Cades Cove
add photosCades Cove is a lush valley surrounded by mountains and one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. Highlights: historic buildings, wildlife viewing, bicycling.
18 Reviews for Cades Cove
26
80 families found this helpful
"Cades Cove is gorgeous"
The beauty of nature is seen at Cades Cove. We loved everything about this place! We were able to watch deer with their babies playing in the fields and saw baby bears only a little bit away in the woods. It was an amazing experience. Something I have never seen before.
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0 families found this helpful
"Nice day trip from Pigeon Forge."
This is more of a stay in your car type activity but you can ride bikes around the area if you want. The scenery is beautiful and if you're lucky you'll see some wildlife which is good for the kids. There are also some historic buildings that are pretty interesting for the adults. My family really enjoyed Cade's Cove and we also went to a local park and played in the creek. For a good little excursion I would recommend Cade's Cove for all families.
0 families found this helpful
"Great drive!"
This is a gorgeous drive - especially when the fall leaves are at their peak. There are a several places to get out and walk around - some with picnic areas and several hiking trails (The Chimney's is especially nice). But keep in mind - there are also several areas that are one way only and get very clogged when it is busy - not fun when you have a crying baby in the car! Also - if it's winter - be sure to check first and be sure the road is open before you head out - they do close it for snow and ice!
0 families found this helpful
"Love this place!"
If you come to East TN you do not want to leave without seeing this place!! I love going into the Smokey Mtns and visiting Cades Coves! It is the most beautiful place that I know of! We go up there all the time and take pictures! You never know what you will see maybe a bear or a deer! You never know! Wonderful place!
0 families found this helpful
"Great way to spend the day in the smokies"
Cades Cove provides a day where you can move at your own pace between historic sites in the western portion of the park and move along the road and take in the sites from the road, the mountains, wildlife and historic sites. Historic homes, churches and villages are spread throughout Cades Cove which provide an opportunity to learn about the people who once lived in the area many years ago.
1 family found this helpful
"Beautiful"
Cade's Cove is a beautiful place for familes to enjoy nature! Lots of wildlife and wonderful scenery any time of the year. Pack a picnic lunch and let the kids play. You will be sure to spot lots of deer and maybe even a black bear. A trip to Cade's Cove is a laid back kind of day!
'10, '11, '12
2 families found this helpful
"Neat to see"
Cades Cove is a great place to drive through if you like to see nature from the seat of your car. The 11 mile loop takes you through old farmland that has been acquired by the park service. You are most likely to see deer, cows, turkeys, and squirrels along the route. Great spots for nature photography enthusiasts. There were several open fields to let the kiddos stretch their legs and a neat visitors center with an old grist mill and other primitive buildings. Traffic was pretty steady even for winter time, so I can imagine it is super crowded during peak season. There are several pull offs for slow moving vehicles and alternate roads to by pass the entire 11 mile loop if you wish. Make sure to take snacks and drinks for the kiddos! Restrooms are located at the picnic area or the visitors center.
1 family found this helpful
"Love love love this place!"
My children and I often have trips to Cades Cove with friends and we just love it. It's an awesome place to see wildlife in it's natural habitat instead of going to a Zoo. They have picnic and camping areas, though we've never camped there. We roll the windows down and drive around the 11 mile loop and try to spot what we can. Our last trip there, we spotted over 10 turkey, many horses, 4 bears, and 76 deer! It was amazing! We plan on going back many many more times! I highly recommend it!
1 family found this helpful
"Very objective"
We are locals and love Cades Cove. But there can be some frustrations with going to Cades Cove. Traffic can get very backed up with folks stopping at every bug that crosses the road and taking four hours worth of video. It is suppose to be a casual experience, but please learn to use pullovers along the way. This is a free event, but I also encourage visitors to please participate in keeping it around by donating your loose change in the donation boxes at the entrance and exit of the loop. There are wonderful waterfalls, trails, and wildlife inside the park for all to enjoy. Please enjoy and help protect and preserve.
0 families found this helpful
"Wow!"
I have never seen so many deer in my life. It was ridiculous. But there were so many different animals to see and kids can ooh and ahh to their heart's content. Sometimes traffic gets bad in the loop so be sure to pack snacks and drinks in case. Watch out for bears!
1 family found this helpful
"Nice but slow driving"
Cades Cove is a beautiful spot in the Smokey Mountains and very popular with the tourists. It's really nice to take the drive around the loop and try to spot animals in their habitats but, depending on the season and time of day, traffic can be a real headache. Almost every time we go you smell someone's overheated brakes from all the stopping and going. It's still really beautiful though and we've seen tons of deer, so it's worth it no matter how long it takes. The historical buildings are a nice diversion as well.
1 family found this helpful
"lots to see"
Cade's cove is an 11 mile loop that you can drive, walk, or bike. along the route are other hiking trails and historical houses. you can get out of your car to view the historical sites and read about what went on back in the day. The only problem is that the road is only one lane so you may end up getting backed up behind someone that stops every 2 seconds to look at something. we usually go around dusk hoping to catch a glimpse of some bears. We have not seen any yet. lots of deer but no bears at Cade's Cove yet!
0 families found this helpful
"Old Time Nature"
11 mile loop that you can drive, walk, or bike on. Off of the loop are many nature trails, historical cabins and homesteads, and picnic areas. I think it's nice to go in the evening when there are more wildlife than in the middle of the day. I have seen deer, bear, raccoon, wild turkey, skunks, wolves, and more! It's definitely best to have a small baby in a carrier than a stroller.
1 family found this helpful
"always a must see"
We are outdoor enthusist! so we always love going to cades cove...take your time and enjoy! traffic will stop when theres a coyote or bear but usally is going at a steady 5 mph lol It great though! I wouldnt ride a bike but hey if thats how u roll then go ahead lol just be carful! It is nice to be able to see wildlife up close and free! Also stop by the cades cove welcome center before its really neat learing about all the stuff you can see!
1 family found this helpful
"Patience is a virtue"
Cades Cove is my favorite place in the Smokies, but it can be difficult. It's a fairly long way from Gatlinburg, but a nice drive unless you get behind a slow RV. But it's beautiful all 4 seasons, and the trail heads for several nice hikes are along the road. Traffic tends to back up if any wildlife are out -- there are signs reminding people to pull over rather than block the road, but they go unheeded. Still, it's a great drive. It's closed to vehicle traffic one morning a week (or it used to be), and without cars it's a great place to bicycle even with kids. I wouldn't try it with traffic, however. For long hikes, we like to hike along the road clockwise; early in the morning, or on low-traffic days, it greatly increases the chances of seeing animals and wildflowers. If you go with nature in mind (as opposed to shopping, video games, and restaurants), stay in Townsend instead of Gatlinburg -- much closer to the cove, and much quieter.
0 families found this helpful
"Lots of walking"
This is a great place to go if you like learning the history of settlers in the area of East Tennessee. You can walk, bike, or drive the 11 mile loop and see old homesteads, schools, churches, and farms. You have to go at specific times if you really want a glance at some of the local wildlife. I've been 3 times and I've seen deer once and wild turkeys all the other times. You will enjoy taking a baby if you have a carrier/sling but leave the stroller in the car. Most of them won't handle the terrain. There is a small gift shop and bathrooms but nothing too exciting there.
0 families found this helpful
"Beautiful!"
This 11 mile loop is beautiful. And you might even see a bear! If you go early in the morning or late in the evening, you can see lots and lots of deer.
There are old houses and barns to explore and lots of trails. The loop opens early for those who want to bike through the loop too.
0 families found this helpful
"Traffic can be awful"
Cade's Cove is a settlement in the Smoky Mountains from the early 1800s. Both the Cherokee Nation and European settlers made it their home. After we took this road loop around the grounds, we read in the brochure that it can take up to 4-5 hours to drive the loop through the park at peak season! Thank goodness it only took us about 3 hours with all of our stops. We wandered around the primitive churches and the houses that have been preserved. The visitor center area was the best part of this visit. There were clean restrooms and places for the kids to run out some energy after being stuck in the car. If you look closely you can see deer wandering through the area.
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