Cable Mill Historic Area in Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I had an opportunity to visit Cades Cove early one morning in early August 2015. The fog quickly dissipated as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Since there were very few visitors, I took some time to explore the Cable Mill area about half-way around the 11 mile loop road.

Visitor Center (built in 1972)

Blacksmith Shop

Interior of Blacksmith Shop

Cane mill

Gregg-Cable house

Smokehouse

Rear of Gregg-Cable house

Barn

Corn crib

Water wheel outside the Cable Mill

Mill stones

Flume and Mill

Reflections in the flume

Mill dam

Mill Creek

Cantilever barn

Deer foraging beside the walking trail

Looking down into Cades Cove from Rich Mountain Road

No entrance fee is charged at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.

Mesa Point Trail - Petroglyph National Monument

While at the Petroglyph National Monument in May 2015, we drove to the Boca Negra Canyon section and I hiked up the quarter-mile Mesa Point Trail to view dozens of petroglyphs. I was also rewarded with an overview of three volcanoes to the west and Albuquerque to the east. The trail climbs about 120 feet, but with the base elevation of over 5000 feet, it is rated as moderate. There are two more trails in the Boca Negra Canyon area and additional trails around the volcanoes. If you want to see the entire monument, plan on a full day or more of outdoor activities.

Benches near the parking area

The trail starts at this small bridge

The trail climbs to the top of the mesa

The trail surface is mostly asphalt

A few handrails have been installed on the steeper sections

Lizard

Arrows keep visitors on the trail

A series of switchbacks lead to this view of the parking area

Suburbia extends to the edge of the monument

The edge of the mesa is fairly steep

JA, Black and Vulcan Volcanoes

Albuquerque

Sandia Mountains

Foundation stones atop the mesa

An entry fee is not collected at Petroglyph national Monument. However, a parking fee of $1 per weekday or $2 per weekend day is collected at Boca Negra Canyon as this is a co-managed area with the City of Albuquerque. This fee is waived with a valid America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands pass including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm.