![]() ![]() Remember – animals in Cades Cove are wild and not domesticated, which means they are unpredictable. The National Park Service recommends a distance of AT LEAST 50 yards (half a football field, or 150 feet) to watch. If you see wildlife close to your car, do not approach the animals. If you do spot wildlife nearby it’s drive slowly and always make sure to pull out of the roadway as a courtesy to others if you are stopping to get a better look. They have to learn to climb trees before they ever walk on the ground! Don’t just look at the meadows for wildlife – make sure you look up at the trees too! Black bears are natural born climbers and are even BORN in trees. This means bears are most active at dawn and and dusk. Of course, the Smokies’ most famous animal is the black bear and everyone wants to see one! Cades Cove is one of the best places to do just that! Make sure to arrive early on your trip, as black bears are corpuscular animals. With deer, fox, coyote, raccoons and more there’s never a shortage of critters to be seen. The 11-mile loop road circumnavigates the large meadow giving your family incredible views of the creatures inhabiting the area. CADES COVE WILDLIFEĬades Cove is known by many to be the best place in the Smokies to view wildlife. The hayride guides will entertain you with stories of the settlers and teach you about the history of the farming community that once resided here. If you’d like to see the loop without having to drive, take a hayride tour departing three times daily. ![]() Share the ride with a guide who will take you to historic sites and tell tales of times gone by. Your family (up to 6 people) can enjoy a private carriage tour together. If you’re looking for a different way to experience nature in Cades Cove, you could give horseback riding a try! Cades Cove Riding Stables is the only park-authorized stable for Cades Cove and is a great way to spend the morning or even an entire day! Take a 1-hour ride in a small group any time of day. This hike is 8.5 miles round trip, so be sure to give yourself 9 hours to enjoy the hike and take breaks throughout the day. ![]() Make sure to bring a map from the visitor’s center on this trip, where you’ll be combining a series of trails to create this loop hike. Beautiful views of Cades Cove will be your reward on the way down. The trail opens up from footpath to wide wagon road before again winding it’s way down the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail. You will have gained nearly 1800 feet in elevation, or approximately 600 feet per mile, to get here. Climb for nearly three miles before you reach the junction to the old Rich Mountain fire tower. While at first you’ll be hiking at low elevations, the real climb begins just after the historic Oliver Cabin. You’ll see the trailhead to your right just before the loop begins. Park at the interpretive pavilion in the large lot on the left BEFORE driving into the loop. Many people choose to hike this loop clockwise. If a more challenging hike is what you crave, the 8.5-mile Rich Mountain Loop is a great way to spend the day. Abrams Falls is approximately 5.2 miles round trip, so give yourself at least 6 hours to enjoy the walk. Splash close to the beach or head downstream to enjoy deeper pools. The unique geologic structure of this waterfall makes the pool incredibly dangerous for swimming. Make sure to stay close to the beach and avoid the falls if you are tempted to cool off in the water. The forest surrounding is mostly oaks and evergreens on the ridge and makes for a serene setting.Īt approximately 2.6 miles, hikers will turn left to the footbridge and come out to a beach area where they can observe the falls. This popular hike gets busy, so make sure to arrive early! You’ll follow this wide, well-traveled trail out to a 20-foot high waterfall. Follow the brown sign pointing you to the right down the gravel road to park. If something a little longer is on your list, drive approximately 5 miles on the loop road to the Abrams Falls Trail. Pass over creeks through the dense forest and get a new appreciation for the valley. This 0.8 mile walk is a loop hike gaining only 210’ in elevation. If you need to stretch your legs a bit more though, there’s no shortage of hiking trails! If you’re looking for something short and gentle for all ages in the family, check out the Cades Cove Nature Trail. The 11 mile, one-way road through Cades Cove makes a scenic drive through an amazing valley. CADES COVE HIKING TRAILS Cades Cove Nature Trail Here are six reasons YOU should visit Cades Cove on your next Smoky Mountain vacation. In fact, if Cades Cove was its own National Park, it would be the third most visited national park in the country! With more than 11 million people coming through the Smokies each year, and nearly 4 million of them choose a trip to Cades Cove. It’s no secret that Cades Cove is a favorite destination for many people visiting the Smokies. ![]()
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