Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

4.4

#1 of 109 in Wildlife in Tennessee

Wildlife Area · Nature / Park

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Nestled among Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove offers opportunities to explore historical areas and untamed wilderness. Drive the 17.7 km (11 mi), one-way road circling the lush valley at an easy pace. Stop to view the mills, churches, barns, and houses dating as far back as 1818, when the first European settlers arrived in the cove. Keep an eye out for the region's resident deer, wild turkeys, and black bears. At the visitor center, pick up an informational booklet, available for a small fee, so you can enjoy a self-guided tour of the area. Plan to visit Cades Cove and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Great Smoky Mountains National Park attractions using our Great Smoky Mountains National Park day trip planning app.

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Cades Cove reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

5,510 reviews

Google

4.7

By Mns50

Excellent views, deer,Turkey, and an abundance of crows. 😊 A cloudy but beautiful day to visit the cove. The park staff at the visitor center very helpful and friendly. Need a parking pass online...

Excellent views, deer,Turkey, and an abundance of crows. 😊 A cloudy but beautiful day to visit the cove. The park staff at the visitor center very helpful and friendly. Need a parking pass online... more »
By Frugalmama57

Our guests could pick out anything they wanted to do while staying in Sevierville. They chose Cades Cove. Even though it was February, it was very peaceful and the walk around the buildings was not...

Our guests could pick out anything they wanted to do while staying in Sevierville. They chose Cades Cove. Even though it was February, it was very peaceful and the walk around the buildings was not... more »

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Google

By Jamie Sharp

This was my third time being at Cades Cove in Tennessee. I've had the opportunity to see several black bears on each occasion. I got within 20 feet of one this time and got some great videos along with photos. There are also several deer along with other wildlife. The backdrop of the smoky mountains all around you is worthy of the trip as well. This is an 11 mile loop that you can drive at your own pace with several locations to pull off for photo opportunities.

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By Kae Sau

Beautiful view. Go well fed, bring snacks for the kids, use the bathroom before you go. It's a one way loop with other cars and pulloffs. Don't stop in the road. Do stop at the visitor center, look up hours of operation and expect to spend more than an hour to make it through.

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