A lone tree stands in the middle of a meadow near the overlook. The Lone Grove Overlook is the final scenic overlook on the Cades Cove Loop Road before returning to the entrance. READ MORE: Where to Find the Visitor Centers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park At the Cable Mill you can follow another trail along the aqueduct feeding water to the grist mill. The paved trail from the visitor center passes the Cable Mill, Becky Cable House, a small barn, and ends at the Cable Drive-Thru Barn (I don’t know if that is the official name but that’s what I’ve heard people call it). This iconic grist mill is one of the most-photographed locations in the entire national park (I have quite a few photos myself like the one above). The parking lot has plenty of spaces but it does tend to get crowded on popular days.īeside the Cades Cove Visitor Center is the John Cable Mill. The restrooms are located in a separate building beside the parking lot. It’s a small gift shop, but still worth browsing through. The one-room visitor center doubles as a rather nice gift shop with all sorts of books and souvenirs. But I have to admit it is a good location. It almost seems kinda silly for the Cades Cove Visitor Center to be at the far end of Cades Cove. Water slides along the rustic aqueduct to the Cable Mill, one of the oldest (and still operational) grist mills in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. READ MORE: The Complete Travel Guide to the Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Driving from one end of Cades Cove to the other will typically take about 25 minutes but depending on traffic conditions and wildlife it can take much, much longer.The only restrooms are located at either end of the cove at the Campground Store and Visitor Center.There is absolutely no cellphone reception anywhere in Cades Cove.To avoid the traffic congestion either leave Cades Cove around 3pm or until sunset. The great number of vehicles try to leave around 5pm-6pm to get back into town or home for dinner. Usually by 10am-Noon is when the greatest number of vehicles try entering the one-lane, one-way loop road. The gates unlock shortly after sunrise (except on Wednesday and Saturday mornings). The Cades Cove Loop Road is a one-lane, one-way loop (except for Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane).Here are some tips to help you make the most of your day trip on the Cades Cove Loop Road. Tips for Visiting Cades Coveīeing the most-visited section of a national park means it is popular and that can be both good and bad. Autumn is a great time to visit Cades Cove for the vibrant fall colors but be aware it will be busy. READ MORE: Viewing the Elk at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkĪutumn is a great time to visit Cades Cove for the vibrant fall colors but be aware it will be busy. Black bears are most commonly seen in the periphery outside the Cades Cove Loop Road. But there are also wild turkeys and black bear throughout the cove. In Cades Cove you are most likely to see deer, especially an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. If wildlife gets used to human contact and actually makes contact that animal is put down. There are lots of reasons such as safety for both people and the wildlife but it really comes down to one thing. But first let me reiterate an invaluable rule that should never be broken: always stay at least 50 yards (150’) away from the wildlife. Wildlife in Cades CoveĪs with most national parks, and this one in particular, there is abundant wildlife to spot throughout Cades Cove. BOTTOM: Deer are the most common wildlife spotted in Cades Cove. TOP: After a day of carrying passengers, the horses are released from the stables into a meadow beside the Cades Cove Loop Road. Average time from Pigeon Forge to Cades Cove: 45 minutes. Turn left at a traffic light and continue to The Townsend Wye. Instead, take Wears Valley Road (Highway 321) from Pigeon Forge into Townsend. Taking the scenic route along Little River Gorge Road would be great once but it’s actually considerably longer, especially when you’re leaving Cades Cove. Average time from Townsend to Cades Cove: 30 minutes. Continue through Townsend to The Townsend Wye. It begins as a four lane highway, merges into a two lane for a short stretch, then becomes four lane again through Townsend. Take Highway 321 (Lamar Alexander Parkway) from Maryville into Townsend. Here are some different ways and tips for getting to Cades Cove. Getting there can be half the fun or half the pain. Other than Cataloochee Valley it is the most remote section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most difficult part, which is also a big part of the allure, is getting to Cades Cove.
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