Cades Cove the jewel of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National park is the most popular national park, and the area of the park known as Cades cove is the heaviest visited area in the park and there is good reason why.
Cades cove offers it visitors camping, hiking; horseback riding, biking, fishing, picnicking, and a host of other outdoor activities can be found from dawn to dusk in this serene valley. Since cars, vans, and motorcycles can access the 11 mile loop road that circles the valley floor, even those who due to physical restrictions that might otherwise not be able to otherwise enjoy nature up close can enjoy the natural splendor this fabulous national park can offer to its visitors.
Cades Cove in the fall at dusk Abrams Falls is on a Cades Cove nature trail
The loop on the Cades Cove valley floor changes not only with the seasons, but with every twist and turns on the loop rood which passed fields, low lying woods, historic cabins, barns, churches and cemeteries. Be prepared for small streams, deer an even mother bear and her cubs crossing the road.
Cades Cove can get quite crowded on holidays and leaf season which runs from October into November see the heaviest traffic. Expect the loop to take between 2 to 4 hours depending on traffic. Can't do the whole loop? There are 2 popular shortcuts which cut down your tour of Cades Cove: Sparks Lane comes up first which makes your trip only 3.5 miles and Hyatt Lane which is only an 8 mile trip. Be careful as these shortcuts can see 2 way traffic whereas the rest of Cades Cove is one way traffic.
Historical cabins can be found in Cades Cove Green meadows in Cades Cove in the spring
The loop road is open year round but May is my favorite time of the year. You will find the road closed to vehicular traffic until 10:00 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Early May to late September so bikers and hikers can enjoy the road.
I have found his very spot in the heart of the Smokies to be my favorite part of the park. While I love the pristine nature of the woods through out the park, seeing horses and deer grazing in a fields which perfectly frame the woods and the mountains is a breath taking site.
You can rent and ride horses with a group along a guided trail along the Cades Cove valley floor. There are also guided horse drawn hay rides in Cades Cove and now bikes can be rented at the Cades Cove Concession area.
To me the ultimate choice to hold a wedding or special event in the area would be at Cades Cove.Park regulations do allow weddings or special events but you will require a special permit. The number to call is (865) 448-4103 or (865) 448-4109 oy you can ask for one in writing by contacting:
District Ranger
Attn: Permit Applications
Cades Cove 10042 Campground Drive
Townsend, TN 37882
You can fax the District Ranger at: (865) 448-4117.
If you obtain a permit there are some additional rules to follow to keep Cades Cove the wonderful place it is for all to enjoy.
Cades Cove Campground Store Hours of Operation
March 15th - May 31st: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
June 1st - August 15th: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
August 16th - November 4th: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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