Rainbow Falls- Finding Salamanders in the Smokies!!!

[DDReptiles]

Hey,

Well yesterday I went out to Rainbow Falls, in the Smoky Mountain National Park. The trailhead is about 8 miles out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, then it is about a 6 mile walk to the falls from the start. I have been trying to go out to the trails every week or so to try and find as many herps as possible, but this trip was mainly around finding salamanders. I have found a few species out before, each stream seems to have a different species of salamander, and it easy to find out why they call the smokies the salamader capital of the world!! They are everywhere!! I am amazed at how there seems to be like a whole family ( a few adults, and many babies) all living in a single small pool no more than a few square feet.

Anyways finally remembered to bring my camera, the smokies are just so beautiful, and the waterfalls are so awesome

Me:

Saw this and thought of you Dorothy:

At the top of a mountain:

Me with a GIANT fallen tree, this tree was massive:

Another decent sized waterfall, lots of salamanders in those rocks!!

Needless to say I had to do this:

Rainbow Falls (its about 80-90 feet tall), its called Rainforest Falls, as usually there is a good sized rainbow going through the falls:

Climbed up a cliff to get this shot so hope you think its cool as well

Needless to say I had to push the limit and go "under" the falls, slippery rocks:

Cool Catepillar:

Another Big Salamander, wasn't even near water:

Habitat where I found him:

Cool Mushroom, solid white:

Some Pics walking back:

Hope you guys enjoyed it, great way to spend the afternoon

Thanks Derek

 

[Danni]

Holy C**p.. I wish that was my backyard

Also nice pictures, of nature and animals

 

[geckocrazy]

Hey Derek, Nice post. The bigger salamander looks like desmognathus quadrimaculatus (black bellied salamander). I have a pair of them. I wish we had salamanders and newts in the Houston area. Chris

 

[Sgvreptiles]

Nice finds man! Looks like a fun place to mountain bike and herp!

 

[ReptileChick]

I LOVE it there. Been there once, but it was amazing. And yes...TONS of salamanders! GORGEOUS pictures. My favorite HAS to be the one looking up at the droplets falling. SOO cool!

 

[GeckoFiend]

Awesome shots. I've been wanting to get down there for a long time...

 

[cliff_f]

Those are some really nice photos and some really nice land scape. I am really jelous I wish I had a place around here like that to go to. Very nice man very nice.

 

[brandon f.]

derek,
nice pics man. i have been to that exact spot many times. maybe one of these days we can meet up and head up there.

later

 

[DDReptiles]

derek,
maybe one of these days we can meet up and head up there.

later

Sounds good, its really nice up there!! Went to another waterfall this past weekend and caught a few things.

While up there I can get you into Rainforest Adventures for free (got a job there)

Then you can come check out the geckos if you want.

Thanks Derek

 

[brandon f.]

your working at rainforest adventures?? i have been there a bunch of times, and they need some good help in there. it could be a very nice place.

 

[miguel camacho!]

you need to keep at it with the sallies there in the smokies. i hope you realize that the smokies are one of, if not the best places for salamander diversity in the WORLD.

it'll take a long while to figure out all the salamander species and subspecies though.

 

[DDReptiles]

Thanks Mike, yeah I try to go out once a week or so, but I have been slacking the last month or so as its way to cold for me to be playing in the water It is just crazy how many salamanders there are, every little water pocket seems to have a whole colony of them and you seem to find a different species each new stream you walk by.