What's New
Read More
Mellow Yellow
Daffodils blooming on Sparks Lane
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsMellowYellowdaffodilsbuttercupsearly springwildflowersseasonsSparks Laneamaryllis familynaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Winter Hike Along Alum Cave Creek
Alum Cave Trail
Great Smoky MountainsWinterHikeAlongAlumCaveCreekAlum Cave Trailseasonsscenicsnownaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Gum Swamp Reflections (Vertical)
A large tree in Gum Swamp reflects off the water below. If you look closely, you can see the fall leaves underneath the water.
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsGumSwampReflectionsVerticalGum Swampcades cove imageswintersnowiceseasonsnaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Cold As Ice
Snow and ice encase the rocks and boulders at Little Pigeon River.
Greenbrier
Great Smoky MountainsColdiceGreenbriersnowLittle Pigeon Riverwinterseasonsnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Cuddles
Two spring cubs nap in a tree while mama bear forages nearby.
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsCuddlesspring cubsblack bearsblack bear cubsspringseasonscades cove imageswildlifenaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Black Bears and Cubs
The Pine Out Front
On a snow day along Newfound Gap Road, a pine tree stands out among the rest.
Newfound Gap Road
Great Smoky MountainsThePineOutFrontNewfound Gap Roadwintersnowseasonsmountainsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
A Look Back
A doe with snow on her face looks back while foraging.
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsLookBackdeerdoewinterseasonssnowcades cove imageswildlifenaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Deer and Elk
Cades Cove Winter Vista
A wintry view of Cades Cove
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsCadesCoveWinterVistasnowcades cove imagesscenicloop roadnaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Winter Streaming
We walked down the bank to photograph this. Middle Fork of the Little Pigeon River
Greenbrier
Great Smoky MountainswinterStreamingGreenbriersnowLittle Pigeon Riverriversstreamsseasonsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Feeling Safe
Currently in North America black bears are giving birth to up to five cubs, although two are most common. The gestation period is approximately 220 days, or seven months and a week. They become pregnant in June and depending on natural food sources, they'll give birth to healthy cubs. The good news is, the hard mast was abundant this year so it's likely most mama bears will be successful with their offspring. The spring, female cub you see in this image was taken on May 1st so she's about three months old. It was taken with a zoom lens, from a distance in a field at Cades Cove. Since then, she's given birth to healthy cubs of her own. We don't name wild bears except those who pass through our property, so it helps us identify them. She's a beautiful bear, just like her mother, curled up next to her chest.
Written on January 31, 2023
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsFeelingSafespring cubmama bearMay 1stcades cove imageswildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Black Bears and Cubs
Intoxicating
Freshly fallen snow during the autumn season
Forge Creek Road - Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsIntoxicatingCades Covefallautumnsnowforge creekCades Cove imagesForge Creek RoadcreeksNovembernaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Bridging The Seasons
When fall and winter meet
Roaring Fork
Great Smoky MountainsBridgingtheSeasonsRoaring Forkbridgesnowfallautumnscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Elation Sensation
Winter at Greenbrier
Great Smoky MountainsElationSensationGreenbrierwintersnowcascadesstreamsseasonsfallautumnlittle pigeon rivernaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Fall On Cherokee Orchard Road
Cherokee Orchard Road
Great Smoky MountainsFallCherokeeOrchardRoadautumn2022seasonsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Feeling The Peace ✌️
Cades Cove Methodist Church
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkFeelingthePeaceCades Cove Methodist ChurchSnowvembersnowautumnCades Cove ChurchesseasonsNovembernaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Covered In White
Snow, rime and hoar frost cover the trees on our drive up Newfound Gap Road
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkCoveredWhiterimehoar frostsnowNewfound Gap Roadscenicwinternaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Until Tomorrow
Clingmans Dome Sunset
Great Smoky MountainsUntilTomorrowclingmans dome2022sunsetsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Heading Into Fall
Cades Cove 2022
Great Smoky MountainsHeadingintoFall2022autumnseasonsscenicpathcades cove imagesCades Covenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Winter Sunrise From The Gap
Newfound Gap
Great Smoky MountainsWinterSunrisefromTheGapNewfound Gapscenicseasonsnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Maloney Point
Little River Gorge Road
Great Smoky MountainsMaloneyPointlittle river gorge roadfighting creek parking areaautumn2022fallscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Slim
Today's December weather in the 60's got us to thinking of this past Spring. While we are not big fans of naming bears in the wild, this male bear made his way through our yard on several occasions this past year. In an effort to keep track of who's who, we named him due to his long legs and svelte stature. He always had a calm nature and kind demeanor. He was easy to identify due to the white fur spot on his forehead. Everyone, meet Slim. 🐻🤎
Slimblack bearsGatlinburgwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Black Bears and Cubs
Autumn Bridge
Roaring Fork
Fall of 2022
Great Smoky MountainsAutumnBridgefallRoaring Fork2022scenicseasonsnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Autumn At The Tipton Homestead
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsAutumntheTiptonHomestead2022fallCades Coveseasonscades cove imagessmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Gracie
We'd like to share a story about this young, female bear. We captured her image through the glass in early summer. She passed through our yard many times since, but mostly at night or early morning, so we only have her on security cam video. We haven't seen her for several weeks but since this image was taken, she's grown at least twice her size and walked with elegance and grace. We have a large white oak tree on the side of our house where bears, raccoons, squirrels and even deer have feasted all summer long. She's a beautiful bear but very skittish as most bears are. Maybe one day we'll see her again. Meet Gracie Bear. 🐻❤️
GracieyearlingGatlinburgTNblack bearssummerwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Black Bears and Cubs
Sunrise At Carlos Campbell Overlook
Newfound Gap Road
Great Smoky Mountains
We went the day before but there was so much traffic and no place to park. So, we got up early the next morning to beat the traffic, just as the sun was beginning to rise. We worked hard for this one!SunriseCarlosCampbellOverlookscenicNewfound Gap Roadautumnfallnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
It Rained!
For several months we were in a drought throughout the fall season. That's why we were surprised to have so much color. This was taken from Newfound Gap where the creeks and streams were back to flowing again.
West Prong of the Little Pigeon RiverIt RainedNewfound Gapseasonsstreamsfogmistlittle pigeon riverscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Fall At The Whitehead Home
Henry Whitehead Cabin
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsFalltheWhiteheadHomeHenry Whitehead Cabin2022cabinsautumncades cove photosCades Coveforge creeknaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Autumn Amble
Two deer and a fawn amble down Sparks Lane.
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsAutumnAmbledeerfawnSparks LaneCades Cove PhotosFallscenicwildlifenaturecades covesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Colors Of Autumn
Roaring Fork Overlook
Great Smoky MountainsColorsAutumnfallRoaring Forkoverlookscenic2022Octobernaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Between Heaven And Earth
Clingmans Dome Afterglow
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkBetweenHeavenandEarthafterglowscenicsunsetsFallOctober2022Clingmans Domenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Autumn At Carter's Cabin
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsAutumnCarter'sCabin2022OctoberCarter Shields Cabinfallsplit rail fencehistoric structurescades cove photosCades Covemisty rainnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Endless Autumn
Newfound Gap
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkEndlessAutumnFallOctober2022scenicoverlooknaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Fall At Bud's Place
Noah "Bud" Ogle Cabin
Cherokee Orchard Road
Great Smoky MountainsFallBud'sPlaceNoah Bud Ogle Cabinhistoric structuresOctober2022autumnseasonsnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
The Horizon
Clingmans Dome Sunset
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkTheHorizonClingmans DomeOctobersunsetsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Time Passage
Newfound Gap Road
Great Smoky MountainsTimePassage2022OctobertunnelNewfound Gap RoadscenicFallAutumnnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Morning Tides Pano
The sun rises on a crisp, Autumn day at Clingmans Dome.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The original version can be found here:
https://www.mdhillsphotography.com/Photo-Galleries/Landscapes-and-Scenic/i-DdbL5Pj/AMorningTidesPanoscenicsunrisesClingmans Domenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Panoramic Images
Fall's Grace
The sun peeks through the clouds on a colorful fall day in the mountains.
Newfound Gap Road
Great Smoky MountainsFall'sGraceFallAutumnSceniccloud burstNewfound Gap Roadnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Peace
We could all use some about now. ✌️
Roaring Fork
Great Smoky MountainsPeaceRoaring ForkstreamsscenicSpringnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
On Alert
Ever have one of those days when you didn't know if you were coming or going, or what you were doing next? Well, you aren't alone. Seriously, this female groundhog heard something that put her on alert so she stood silent to listen. She likely has babies burrowed in a den nearby.
Wears Valley
Great Smoky MountainsOn Alertgroundhogwhistlepigwoodchuckeastern marmotMarmota MonaxcloverWears Valleywildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Early Fall At A Thousand Drips
Roaring Fork
Great Smoky MountainsEarlyFallThousandDripsRoaring ForkwaterfallsSeptemberseasonsscenicnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Above The Clouds
Morning sunrise at Clingmans Dome.
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkAbovetheCloudssunriseClingmans Domenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
A Frosty Nibble
A buck grabs a small branch of leaves on a snowy day in the mountains.
Cades Cove
Great Smoky MountainsFrostyNibble11x14buckWintersnowingcades cove photosdeerwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Deer and Elk
The Lure Of Little River
Little Pigeon River
Roaring Fork
Great Smoky MountainsTheLureLittleRiverFallAutumnscenicRoaring ForkRoaring Fork Creekstreamsseasonsnaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Scruffy's Kiddos
The previous image tells the story, but here are two of Scruffy's four or five kits.
Gatlinburg, TNScruffy's Kiddoskitsbaby raccoonsGatlinburgwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Scruffy
Scruffy has been visiting our property for a couple of years now. We often know when she's here because our motion lights come on or our cloud cam captures her. What we didn't know was that she has kits! Not sure if she has four or five, but we have seen as many as five, although one could be tagging along. She usually passes through at night but this time she and her kits came by during the day. Here she is smiling for the camera. :) Not really, this was taken through the glass.
Gatlinburg, TNScruffyraccoonsowGatlinburgwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
Bob
We'd like to introduce you to Bob, aka "Big Ole' Bear". He has passed through our property for several years now, but we've never been able to capture his image as he's very skittish - as most bears are. He's old and VERY large (one of the largest we've ever seen!) so when he decided to take a break and lie down for a bit, we captured his image through the glass but he didn't see us. He has before and taken off into the woods. We were lucky this time. 🐻
Gatlinburg, TNBobblack bearsboarGatlinburgwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Black Bears and Cubs
Alpha Bull Of Cataloochee
Cataloochee Valley
Great Smoky MountainsAlphaBullCataloocheeelkwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills
From Deer and Elk
Vixen Visitor
This beautiful Red Fox has passed through our property on multiple occasions. After repeat attempts, we were finally able to capture a photograph.
VixenVisitorRed FoxGatlinburgwildlifenaturesmokiesgreat smoky mountainsGSMNPMD Hills Photographymdhillsphotography.comsmokies photosgreat smoky mountains imagesmattanddeliahills