The observation tower at Clingmans Dome is just over 25 miles away via US Route 441. Getting there is a simple matter of leaving the hotel and making three left turns. But the nature of the roadway means the journey will take almost an hour. Route 441 is quite literally a mountain road complete with all the twists, turns, and elevation changes that come with the territory. Mother Nature made sure I had perfect weather for the journey.

I made the second of the three left turns and started into the National Park only to be greeted by a slight traffic jam in front of the Oconaluftee Visitor's Center at the Park's southern entrance. Not sure what's happening here.

A very large open field lies next to the park Visitor Center. Apparently, the local elk population likes to hang out in this field. They frequent the large field next to the Visitor Center with some degree of regularity.

Several were in the field when I drove past.

This occurs with enough regularity that the Park Rangers will close the right hand travel lane and give motorists the opportunity to pull over to observe the wildlife and take pictures.

This is awesome !

The field next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is huge !

Traffic cones can be seen in the photo above. The right travel lane of northbound US Route 441 was closed so motorists could pull over and take pictures of the Elk.

I pulled into the Visitor Center to take a few pics.

More Elk appeared while I was there.

The Oconaluftee Visitor's Center features a Mountain Farm Museum that gives visitors a glimpse of what life was like back in the day. I headed inside to check the place out.

I wandered through the museum briefly in order to take a few more pics of the elk and came across some wild turkey.

This guy seen in the photo above decided to hop the fence in an attempt to join his buddy that had done so earlier.

He waited until all the tourists moved out of the way and hopped onto the top rail of the fence.

I'm guessing he was annoyed by having to wait for the passing tourists with cameras such as myself.

When the coast was clear, he jumped down and went to join his buddy.

Once we were out of the way, he continued on his journey.

Speaking of journeys, I should continue on mine and head toward Clingmans Dome. I'll explore the Visitor's Center in more detaill tomorrow morning.