West Prong Falls - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

After our late October 2019 scenic drive around Cades Cove, we stopped at West Prong Falls near the Townsend entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In my opinion, this is one of the most picturesque roadside scenes in the park.

To reach the 10-foot high cascade from the only traffic light in Townsend follow the signs for Tennessee Highway 73 east also known as E Lamar Alexander Parkway. Drive. Drive 2.2 miles, entering the park along the way, to the Townsend Wye. Turn right onto Laurel Creek Road and drive 0.4 miles to a parking area on the right. Pull-in parking is available for eight vehicles. The parking area is adjacent to the waterfall.

There is no entrance fee at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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

Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In late October 2019, we made another quick trip to our "home" park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of our favorite places in the park is Cades Cove. and its 11-mile one-way scenic loop road. The cove is located on the Tennessee side of the park about 8 miles southwest of the Townsend entrance. Here are a few of our favorite images from that afternoon.

There is no entrance fee at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk - Indiana Dunes National Park

We continued our October 2019 trip to Indiana Dunes National Park with a late afternoon stop at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. We didn't have time before dark to walk the one-mile Riverwalk, but we did have time to walk the western breakwater in front of the pavilion. Free paved parking for 97 vehicles, including eight accessible spots, is available in three lots. Both the dune trail and the beach west of the pavilion were closed due to erosion undercutting the dunes.

Pavilion

Another view

Burns-Portage Waterway (Little Calumet River) breakwaters

Fall colors, the breakwater, and the Chicago skyline

A closer view of Chicago

Another view of the breakwaters

Area closed due to storm damage

Walkway across the top of the western breakwater

Great Lakes shipping

A small part of US Steel's Gary Works on the Little Calumet River

Lakeside view of the pavilion

Navigational aid at the end of the eastern breakwater

Severe erosion between the pavilion and the Town of Ogden Dunes

Town of Ogden Dunes

Unstable dune and storm damage

Picnic tables at the pavilion

Sunset over Chicago

Entry to Indiana Dunes National Park is free. However, an expanded amenity fee of $6 daily is collected at West Beach from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend from 8:00 am to as late as 7:00 pm Central Time. This fee is used to provide the bathhouse and lifeguard service.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm.

Accessible Picnic Area and Trail - Paul H. Douglas Center - Indiana Dunes National Park

Our October 2019 visit to the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education concluded with a stop at the accessible picnic area just west of the main building. The center is part of Indiana Dunes National Park.

Ramp allows mobility-impaired guests to view the marsh closeup

Looking back at the bridge

Several Norfolk Southern trains pass Miller Woods each hour

Pond below the railroad embankment

Another view of the pond

The boardwalk ends at a paved trail and viewing platform

Viewing platform

View from the platform

Paved trail

Signpost and bench

The colors of autumn

Picnic tables and trash receptacles

A final view of the pond

The rear of the Paul H. Douglas Center

Entry to Indiana Dunes National Park is free. However, an expanded amenity fee of $6 daily is collected at West Beach from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend from 8:00 am to as late as 7:00 pm Central Time. This fee is used to provide the bathhouse and lifeguard service.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm.