Best Sept to Oct
Cataloochee Valley Elk Photography Tour
Photograph the September rut, bugling bulls, and misty valley dawns in the premier elk destination of the eastern United States.
Asheville · Blue Ridge · Great Smoky Mountains
Asheville Wildlife Photography Tours
Private, expert-guided tours across Western North Carolina with tracker and naturalist Steve Atkins. Elk, black bears, owls, blue ghost fireflies, salamanders, and waterfalls. He doesn't chase wildlife. He predicts it.
From
$350
per person
private tours, max 3
private tours, max 3
Photo Adventures with Steve Atkins
One Guide. Every Subject in the Blue Ridge.
Western North Carolina is one of the richest wildlife regions in the eastern United States, and Steve Atkins has spent years learning it animal by animal, season by season. He's not a photographer who happens to lead tours. He's a naturalist and expert tracker whose knowledge of behavior and biology puts you in front of moments other photographers only see leaving.
Whatever you came to photograph, there's a tour for it. The Cataloochee elk rut, black bears in the backcountry, owls at dusk, the rare blue ghost fireflies, salamanders in mountain streams, or waterfalls at full flow. Every tour is private, capped at three photographers, and built around ethical, legal-distance field craft.
The premium isn't access to public land. It's the years of pattern knowledge that tell Steve where an animal will be before it gets there, so you're set up and waiting instead of chasing.
See All Wildlife Tours
Choose Your Subject
Wildlife & Nature Photography Tours
Each tour is private, capped at three photographers, and led by Steve himself. Pick the subject and season that fit, or call and he'll help you choose.
Best Sept to Oct
Spring to Fall
Black Bear Photography Tour
Track and photograph American black bears in the Blue Ridge with a guide who reads their feeding patterns and movement.
Late May to June
Blue Ghost Firefly Masterclass
A rare, seasonal long-exposure masterclass on the synchronous blue ghost fireflies found in only a few Appalachian forests.
Spring to Summer
WNC Herpetology & Macro Tour
Photograph salamanders, frogs, and rare amphibians in the salamander capital of the world. No 600mm lens required, just Steve's eye for finding them.
Year-round
Half-Day Waterfall & Scenic Tour
Pisgah's best waterfalls and Blue Ridge overlooks, with hands-on coaching on long exposures, filters, and composition.
Nov to Dec
Bosque del Apache Workshop
An annual destination workshop for the sandhill crane and snow goose migration at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Tours by Length
If you'd rather choose by time than by subject, start here. Steve tailors the destination and target to the season and to what you want to photograph.
4 Hours
Half-Day Tour
One subject or location during a single golden hour. Ideal for a focused session or a first tour.
$350per person, from
Half-Day Details
Full Day
Full-Day Adventure
Both golden hours and multiple locations across the Blue Ridge. The most ground covered in a single day.
$600per person, from
Full-Day Details
Two Days
Weekend Expedition
Two full days plus an evening image review. Built for photographers chasing a portfolio, not a snapshot.
$1,050per person, from
Weekend Details
Why Book With Steve
The Guide Is the Difference
Anyone can drive you to Cataloochee or point you at a waterfall. What you're paying for is the knowledge that turns a nice outing into the shot: reading a herd's movement before it happens, knowing which trailhead the bears are working this week, understanding exactly where a salamander hides in a streambed.
What That Looks Like in the Field
When an elk herd starts drifting toward the creek, most photographers follow behind and end up shooting rear ends through brush. Steve reads the movement first. He'll set you up downstream at a legal distance, out of the herd's path, before the first cow ever steps into the water. The elk cross toward you, never knowing you were there, and you're shooting straight down the channel as they come. The photo that looks impossible is just behavior, understood.
That field craft carries across every subject on this page, and it's paired with real teaching. You'll leave with stronger images and sharper instincts, whether you came for your first bugling bull or to master long-exposure firefly work. When the tour is done, ask about fine-art prints through Fox Cove Photography or a stay at the historic Fox Cove Farmhouse.
3
Max Guests Per Tour
6+
Signature Subjects
4
Seasons Scouted
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Western North Carolina is one of the richest wildlife regions in the eastern United States. On tour with Steve you can photograph elk in Cataloochee Valley, American black bears across the Blue Ridge, owls and raptors, synchronous blue ghost fireflies, and a remarkable diversity of salamanders and amphibians. The Southern Appalachians are known as the salamander capital of the world. Steve matches the tour to the season and to what you most want to photograph.
No. Some guests shoot with pro bodies and long telephoto lenses, others bring a single zoom or even a phone for the macro and waterfall work. Steve tailors his coaching to the gear you have. For elk and bears, a 400mm or longer lens helps you work at legal, ethical distances, and loaner guidance is available if you're deciding what to bring.
Every season has a subject. Late May and June bring the blue ghost fireflies. Spring and summer are best for salamanders, waterfalls at full flow, and bears emerging. September and October are the elk rut, the marquee season. Winter offers moody landscapes and stark, minimalist wildlife scenes. Tell Steve what you want and he'll tell you when to come.
Every tour is private and capped at 3 photographers. You're never grouped with strangers. That keeps wildlife access high, keeps the group quiet in the field, and means Steve's attention stays on you.
Yes. Non-photographing companions are welcome on most tours and get an unforgettable wildlife viewing experience. Solo travelers are common too, so you won't be the only one. If you have mobility concerns, call ahead and Steve will plan the session around them.
Most tours depart from the Asheville area and travel to the location that fits your subject, from Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains to Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Exact meeting points are confirmed when you book. Call 828-777-2045 to plan yours.
Ready to Book Your Adventure?
Tell Steve what you want to photograph and when. He'll match you to the right tour and season. From $350 per person.
Book Now: 828-777-2045 Or text Steve: 828-777-2045From $350 4-Hour Elk Tour
Call to Book