Spend a full day with award-winning guides photographing Blue Ridge vistas, waterfalls, and old-growth forests. This hands-on tour blends composition and technical coaching with visits to secret mountain locations near Asheville.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The morning light climbs over the Blue Ridge like a slow hand, revealing ridgelines that hold fog in their hollows and sudden drops that end in whitewater. You meet at the Ingles parking lot on the edge of Asheville, where the guides — a husband-and-wife team of award-winning nature and fine-art photographers — assemble two small groups and hand out maps and encouragement. The drive becomes part of the day: narrow mountain roads, switchbacks that open onto vantage points, and the occasional parking turnoff where a thin path leads to a hidden cascade.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
8 hours
Fitness Level
Light-to-moderate fitness; able to walk short uneven trails and stand for extended shooting sessions
Wildlife
History
The Blue Ridge is part of some of North America’s oldest mountains; early Appalachian settlements used stream corridors for mills and transport, leaving small stone structures visible from many pullouts.
Conservation
Trails and streamside habitats are sensitive—stick to established paths to protect fern and moss communities, and pack out all waste; guides emphasize Leave No Trace practices.
Reserve your spot on the Full-Day Tour With Instruction in Vistas & Waterfall Photography today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring two charged batteries
Cold and long exposures drain power fast—carry at least two fully charged camera batteries and a small power bank for phones.
Wear grippy, waterproof shoes
Approaches to waterfalls are often wet and uneven; shoes with good tread and water resistance keep you steady for long-composition shots.
Carry a neutral-density filter
ND filters let you smooth water during daylight—bring 6-10 stop options or ask the guides to recommend settings.
Follow the lead vehicle and park carefully
You’ll drive your own car and follow the guides between locations—stay close, watch for narrow pullouts, and keep a full tank of gas.
DSLR or mirrorless camera
Essential for control over exposure, focus, and lens choice for landscape and waterfall shots.
Sturdy tripod
Required for long exposures at waterfalls and for low-light vistas; guides have a small number to borrow.
Waterproof hiking shoes
Protects against wet rocks and muddy approaches common in spring melt and after rains.
spring
ND and polarizing filters
Help control reflections and enable silky water effects during daylight sessions.
summer