Newfound Gap Road mile marker 13 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

When visiting national and state parks, we often make plans to visit the major features of the park. In the case of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that would include places like Cades Cove, Roaring Fork, Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome, and Cataloochee Valley that are accessible by automobile as well as numerous hiking trails. Sometimes, something just catches my eye, or more likely my wife's eye, as we drive or hike past it. This little stream that flows into Walker Camp Prong at mile marker 13 on Newfound Gap Road is one of the latter. My wife suggested it might be worth photographing and, as usual, she was right.

From Gatlinburg, Newfound Gap Road follows first the West Prong Little Pigeon River up to the first tunnel near the Chimneys trailhead and then Walker Camp Prong up to mile marker 13 where it departs from the stream as it climbs toward the second tunnel and the Morton Overlook on its way to Newfound Gap. The sharp curve in the road at mile marker 13 provides a panoramic view of Walker Camp Prong, but just a glimpse of one of its unnamed tributaries. A gravel pullout large enough for two or possibly three vehicles is located just north of the stone arch bridge over Walker Camp Prong. A short walk across the bridge and up the stream yielded the images below.

Walker Camp Prong

An unnamed stream on its way to Walker Camp Prong

Moss covered rocks line the banks

The entire stream seems to be flowing over this one stone

Downed trees are also moss covered

A lively little cascade

Entry to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free.

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