Cades Cove, located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a popular spot visited by millions of people each year. Cades Cove is an eleven mile, one-way loop surrounded by the beauty of the Smokies. Families can make this adventure last as long or as short as your crew wishes. Some take just a few hours to drive the loop once, others plan to spend all day at Cades Cove to have all the adventures.
Things to do in Cades Cove
There are so many things to do in Cades Cove. Whether you are looking for a challenging outdoor activity or a relaxing day, Cades Cove is a great destination for all. Biking, walking, and hiking are popular ways to enjoy Cades Cove. Bike rentals are available on a first-come, first served basis. Cades Cove has vehicle-free days on Wednesdays from May to September. This is a great opportunity to hike or bike the loop without having to worry about vehicle traffic. Horseback riding is another activity offered at Cades Cove.
There are cabins, churches, and other historic structures that you can explore while visiting Cades Cove. As you drive the loop, you will encounter breathtaking mountain views with pull-offs and parking lots. Be sure to take advantage of these spots where you can take a break and snap the best pictures. Another fan-favorite thing to do in Cades Cove is to look for wildlife including deer, bear, coyotes, and turkey. Traffic can build up at times in Cades Cove, often known as a ‘bear jam’. This happens when a bear is spotted and everybody stops to watch. Park rangers and volunteers assist with managing traffic back-ups to aid in the flow of Cades Cove traffic.
There is a large picnic area near the entrance to Cades Cove. This is the perfect place to meet up with friends or family to have a picnic and enjoy nature.
More Information About Cades Cove
The visitor center, which has bathrooms, is open during business hours. The campground located at Cades Cove is great for those wanting to dissconnect from the every day hustle and bustle, you will not have cellular or internet service in the Cades Cove area. Follow this link to find Cades Cove hours: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm.
The drive from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove, compared to driving from Pigeon Forge to Cades Cove is about the same distance. Depending where the drive starts, it will take about an hour or so to make the scenic drive to Cades Cove. This trip is definitely one to add to the to-do list! Although it does not cost anything to enter Cades Cove, parking passes are necessary if there are plans to hike, site-see, or park a vehicle. There are also donation boxes located at the entrance and exit of Cades Cove. Donations are used for maintenance and updates throughout the area.
Final Thoughts
Our favorite time of day to visit Cades Cove is in the morning or just prior to sunset, but there is not a bad time. Cades Cove can get very crowded, especially in the fall during leaf-peepers season. Don’t forget your binoculars and camera when you visit! Check out this blog attached to find out more information about the parking pass and other inexpensive things to do while visiting the Smoky Mountains.