Wildlife, History and Stellar Views: a Cade’s Cove Adventure

Wander Here

Dec 16

Wander Here: Cade’s Cove, Great Smoky Mountains, TN

Around this time last year, we spent some time in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I was ill prepared for just what it would be like. Did you know that the park is the most visited National Park with over 12 million visitors a year?? I had no idea it was this popular!

Our time there was on the tail end of a road trip we took from Oklahoma to Assateague Island on the East Coast. Hitting up 11 states over the course of ten days, we spent most of our time in Chincoteague/Assateague, Virginia, Washington DC and the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains NP was the perfect way to round things out. I highly recommend visiting Tennessee in general, but especially the park during this time of year as the second week of November found it covered in reds, yellows, oranges and the moody blues of the overcast skies + distant mountains. I can’t imagine a better time to go!

twin girls at Cade's Cove in Great Smoky Mountains

While we enjoyed all of our time there, our favorite day was spent in Cade’s Cove. I had never heard of it before our trip, so finding out it was the most visited area of the most visited National Park had me a little nervous haha. If you’ve been around here long, you know we don’t frequent the super touristy stops, so finding this out the night before almost deterred me. But I’m so thankful it didn’t because we LOVED it!

family trip to Cade's Cove Great Smoky Mountains

The cove sits in a valley, surrounded on all sides by stunning mountains. So no matter where you turn, the views are breathtaking. An 11 mile one-way loop road circles the entire valley - the path to explore all the sights + trails along the way. It’s possible to drive the entire thing and see everything from your car, but I highly recommend pulling off as many times as possible to take in the full experience!

Not only are the views ethereal, but there is so much history to discover from the time you enter the cove to the time you leave. In the early 1800’s, having previously only been used by the Cherokee Indians for hunting, the cove was settled by European settlers, eventually growing in population to more than 270 people. Evidence of life there is everywhere - from original cabins to cemeteries and churches to an old mill, water wheel and barns. We loved exploring and touring the different areas, reading about the families that lived their lives there and imagining what those days might have been like for them. It’s almost easy to imagine when you’re standing in the middle of where they used to eat warm, home-cooked meals.

Another major highlight was the wildlife. We saw lots of white-tailed deer + turkeys roaming across the valley and in the forest that lines the road, but most exciting was spotting a black bear mama and her cubs. Having never seen one in real life, I had secretly been hoping we’d see bears but tried to keep my expectations low. Watching them roll around and play in the valley was the BEST moment - the kids and I were in awe.

It only takes a quick google search to find horror stories about the congestion and traffic in this area, but we didn’t have a problem with that at all (although we were there on a weekday, so you may have a different experience on the weekend or in peak summer time). But even with a little traffic, the beauty, nature and history that dwells in Cades Cove makes it a place unlike any other and a must-see stop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Guide to Cade’s Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, TN

Cost

There is no fee to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Cades Cove, so free!

Hours

Open from 8am to sunset, every day except Christmas

Facilities

Available at the beginning of the loop road + around the mid-way point

What to Pack

Pack a lunch and drinks to enjoy at the picnic area near the entrance. There is a beautiful creek that runs by and plenty of facilities, so it’s the perfect lunch spot! Also, make sure and bring a pair of binoculars. If those black bears show up, you want to be ready!

Things to Know

On Wednesdays, from early May to September the road closes to traffic and you can bike or walk the loop! Our timing didn’t work out to do this, but next time we’ll plan for it because how idyllic would that be?? Check out this great article that will have you heading to the Cade’s Cove bike rental place asap :)

Make sure and keep a safe and respectful distance from wildlife
If you plan to go on a weekend, especially in the summer, expect lots of traffic and a potentially much slower trip around the loop