Return to Glory
Even before my first ever trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park came to a close, it already had become one of my favorite places. While the mountains and wild rivers were especially beautiful, it was the wildlife viewing opportunities that took the experience to another level. Wild elk used to roam these lands years ago, but before being reintroduced to the park in 2001, eastern elk had been sadly wiped out long ago. Nowadays an early morning visit to Cataloochee Valley feels like stepping back to a time when these beautiful creatures roamed freely in the Appalachian Mountains, and on this misty morning we were delighted to find the herd roaming meadows ringed with beautiful fall foliage. The massive bull elk seen in this photo was the leader of the herd, and we gazed in awe and wonder as he wandered the meadows keeping watch over his harem.
- Copyright
- Joey Priola
- Image Size
- 1003x1500 / 2.1MB
- Keywords
- Contained in galleries
- Appalachia