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The Cataloochee Valley was first settled in the 19th century,
though there’s evidence that Native Americans used the
region for hunting well before that. Several buildings from
the original settlement are still standing, preserved by the
National Park Foundation.
There are some nice views of the valley from Cataloochee lookout,
along Cove Creek Road out to Interstate 40. Especially nice
in fall. The one problem with this road is that there can be
some traffic, making it difficult to stop and shoot much.
However, for photographers, the most interesting part of Cataloochee
is probably the elk herds. Elk were once hunted to extinction
in the park, but in 2001, 25 elk were reintroduced to the Cataloochee
Valley, and another 25 were released in both 2002 and 2003.
The elk are mostly seen toward dusk and dawn. The trick is
finding them; it’s kind of a crapshoot, as the limited
roads of the area bring you past only a few fields that elk
might graze in. You can try walking to find them, but Cataloochee
doesn’t have hiking trails to the extent that the rest
of Great Smoky Mountain National Park does.
As you enter the valley, toward the end of the paved road you’ll
pass a field on either side of you. It’s one of the only
areas where there’s enough of a clearing to permit making
use of early-morning or late-day light. It’s also an area
where you’re more likely to find some elk grazing at those
hours. One other spot to check is beyond the end of the paved
road. There a section of dirt road leads to the left. Follow
that road and when you come clear of the woods, you’ll
see a small field on your right. Elk will sometimes graze in
there, and early-morning light should stream into that field
during most times of the year.
Some other points to keep in mind:
The foliage season can often be stunning in the Smokies. It’s
also the breeding season for elk, so you may be able to photograph
some standoffs between competing males. Also during this time
the males will make their famous bugle call, which could help
you better locate a herd.
In spring, elk shed their antlers. Keep an eye on the ground
and you may be able to make use of discarded antlers for some
photographs.
In early summer, the young are born. Keep this in mind if you
want to try to photograph calves.
In winter, when elk grow bigger coats, they may move around
more to find food, so they could be harder to locate.
Finally, the one problem with photographing elk in Great Smoky
Mountains National park is that because they’re part of
a controlled reintroduction and therefore part of a study, they
all wear radio collars and yellow ear tags (tough additions
to the traditional nature photograph).
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