of this part of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

“Cades Cove: Window to a Secret World”

Copyright 2008, Mountain

Trail Press

703-652-0839

mountaintrailpress.com

Bill Lea Nature Photography

billlea.com

You Might Also Like:

A Virginia Historical Marker stands at the entrance to Green Pastures. Green Pastures’ picnic area was build by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s.

Green Pastures Reborn

When it officially opened in 1940 — in the depths of the Jim Crow era — Green Pastures was likely the first U.S. Forest Service recreation area in the nation constructed for African Americans.
Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park rewards a steep climb with exceptional mountain views. Inset: Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s Chimneys Picnic Area sits beside the West Prong of the Little Pigeon RIver.

11 Picnics with a View

These bucket-list destinations are perfect spots to kick back, enjoy a delightful meal and take in the great outdoors.
At Hayfields State Park in Highland County, Virginia, easy-to-moderate trails wind through quiet forests and past historic structures.

Greening the Blue Ridge Region

New Parks, Healthier Creeks, Solar Power, Protected Lands and More.
John Scrivani bags female flowers from atop a 40-plus-foot-tall chestnut.

The Good Steward

Veteran forester John Scrivani dedicated his career to restoring American chestnut trees — and helped lay the groundwork for the effort’s next generation.
The pond next to the visitor center entrance is easily accessible and a beautiful spot for a selfie or an afternoon of plein air painting.

How to Make a State Park

The opening of Virginia’s newest state park marked the culmination of a community dream carefully nurtured for more than a decade.
Several bridges help hikers make their way over the stream.

Kentucky’s Bad Branch Falls: A (Fairly) Tame Trek Through the Forest

You’ll know the impressive 60-foot cascade is near when the path turns rugged.
Hendersonville, North Carolina, offers a walkable downtown.

Slow Travel in 7 States

It's perfect for the mountains!
Confederate cannons had a clear shot at the city and river.

Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain: Spectacular Views and Civil War Echoes

A moderate 3.5-mile walk on Lookout Mountain delivers a healthy dose of delightful scenery and American history.
The Grand Bohemian Lodge welcomes visitors to Greenville, South Carolina.

7 Great Winter Getaways

These cozy mountain destinations will help you kick the winter blues and stay active when the weather turns cold.
Trails pass through a dense forest and a power line provides a viewpoint.

South Charleston, WV: Rediscovering a Childhood Park

In South Charleston, West Virginia, our intrepid walker returns to an area where he lived for 30 years for a pleasant stroll and an unexpected soapbox derby event.

Current Issue

CALENDAR OF EVENTS