Trailside Talk: Appreciating the forest for the trees­­­

Some of the best remnants of old-growth forest in the Smokies can be found along Albright Grove Loop. Photo by Mark Steele.

Visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park often are highlighted by sudden “moments” among the all-encompassing trees. A black bear and her cubs pop out of undergrowth along a park roadway. The dense tree canopy on a ridge opens to reveal a view stretching far into the distance. A majestic old-growth tree spreads its branches […]