Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Cades Cove

Located within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Cades Cove is a picturesque valley surrounded by the rugged mountains of the park. It is one of the most popular destinations within the Smokies and is an excellent place to view wildlife. Among the creatures that can be spotted are elk, coyote, turkey, deer, raccoons, skunks, and, of course, the park's most iconic creatures, black bears.

So that visitors may enjoy the beauty and wildlife without the usual bumper-to-bumper automobile traffic, the Cades Cove Loop road is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00AM. The 11 mile, one-way road encircles the valley and on these 2 mornings, allows for a peaceful viewing of the gorgeous scenery.

Several trailheads to various hikes in the park are located within Cades Cove, including a 5 mile excursion to the scenic Abrams Falls. The valley is also home to several historic buildings dating to the early 1800's. This grouping of old homesteads, churches, and school buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of these structures are easily accessible via the Loop Road. The Visitor Center is located at the far end of Loop Road, at about the 1/2 way point.

Note that Cades Cove is accessible via only one park road, a long, narrow, 2 lane road. This road can be extremely congested throughout the peak season and on weekends, as can the Cades Cove Loop Road, which, unfortunately, can detract from the overall experience. We recommend visiting off-season and/or getting a very early start to the day. Another option would be to stay in the Cades Cove Campground overnight, which would allow for crawling out of your tent, hopping on your bike, and enjoying a peaceful early morning bike ride on Wednesday or Saturday morning before the cars take over.