Welcome to Cades Cove

Find everything you need to plan a memorable visit to one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most remarkable destinations.

Explore Cades Cove

Welcome to your complete guide to Cades Cove. Here you will find practical information about the scenic loop, historic sites, wildlife, hiking, camping, and visitor amenities. We hope these resources help you enjoy a safe and memorable trip.

Cades Cove is one of the most majestic areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This deep, lush valley offers some of the park’s best wildlife viewing. Black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and many other animals call the area home. Mountains surround the cove, creating breathtaking views across its open fields.

Cherokee people used this area as a hunting ground for hundreds of years, although there is no evidence that the cove served as a major Cherokee settlement. European settlers began arriving between 1818 and 1821, and by 1830 the population had grown to 271. Today, Cades Cove preserves an exceptional collection of historic buildings. An 11-mile loop road follows the perimeter of the cove, allowing bicyclists, walkers, and motorists to explore the valley.

So Much to See and Do

Along the Cades Cove Loop Road, visitors can see three historic churches, an operating grist mill, several barns, log homes, and other preserved structures.

Many of the buildings have been restored while retaining their eighteenth- and nineteenth-century character. Guidebooks available near the entrance provide more information about the buildings and the people who built them.

Plan to spend at least two to four hours touring Cades Cove, and longer if you intend to explore the area’s hiking trails. Traffic can become heavy during popular travel periods, so use designated pullouts whenever you stop to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife.